Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene

Love PhotosOtsuka Ai

Ai Otsuka / Love Photograph

Ai Otsuka’s 13th single, released in 2006.

Chosen as the theme song for the film “Heavenly Forest” (Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru), this piece is a poignant love song that expresses pure feelings for a past lover.

It’s a piano- and string-driven ballad in which the melody leaps in the chorus as if pouring out pent-up emotion, stirring a heart-wrenching sensation.

There’s even an anecdote that the song influenced the film’s title, which speaks to the power of its words.

The feeling of still loving someone after a breakup, and the inability to forget the happy moments locked in memory, is something many of us have experienced at least once.

It’s a song that brings tears with its pure, heartfelt longing for the one you love.

Wherever you areONE OK ROCK

Wherever you are

A tear-jerking rock ballad that sings a vow of eternal love: “No matter where you are, I’ll always be by your side.” One of ONE OK ROCK’s signature songs, included on their 2010 album Niche Syndrome.

It was featured in NTT Docomo’s 2015 commercial “Family,” and ranked No.

1 for songs used at weddings for two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear when you want to reaffirm your bond with someone important, especially if you’re not great at expressing your love straightforwardly.

crescent moonayaka

Ayaka – Crescent Moon

Even when we’re apart, our hearts are connected.

This is Ayaka’s ballad that paints such a bittersweet yet warm feeling.

Released in 2006 as her fourth single, it was featured in an au “LISMO” commercial and used as the theme song for NHK General TV’s “Mirai Kansoku Tsunagaru TV @Human.” While carrying the loneliness of a long-distance relationship where you can’t meet, the song portrays thinking of each other by looking up at the same sky.

That pure bond is sung with tender care.

On a long autumn night, it’s a song that makes you want to gaze at the moon outside your window and think of someone dear.

It’s perfect for quietly remembering friends from your school days or a lover far away.

366 daysHY

HY – “366 Days” Live Music Video

A gem of a ballad by HY, a mixture band from Okinawa, included on their 2008 album HeartY.

Chosen as the theme song for the film Threads of Red, it became a major hit.

Based on member Izumi Nakasone’s own experience of heartbreak, the lyrics candidly portray the aching feelings of being unable to forget someone after a breakup.

Carried by a simple piano melody, the powerful vocals convey the protagonist’s pain and lingering attachment with great depth.

Though centered on an unfulfilled love, it’s a masterpiece that brings the feelings for the other person poignantly to the fore.

Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi

Aoi Teshima “Letter to Tomorrow (Drama Version)”

A heartwarming ballad gently portraying people looking ahead in life with both hope and unease, framed by the motif of a letter from the future.

Aoi Teshima’s translucent voice resonates deeply alongside the beautiful arrangement of piano and strings.

First released in July 2014 on the album “Ren’dez-vous,” the song drew renewed attention in February 2016 as the theme for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama “Someday I’ll Remember This Love, and Surely I’ll Cry.” The piece won the Best Theme Song Award at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2016.

When you find yourself pausing on the path toward your dreams, or when you want to be close to your feelings for someone important, why not listen quietly? It will surely become a tear-jerker of a song for you.

KaraBank Band

Bank Band 'Kara'

A soulful work by Bank Band that begins with the quiet resonance of a piano and gradually unfolds into a grand scale.

Its lyrics, interwoven with reflections on the depths of life and sharp insights into society, sound a warning to the modern world.

Released in January 2025, the piece beautifully blends Kazutoshi Sakurai’s emotionally rich vocals with Takeshi Kobayashi’s delicate arrangements.

Aina The End, Mone Kamishiraishi, and Salyu join on chorus, adding a vibrant flourish to the track.

Created for the ap bank fes ’25 performance, proceeds from this work are dedicated to supporting recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake, making it a meaningful contribution to society through music.

It is a jewel-like ballad that sinks deeply into the heart when your emotions are stirred, when you want to look within, and when you wish to connect with someone.

Ti AmoEXILE

EXILE / Ti Amo

A story of forbidden love portraying a bittersweet, mature romance.

EXILE’s earnest vocals beautifully capture the feelings of a woman consumed by her relationship with a married man.

The melancholic love depicted alongside the passionate melody is sure to strike a chord with many listeners.

Released in September 2008, the song was also featured in a commercial for Meiji Seika’s Meltykiss chocolate, and went on to win the Grand Prize at both the 50th Japan Record Awards and the 41st Japan Cable Radio Awards that same year.

The music video, set in 1920s Shanghai, superbly brings the work’s world to life.

It’s the perfect track for a late night in a lounge, gazing at the soft glow of candlelight and dreaming of adult romance.