Crying-Your-Eyes-Out Song Rankings [2026]
Here is the ranking of the “tearjerker songs” that were popular this year.
There were quite a few songs that made us cry this year, too.
These are the tearjerker songs that resonated with many people precisely because they understand pain.
We’ll introduce the most-listened-to tracks of the year in ranking order.
- Sad Song Rankings [2026]
- Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]
- [Gratitude, Encouragement, Memories] Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs You Can’t Listen to Without Crying [2026]
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Ranking of Tear-Jerking Japanese Songs [2026]
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- Tear-jerking songs I want to sing at karaoke
- HY’s Tearjerker Songs: Top Cry-Inducing and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- Popular Moving Songs Ranking [2026]
- Miyuki Nakajima’s Tearjerkers: Best Crying Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
Crying Song Rankings [2026] (21–30)
Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi21rank/position
This is an evocative duet that overlays memories of the past with present emotions shared with a dear friend.
Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda blend their voices to portray the innocence of a youth that remains unforgettable even in adulthood, as well as the way relationships change amid days of missing each other.
Included on the October 2017 album “BOOTLEG,” the song carries a wish to remain unchanged even while being swept up in daily life.
It’s truly a perfect track for school and cultural festivals, where friendship and bonds are key themes.
I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki22rank/position
This is the fifth single by singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, who has released massive hits not only from his own original songs but also from tracks he has written for other artists.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Kodomo ga Neta Ato de,” and its contrast between a pop arrangement and a wistful melody is irresistibly catchy.
The lyrics, which depict the time spent with someone and the scenes of the present while expressing a determination to keep looking forward, are positive yet imbued with a heartrending poignancy.
With a message that evokes a man’s bravado and a sentimental tone, it stands as a quintessential breakup song in the J-pop scene.
To the futureKiroro23rank/position
It’s a famous song by Kiroro that’s often sung in music classes and at choral competitions, and it’s also known as a graduation song.
The warm, hope-filled lyrics about slowly moving toward the future make it perfect for weddings, too.
Its beautiful melody and refreshing vocals are a song that truly touches the heart.
Close your eyesHirai Ken24rank/position
This is a song that resonates with the aching feeling of holding on forever to the memory of a beloved person you’ve lost.
It’s the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, known for his unique musical world, released in 2004 and written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” It topped the year-end Oricon singles chart and became a massive hit, with total shipments exceeding one million copies.
It’s a ballad overflowing with the sorrow of only being able to meet that person in memories—when closing your eyes brings their smile to mind.
If you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or if you want to quietly reflect on the past, please give it a listen.
together; along with; bothWANIMA25rank/position
A signature song by the three-piece punk rock band WANIMA, it’s a number that can energize anyone.
It’s included on their indie release “JUICE UP!!”.
After being featured in a Kao NIVEA commercial, it became widely known and was even performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen! Its message—never give up no matter how tough things get—resonates with all generations.
Perfect for a school festival: cover it with a band or have the whole class sing it—either way, it’s a song everyone can get excited about!
MetronomeYonezu Kenshi26rank/position
From the intro, you can feel a touch of nostalgia and a gentle warmth.
Set to such a melody, the song portrays the emotions after parting with someone you loved.
First, try listening while reading the lyrics and relaxing your mind.
You’ll notice how each phrase that makes up the lyrics pierces straight into the heart with sharp precision.
The title, “Metronome,” refers to a device used in musical practice that keeps a steady rhythm.
Please experience this song—named after such a tool—together with the music video crafted using illustrations drawn by Kenshi Yonezu himself.
366 daysHY27rank/position
“366 Days,” which was chosen as the theme song for both the drama and film adaptations of Akai Ito—based on a mobile phone novel—is performed by HY, a mixed-genre band from Okinawa.
The track appears on their 2008 album HeartY.
Its lyrics, which portray a heartrending love that perfectly matches the story’s themes, stand out; the universally relatable message—‘Even after a breakup, I can’t stop thinking about you’—resonates deeply.
Set against a jazzy arrangement, Izumi Nakasone’s soulful vocals convey powerful emotion.
Lend an ear to this grand ballad that accompanies every kind of love-related heartache.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako28rank/position
Do you have a love you can never forget? Is there someone who suddenly comes to mind for no particular reason? Even if you usually don’t think about it, there are times when it hits you out of nowhere, and you suddenly feel melancholic or even moved to tears.
In moments like that, I recommend this song: Okuda Hanako’s “Kawaranaimono” (The Unchanging Things).
It’s a tear-jerker that brings a surge of bittersweet emotion as you think of someone who’s always in your heart.
This song was also used as an insert song in the animated film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.”
I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN29rank/position
Above all, DEEN is renowned for their vocal prowess, and the ballads they sing are truly masterpieces! This song expresses a man’s powerful desire to have a woman all to himself; once you hear the heartfelt delivery carried by its heartrending melody line, you will undoubtedly be moved to tears!
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru30rank/position
A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada featuring a strikingly transparent arrangement centered on piano and strings.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan,” the track is also included on the album “Fantôme,” released in September 2016.
The beautiful metaphor of entrusting inexpressible feelings to a bouquet is deeply moving.
With lyrics that are simple yet full of profound emotion and Utada’s gently resonant vocals, the song achieves exquisite harmony.
It’s a perfect choice when you want to express gratitude to someone special or to quietly calm your heart.