Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]

Wish You The BestLewis Capaldi43rank/position

Lewis Capaldi – Wish You The Best (Official Video)

A gem of a piano ballad that revisits the farewell to a once‑beloved person from a fresh perspective, capturing those complex emotions.

Released by Lewis Capaldi in April 2023, this song lays bare the true feelings of someone who said, “Let’s stay friends,” to an ex, while never really wanting that.

Issued as the third single from the album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, it debuted at number one on the UK charts.

The music video tells a moving story inspired by a legendary Scottish dog, beautifully portraying themes of parting and loss.

It’s recommended for anyone who can relate to the conflicting feelings of still longing for a past love while having no choice but to wish them happiness.

somedaySaucy Dog44rank/position

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

A straightforward, honest love song that brings the ache and poignancy of heartbreak right to your chest.

Through real-life scenes—like the deserted park at Tawarayama and the sloping road where you can see the starry sky—the memories woven together vividly portray feelings for a precious person you can never meet again.

Released in May 2017 as a track on the album “Country Road,” this piece gently embraces an unforgettable love with warm lyrics that blend in the local Shimane dialect.

Its softly resonant melody offers quiet comfort to those who want to hold their one-sided love close, and to those who can’t quite put an end to a past romance.

Friend ~Time to Depart~yuzu45rank/position

Yuzu “Friend ~The Time of Departure~”

This song, Yuzu’s “Tomodachi ~Tabidachi no Toki~,” was the set piece for the 80th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2013.

As the title suggests, it’s also a staple graduation song.

Even for those long past their graduation days, it’s a moving track that brings back memories of old friends and fills you with nostalgia, wondering how they’re doing now.

For some, those friends have been a source of strength, helping them make it this far.

Listening to it will make you want to reach out to those friends from the past.

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utatane

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Until the day I can no longer rememberback number46rank/position

back number – Until the Day It Becomes Unrememberable (full)

A masterpiece that beautifully portrays the inner landscape where the grief of losing a loved one intersects with the desire to hold on to their memories.

The gentle, humming-like melody, the understated guitar riff, and Iyori Shimizu’s wistful vocals all deepen the emotions of parting.

Released in October 2011, this song is included on the album “Superstar” and was also used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “JAPAN COUNTDOWN.” Although the vocal range is fairly wide, the calm melodic line makes it a song you can sing while savoring the lyrics.

Maplesupittsu47rank/position

Spitz / Kaede

It’s one of Spitz’s signature ballads and an absolutely indispensable song when introducing bittersweet tracks.

The song was originally included on the March 1998 album “Fake Fur,” and was later released as a single.

It has been used as an insert song across eras, in dramas like “Over Time” and “silent,” so I think many people have heard it.

The lyrics convey a heartfelt resolve to keep moving forward while holding tight to memories of a beloved person one can no longer meet, and it really squeezes your heart.

Masamune Kusano’s soft, clear vocals and the band’s warm performance seem to gently permeate a sorrowful heart, while at the same time accentuating the loneliness embedded in the lyrics.

Best FriendKiroro48rank/position

Kiroro ｢Best Friend｣ Official Music Video

It is a masterpiece whose warm melody gently envelops gratitude and bonds between friends, sinking deep into the heart.

It portrays the precious times and memories shared with companions, and the beauty of supporting one another in life, accompanied by a calm yet powerful piano tone.

The work is imbued with boundless gratitude for those who have been a source of support throughout one’s life.

Released in June 2001, it moved many people as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Churasan.” In 2016, it was also chosen as the Japanese end theme for the Disney film “The Good Dinosaur,” and it continues to be loved across generations.

It’s a perfect song for spring, a season of many farewells such as graduation ceremonies, and will surely continue to stay in the hearts of many as a piece that accompanies life’s important moments.

Karakuri Pierrot40mP49rank/position

[Hatsune Miku (40mP)] Karakuri Pierrot [Original]

This is a Vocaloid song that makes you feel the pain of self-deprecation—calling oneself a clown for simply being strung along by the person they like.

It’s a track by 40mP, a prolific Vocaloid producer known for creating numerous masterpieces like “Torinoko City,” “Love Trial,” and “Eye Examination,” and it was released in 2011.

One of its features is a sound that’s lively and glamorous, yet tinged with sadness.

At first listen, you might think it’s a bright song, but if you unravel the lyrics, the true meaning of the arrangement comes into focus.

You can almost see the protagonist’s smile—and it brings you to tears.

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Araki Jakkan

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