Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene
Have you ever unexpectedly found tears streaming down your face while listening to music?
Beyond songs that are bittersweet or sad, music can carry powerful messages or a warm sense of comfort that truly moves the heart.
This time, we’re introducing tear-jerking tracks especially recommended for the Yutori generation.
From universally known hit songs to hidden gems, we’ve compiled a wide selection—so be sure to find the tracks that resonate with your heart!
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Recommended for the Yutori Generation! Tear-jerking J-POP Classics (21–30)
DestinyAee! group
A gem of a love song that delicately portrays a straightforward devotion, even while harboring clumsy feelings of love.
The Aぇ! group’s intricately woven vocals and deeply emotive melody brilliantly color a bittersweet love story.
Set for inclusion on the album “Chameleon,” slated for release in June 2025, this track has been selected as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Musashino Rondo,” starring group member Yoshinori Masakado.
The music video’s world, in which the message of love is conveyed with strength even under the pouring rain, superbly captures a heart buffeted by fate.
It’s a song that stands by everyone troubled by love and gives them courage.
more than anyoneBE:FIRST
A poignant longing wrapped in kindness strikes the heart in this ballad by BE:FIRST.
While yearning for closeness with a loved one, the vivid lyrics portray a man’s struggle to keep his distance because of mental illness, along with the feelings that remain unchanged.
The richly expressive vocals of all the members and the melody beautifully color the story’s world.
Included on the single “Spacecraft / Sailing,” released on February 5, 2025, the song was also selected as the theme for the film “Hold Me Tighter Than Anyone,” which premiered that February.
This piece invites deep reflection on the meaning of continuing to care for someone important and on human connection.
It is recommended for those wrestling with feelings for someone they love, or for anyone seeking a touching ballad that resonates with the heart.
Recommended for the Yutori Generation! Tear-Jerking J-POP Masterpieces (31–40)
KaraBank Band
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
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.
Precious LoveEXILE ATSUSHI
With a warm, translucent voice, EXILE ATSUSHI pens a wedding song themed around love and bonds.
Gently singing of the importance of affection felt in days walked together and vows to the future, this work carefully portrays the delicate emotions of a romance born in everyday life transforming into eternal love.
Released as a single in October 2014, it was featured in a commercial for the wedding magazine Zexy and earned the Best Vocal Performance at the 56th Japan Record Awards that same year.
It was subsequently included on the album Love Ballade, captivating listeners across a wide audience.
Whether for a moody evening spent savoring a drink while feeling the bond with someone special, or as wedding background music, it will surely stay close to your heart.
You’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
This is a gem of a ballad that sings of the sweet, aching pain of heartbreak.
The farewell scene on the station platform and the memories the two shared are delicately portrayed and delivered with a melody that pierces the heart.
Among FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ works, it stands out for its rich emotional expression.
Released in October 2007, it reached No.
8 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Otona no Shikaku,” earning broad support across generations.
The song is also included on the album “FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 2,” and has been covered by Mariko Takahashi.
It’s a heartwarming track that stays by your side when you sense the end of a romance or go through a farewell with someone dear.
Love SongGReeeeN
A crystal-clear melody flows through the lounge.
This is a message song GReeeeN delivered in May 2007.
Its warm tones gently embrace feelings for someone dear, and its lyrics, conveying straightforward affection, quietly stir the heart.
The track was selected as the ending theme for NTV’s “Uta Sta!!” and Fuji TV’s “Ken Shimura no Daijoubuda II,” and it also drew attention as the song for Hoyu’s “Beauteen” commercial.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and achieved CD sales of 300,000 copies.
A rich, resonant piece that accompanies moments spent with someone special in a calm space wrapped in soft light.