Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]

YELLikimonogakari43rank/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.

Hello/How are you?nanou44rank/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.

Don’t go.Souta45rank/position

Uta-nee Yuki “Don’t Go” (remaster)

A delicate, heartrending song about parting with someone dear.

Released by Sota in October 2013, this track moved many listeners from the moment it came out.

Kae Yuki’s gentle vocals, the faintly nostalgic melody line, and the lyrics that capture the inexpressible emotions felt at the moment of farewell all strike straight to the heart.

I think it especially resonates when you listen to it after being separated from a friend or going through a heartbreak.

budKobukuro46rank/position

Kobukuro – Tsubomi

This work was created against the backdrop of Kentaro Kobuchi’s feelings for his mother, whom he lost in his teens.

It portrays a sense of loss for what is gone and a powerful message about moving forward and overcoming it.

Gratitude and longing for his late mother are sure to strike a deep chord with listeners.

Released in March 2007 as Kobukuro’s 14th single, the song was chosen as the theme for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad,” which depicts the bond between parent and child.

Its gentle vocals will stay close to your heart and give you the courage to take a step forward.

MetronomeYonezu Kenshi47rank/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.

HappierEd Sheeran48rank/position

Ed Sheeran – Happier (Official Music Video)

Despite having a title that means “happier than ~,” the fact that the song ends up being about a breakup feels distinctly British to me.

It’s a track by Ed Sheeran—one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time—featured on his 2018 album ÷.

The lyrics, carried by a characteristically beautiful Ed melody, portray raw lingering attachment and regret toward an ex.

The line “You look happier than before” is especially heartrending, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s a sentiment one can eventually overcome, but humans often can’t neatly rationalize such feelings.

The music video, featuring puppet figures, also has a melancholic and suggestive tone, so be sure to check that out as well.

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When I Was Your ManBruno Mars49rank/position

Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man [Japanese Subtitled Ver.]

It’s a classic ballad that clearly brings out Bruno Mars’s delicate talent as a songwriter—despite his string of massive hits and the strong party-animal image he somehow carries.

In Japan, it was even given the Japanese title “Kimi ga Ita Ano Koro ni” (“Back to When You Were There”).

His voice, pouring out the feelings of a protagonist who only realizes what mattered after losing someone important, who regrets that there’s no going back, and who still tries to entrust “your” happiness to your new partner, is enough to move you to tears.

The emotions portrayed here may be a man’s egoism, a selfish feeling—but many people have surely felt something similar, and the wonderful melody and vocals make you believe it’s anything but a lie.

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