Ranking of Tear-Jerking Japanese Songs [2026]
We’re introducing the latest top 100 ranking of tear-jerking Japanese songs, all at once, ordered by most views!
When you feel like crying, it’s okay to cry.
It helps you relieve stress and switch gears.
This collection is meant to let you release those pent-up feelings.
The playlist is updated weekly.
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Japanese Ballads That Make You Cry Ranking [2026] (71–80)
Gift SongCHiCO with HoneyWorks71rank/position
The collaboration unit CHiCO with HoneyWorks—featuring vocalist CHiCO and the creator group HoneyWorks—has a graduation song titled “Okuri Uta” (Song of Sending).
It’s a popular tear-jerking graduation song and is highly recommended as a choral piece for ceremonies.
Sung from the perspective of graduating students, it’s packed with heartfelt thanks to parents and teachers, making both the givers and receivers of the song moved to tears.
It’s a touching graduation song that looks back on the past, speaking softly, bit by bit, while conveying gratitude.
Bridge of Gloryyuzu72rank/position
It’s an anthem that deeply resonates with those who keep striving toward their dreams and goals.
Released in 2004, the song was chosen as the official theme for NHK’s broadcast of the Athens Olympics, moving people across Japan.
Its lyrics affirm the tears shed in secret and the uneven paths we’ve walked, gently reassuring us that “the effort you’ve put in won’t be wasted.” Believing in the light that awaits beyond hardship, this piece gives you the courage to move forward; it hits especially hard when you’re struggling with work or relationships, or when you’re about to take a new step.
A song our generation listened to in our youth, it continues to stir our hearts today, unchanged.
DREAMShimizu Shota73rank/position
This is the 15th single by singer-songwriter Shota Shimizu, used as the ending theme for the TV drama “The Mysterious Transfer Student.” It’s a friendship song you’d want to dedicate to a dear best friend, expressing gratitude for how meeting a friend drastically changed one’s life and singing about a strong bond that makes anything possible when you’re together.
tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa74rank/position
Released in March 2017, this song was put out as Koresawa’s final single before her major-label debut—a poignant ballad about heartbreak.
The scene where the narrator picks up something left behind by an ex they supposedly hated, only to choke on its lingering scent, conveys the pain of regret over a lost relationship.
The lyrics interweave the remorse of not having paid enough attention to the other person with the longing to have been seen more themselves, vividly reflecting the anguish of a breakup brought on by clumsy expressions of love.
Set against a simple acoustic sound, Koresawa’s vocals gently soak into the heart, carrying the weight of feelings that couldn’t be put into words.
budKobukuro75rank/position
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.
Life expectancy: 2:30Pinokio P76rank/position
The message expressing the feelings of the Vocaloid singing the song resonates deeply in ‘Yomei 2:30.’ Created in 2022 by PinocchioP, a Vocaloid producer known for many signature tracks.
As soon as the song begins, Hatsune Miku is born and, while acutely aware of her short time to live, questions what life is.
The gradually building electronic sound from a simple piano-and-vocal arrangement seems to mirror her wavering emotions.
This Vocaloid track matches the image of Hatsune Miku desperately living through a fleeting moment with the shifting emotions of human beings.
Best FriendNishino Kana77rank/position
A heartwarming ballad filled with gratitude and love for friendship.
Kana Nishino’s straightforward lyrics, which express her feelings for her friends, truly resonate.
Released in February 2010, the song was also used for NTT Docomo’s exam-support campaign.
Even if you feel things like, “Because you were there, every day was fun,” or “No matter how many times I say thank you, it’ll never be enough,” it can be a bit embarrassing to say them directly.
Listening to this song together with the people you care about in spring—when graduations and new school terms bring change—can help you reaffirm your feelings for each other and take the first step together into a new stage.