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!
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- 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
- 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.
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[Yutori Generation] Moving Songs: Japanese Tracks That Shake the Heart (1–10)
As a personSUPER BEAVER
Everyone has moments when they’re fed up with their own weakness.
This is the song by SUPER BEAVER I want you to hear on those unbearable nights.
While acknowledging the lies, betrayals, and the slyness of being human, it’s filled with a heartfelt wish to keep believing, loving, and living anyway.
It’s included on the album “27,” released in June 2016, and was used as the opening theme for the TV drama “Sono ‘Okodawari’, Watashi ni mo Kure yo!!” When you’ve made a mistake and feel down, or when you can’t believe in yourself, Ryuta Shibuya’s passionate vocals might just light a fire in your heart, telling you to “hold your head high and live.”
Thank youikimonogakari
This work is marked by a warm melody that overflows with gratitude toward someone special.
Released in May 2010 as a single by Ikimono-gakari, it was written and composed by Yoshiki Mizuno.
It was commissioned as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyobo, starring Nao Matsushita, and gently portrays the love and bonds nurtured in everyday life.
Carried by Kiyoe Yoshioka’s clear, expansive vocals, its structure conveys pure, inexpressible emotions that truly move the listener.
It was also selected as the entrance march for the 83rd National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in 2011, becoming widely familiar to audiences at home.
It’s a classic that gives a gentle push when you want to express feelings that are usually too embarrassing to say—perfect not only for life’s milestones like weddings and graduations, but for everyday moments as well.
Bridge of Gloryyuzu
It’s a famous ballad that’s deeply etched into many people’s memories, along with moving scenes from the festival of sports.
It embraces the unknown struggles, frustrations, and all the accumulated effort, and gives you the warmth and courage to move forward.
Released in July 2004, it was used as the theme song for NHK’s coverage of the Athens Olympics.
The powerful vocals and harmonies of Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa are something you’ll want to hear when you hit a major wall or need to fire yourself up.
It truly is a life-affirming anthem that rekindles the flame in a discouraged heart.
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?