Songs that move you to tears from the Yutori generation: Japanese music that shakes the soul
Everyone has that special song that makes their heart tremble just by listening to it, right? The song you listened to with friends on your way home from school, the one you played before a club match, the one you cried to after a heartbreak.
For the yutori generation, the music that colored our youth is still something precious that can suddenly stir deep emotions.
In this article, we’ll introduce a rich selection of moving tracks that resonate with the heart, along with memories from back then.
Let yourself savor that warm, nostalgic feeling that makes your chest tighten!
- [Yutori Generation] Songs That Feel Emoi: Youthful Anthems That Stir Up Nostalgia
- [Yutori Generation] Songs that move men’s hearts. Tear-jerking tracks and deeply emotional songs that bring real tears.
- Relive those feelings from back in the day! Youth anthems recommended for the Yutori generation
- Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene
- [Yutori Generation] Heart-piercing, bittersweet songs & lyrics that touch the soul
- It cleanses the soul… Great J-pop songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Memories come flooding back! Graduation songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Just listening will surely move your heart! A moving song that represents the Heisei era.
- Just by listening, you’ll feel braver! Cheer songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- [Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth
- Songs that Gen Z feel are 'emo'—tracks that stir their emotions.
- A deeply moving song that resonates with the heart. A stylish collection of Japanese music.
[Yutori Generation] Moving Songs: Japanese Tracks That Shake the Heart (1–10)
Letter ~To You at Fifteen~Anjura Aki
The moment the piano intro begins to play, this song vividly brings back memories of youth.
It depicts the struggles of one’s 15-year-old self and warm encouragement from one’s adult self through an exchange of letters.
Released in September 2008 as Angela Aki’s eighth single, it is also included on the album “ANSWER.” In addition to being written as a set piece for NHK’s National School Music Contest, it was used as the theme song for the film “Have a Song on Your Lips” and featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” Give it a listen when you find yourself at a crossroads in life or when you need the courage to believe in yourself.
It’s a timeless classic that soothes anxious hearts and gives you the strength to look ahead—beloved across generations.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
Against the backdrop of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, Yo Hitoto wrote this renowned ballad as a prayer for peace.
Its lyrics, depicting unconditional love that wishes for the lasting happiness of dear ones and their loved ones, gently move the hearts of listeners.
Released in February 2004 as her fifth single, the song is also known as the theme for the film of the same name starring Yui Aragaki and Toma Ikuta.
It set a record by staying on the Oricon chart for 125 consecutive weeks and has been passed down through many voices.
The melody that the yutori generation heard in their youth is sure to resonate even more deeply now that they’ve grown up.
On a night when you want to quietly wish for someone’s happiness, why not listen to it again?
The Toilet GodUemura Kana
A grand storytelling song that those who were doted on by their grandmothers can’t listen to without tears.
It’s a candid piece in which Kana Uemura lays bare a true story about her beloved grandmother, and every time you listen, you’re filled with gratitude for your family.
Released as a single in November 2010, it was also performed at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Originally included on the mini-album “Watashi no Kakeratachi,” it was later cut as a single due to an overwhelming response on the radio.
The grandmother’s teaching—“Since a goddess is watching, let’s keep everything tidy every day”—comes to mind each time you clean and helps bring peace to your heart.
It’s a masterpiece you should listen to closely when the busyness of life makes you feel like you’re forgetting the people who matter most.
[Yutori Generation] Moving Songs: Japanese Tracks That Shake the Heart (11–20)
About meMrs. GREEN APPLE
It’s a grand ballad that affirms both the beauty and the cruelty of life.
Sung by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, this song is more than just a pep talk—it gives you the strength to accept even the moments when your efforts don’t pay off as part of life.
Instead of offering irresponsible encouragement, its message celebrates the very act of living with loneliness and inner conflict, resonating deep in the heart.
Released in January 2019 as their 8th single, it was used as the support song for the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
Later, an orchestral arrangement was featured in a Calorie Mate commercial, drawing further attention.
It’s a song for those running earnestly toward their goals—like exams or club activities—and also one to listen to when, as an adult, you feel the urge to pause and catch your breath.
Wherever you areONE OK ROCK
The straightforward words of love make my heart swell.
It’s a song by the globally popular rock band ONE OK ROCK, included on their album “Niche Syndrome,” released in June 2010.
Taka’s emotional vocals powerfully convey a resolve to bring a smile to the other person no matter where they are, and a deep love that promises to walk together for life.
In 2016, it was featured in an NTT Docomo commercial, gaining widespread attention.
It also remains a steadfast favorite as music played at weddings, ranking first in usage in 2017.
Give it a listen when you want to deepen your bond with your partner or immerse yourself in heartfelt emotion.
The impact of a single dropUVERworld
UVERworld is a rock band whose overwhelming energy and strong messages have earned them lasting support across generations.
Released as a single in February 2017, this song was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga.
Its lyrics, themed around “forgiveness,” seem to free you from the pain of blaming yourself, woven together by TAKUYA∞’s powerful yet gentle vocals.
When your heart feels like it might break under unreasonable circumstances, this song may give you the courage to start walking forward again.
Also included on the album TYCOON, it’s a saving grace of a track that soaks deeply into the hearts of those worn out by everyday life.
March 9Remioromen
As a graduation-season staple that has long been cherished, this is Remioromen’s heartwarming classic ballad.
Originally created as a celebration for a friend’s wedding, the song gently encourages those embarking on a new chapter in life.
Its message—pausing amid the flow of the seasons to reaffirm bonds with loved ones—resonates deeply alongside Ryota Fujimaki’s soaring vocals.
Although it was released as a single in March 2004, many people may remember it as a defining song of their youth after it was featured the following year in the drama “1 Litre of Tears.” It’s also included on the album “ether.” On a spring day when farewells and new encounters intertwine, why not listen to it while thinking of old friends?