Masaharu Fukuyama’s Tearjerker Songs, Cry-Inducing Tracks, and Popular Hits Ranking [2026]

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

Masaharu Fukuyama is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic figures, both as a singer-songwriter and as an actor.

It’s truly remarkable that he has continued to release hit songs from the 1990s through the Reiwa era.

While each generation likely has its own “Fukuyama songs,” Sakura-zaka, released in 2000, is a quintessential Heisei-era classic that achieved a record-breaking double million in sales.

Some may find ballads challenging, but the simply crafted melody line makes it easy to sing, and the relatively low key makes it approachable for those with lower voices.

If you carefully follow the scale, you can definitely aim for a high karaoke score; at the same time, the song’s charm lies in its lower register, so if you’re not confident with low melodies, this is a great piece to practice with.

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KOH-1

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Beloved (Full ver.)

Produced in October 2008 as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X,” this gem of a ballad portrays deep affection and the ache of parting.

While anticipating farewell to a dreamlike presence, it sings of the fragility and beauty of continuing to love.

The pure love that Tetsuya Ishigami, a character in the story, holds for Yasuko Hanaoka is expressed through the delicate words crafted by Masaharu Fukuyama, and the song was also used in Toshiba’s LCD TV “REGZA” commercial.

As the unit KOH+ with Kou Shibasaki, it reached No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Fukuyama later included his own version on the album “Zankyo.” It is a supreme masterpiece that accompanies adult romance—perfect for quietly savoring a drink in a night lounge.

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Wishful Longing (Inspire Movie for the film “If Only I Could Meet You Again at the Hill Where That Flower Blooms”) *NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen performance song

A poignant song by Masaharu Fukuyama that portrays a heartbreaking love during wartime.

Released in December 2023 as the theme song for the film “If Only I Could Meet You Again at the Hill Where That Flower Blooms.” It delicately captures the protagonist’s feelings as they savor the small joys of everyday life before parting from their beloved.

The resolve to embark on a “journey of no return” and the gentle wish for the loved one’s happiness leave a strong impression.

It weaves a fragile yet beautiful love story amid changing times.

A song that offers solace to those who have experienced parting with someone precious or who stand at a crossroads in life.

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Squall (Sukōru) – Masaharu Fukuyama [with lyrics]

Masaharu Fukuyama is a singer-songwriter who showcases his talents in a variety of fields, from his musical career to his work as an actor.

His 14th single, “Squall,” released as a double A-side with “HEAVEN,” is also known as a self-cover of a song he originally provided to Eiko Matsumoto.

The female-perspective lyrics sung in his sexy, low register offer a different kind of appeal compared to a clear, airy female voice.

It’s a sentimental ballad number that both men and women can sing at karaoke.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Let’s Become a Family (Full ver.)

Masaharu Fukuyama’s “Kazoku ni Narou yo” was released in 2014 and included on the album HUMAN.

Centered around acoustic guitar and piano, its gentle sound, combined with his tender, conversational vocal delivery, conveys a sense of warmth.

The lyrics express a desire to live as a family, depicting an ideal image of family and the wish to become that way, which is deeply moving.

As a commercial song, it was used in a SoftBank ad highlighting initiatives to address social issues, presenting a forward-looking message about making the future better.

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Michishirube (Fukuyama ☆ Great Summer Enterprise Festival 2015, Inasayama)

If you’re looking for a deeply moving song to express gratitude to your parents, how about Masaharu Fukuyama’s “Michishirube” (Signpost)? He wrote it as the ending theme for the program NEWS ZERO, and it was included as the B-side on his 2009 single “Keshin.” The song captures Fukuyama’s feelings toward his own grandmother, and it’s a track many listeners can relate to—one that conveys a profound love that surely resonates with those who feel the same way about their parents.

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utatane

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Masaharu Fukuyama – Tomoe Gakuen (Full ver.)

This song, with its captivating title “Tomoegakuen,” takes its name from a real school that once existed in Tokyo, though it has since been closed.

It was the alma mater of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, and the song was created as the theme for Totto-chan, the drama depicting half of Kuroyanagi’s life.

True to Masaharu Fukuyama’s style, it’s a piece that draws in listeners of any generation, making it a graduation song that resonates not only with current graduates but also with those who finished school long ago.

It’s a track we hope both children about to graduate and their parents will listen to together.

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utatane

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