Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]

DOWNPOURI.O.I36rank/position

아이오아이 (I.O.I) – 소나기 (DOWNPOUR) MV

The final song of I.O.I.

Downpour was written and composed by SEVENTEEN’s Woozi, and its gently somber melody is suffused with a bittersweet feeling.

The Korean title, 소나기 (sonagi), means a passing shower or sudden downpour, and the song conveys the idea that even painful and difficult memories will one day be washed away.

This track, which expresses the fragility and beauty of idols, can also be listened to as something that overlaps with each individual’s life.

Watching the music video brings endless tears, yet by the end, simply listening leaves you wrapped in a mysterious warmth.

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PrologueUru37rank/position

[Official] Uru “Prologue” YouTube ver. — Theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Chugakusei Nikki (Junior High School Diary)”

This song, known for its heartfelt vocals and delicate lyrics, was released in December 2018 as Uru’s seventh single.

Chosen as the theme song for TBS’s Tuesday drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Junior High School Diary), it touched the hearts of many.

Centered on the diverse forms of love and complex emotions, Uru herself was involved in its production.

Aiming to create a piece that gently accompanies the story with a sense of longing and tenderness, this work is truly a moving, tear-jerking song.

It resonates when you reflect on your relationship with someone important or with yourself.

It’s a perfect track for those who want to create a touching, tear-jerking video on Instagram Reels.

YELLikimonogakari38rank/position

Ikimono-gakari “YELL” Music Video

An emotionally moving number by Ikimono-gakari, cherished as a staple graduation song.

Its lyrics don’t treat parting as something merely sad, but as a new beginning toward each person’s dreams—words that are sure to bring tears to your eyes.

Even while burdened by anxiety and inner conflict about the future—like having wings but being unable to fly—the image of confronting one’s own weakness and moving forward into tomorrow stirs everyone’s heart.

Released in September 2009 as a double A-side single alongside the bright, poppy “Joyful,” the song was also selected as a required piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

Though gentle in tone, this powerful track resonates deeply, encouraging those taking a new step forward with the bonds of their friends in their hearts.

budKobukuro39rank/position

Kobukuro – Tsubomi

Released in March 2007 as the 14th single, this masterpiece was newly written as the theme song for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” Created by Kentaro Kobuchi in memory of his late mother, the song won the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards and was also selected as the entrance march for the 80th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

Like a tiny bud before it blooms, it warmly portrays the power of growth even in an unfinished state, along with heartfelt gratitude to the loved ones who always cheered us on.

It is a gentle song that, when you remember someone precious you can no longer meet, lets you feel that they are still watching over you from somewhere.

Hello/How are you?nanou40rank/position

[Hatsune Miku Append SOFT] Hello/How Are You (Original) + mp3

This is a song that reaches out to those who can’t put the feelings deep in their hearts into words.

Created by Nanou, it was released in November 2010.

Within its slow tempo are woven the loneliness, anxiety, and quiet cries we feel in everyday life.

Miku’s clear, translucent voice gently wraps around the listener’s heart.

It might hit especially hard when you’re carrying worries you can’t share with anyone.

MetronomeYonezu Kenshi41rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Metronome

A song that overlays the gradual misalignment of two people’s relationship with an instrument keeping a steady rhythm, conveying a poignant sense of missed connections that tugs at the heart.

Included on the 2015 album “Bremen,” this track powerfully conveys the helplessness of starting in the same tempo only to drift apart over time, as well as the lingering attachment that makes you keep searching for the other person even after you’ve parted.

The animated music video—hand-drawn by Kenshi Yonezu himself with about 200 illustrations—visually deepens the song’s world and leaves a strong impression.

For anyone with an unforgettable love or who has experienced growing apart from someone dear, this is a sorrowful yet beautiful ballad that resonates deeply.

Don’t go.Souta42rank/position

Don't go / Mafumafu [I Tried Singing]

Those true feelings you can’t bring yourself to say…

haven’t we all experienced that? “Ikanaide” is one of Souta’s signature songs, released in July 2013.

Its retro-tinged sound arrangement pairs perfectly with Yuki Kaai’s murmuring, halting vocals.

As you listen, you’re mysteriously overcome with a sense of nostalgia.

The lyrics trace the protagonist’s inner thoughts at the moment of parting with someone precious.

They really want to stop them from leaving but can’t say it…

It’s a tear-jerking Vocaloid song that makes you imagine all kinds of backstories about what might have happened between the two.