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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Ranking of Tearjerker Japanese Songs [2026] (11–20)
CorrectRADWIMPS11rank/position
A gem-like ballad by RADWIMPS that stands beside everyone at a crossroads in life.
There are no ready-made answers like on a school test; the path you choose for yourself is what’s truly precious—a warm yet powerful message that strikes straight to the heart.
Its moving arrangement, layered with a student chorus, is guaranteed to bring listeners to tears.
Originally performed with 1,000 young people at NHK’s “RADWIMPS 18 Festival” in 2018, it garnered a huge response.
The long-awaited studio recording was released in January 2024.
Perfect for graduation and seasons of departure, this work also resonates deeply with adults who carry doubts.
May it give you the courage to find the answer that belongs only to you.
About meMrs. GREEN APPLE12rank/position
An epic ballad that sings of both the beauty and harshness of life, stirring the hearts of its listeners.
This work by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is their eighth single, released in January 2019, and was created as the support song for the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
The lyrics focus not only on the winners but also on those who lose, reflecting vocalist Motoki Omori’s wish that “life be one in which even your defeats can be affirmed.” In 2023, an orchestral version was featured in a Calorie Mate commercial, encouraging many students preparing for exams.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear especially when you’re struggling through difficult days and feel like stopping.
At the milestone of graduation, it may give you the chance to fully accept the person you’ve been up to now.
Hello/How are you?nanou13rank/position
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.
PrologueUru14rank/position
This song, known for its heartfelt vocals and delicate lyrics, was released in December 2018 as Uru’s seventh single.
Chosen as the theme song for TBS’s Tuesday drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Junior High School Diary), it touched the hearts of many.
Centered on the diverse forms of love and complex emotions, Uru herself was involved in its production.
Aiming to create a piece that gently accompanies the story with a sense of longing and tenderness, this work is truly a moving, tear-jerking song.
It resonates when you reflect on your relationship with someone important or with yourself.
It’s a perfect track for those who want to create a touching, tear-jerking video on Instagram Reels.
Don’t go.Souta15rank/position
Those true feelings you can’t bring yourself to say…
haven’t we all experienced that? “Ikanaide” is one of Souta’s signature songs, released in July 2013.
Its retro-tinged sound arrangement pairs perfectly with Yuki Kaai’s murmuring, halting vocals.
As you listen, you’re mysteriously overcome with a sense of nostalgia.
The lyrics trace the protagonist’s inner thoughts at the moment of parting with someone precious.
They really want to stop them from leaving but can’t say it…
It’s a tear-jerking Vocaloid song that makes you imagine all kinds of backstories about what might have happened between the two.
Friend ~Time to Depart~yuzu16rank/position
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.
Best FriendKiroro17rank/position
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 Pierrot40mP18rank/position
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.
Until the day I can no longer rememberback number19rank/position
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.
We againSG20rank/position
Singer-songwriter SG, who has garnered attention through his activities on TikTok and YouTube.
Released in April 2021, this song gently sings of the sadness of parting and the hope of reunion—truly a track worthy of being called a “Reiwa-era graduation song.” Simple yet irreplaceable memories—like the day they both got drenched after forgetting an umbrella—are sure to vividly resurface in listeners’ hearts.
The piece also made waves when its brass band version was featured in a Calorie Mate commercial supporting exam-takers.
Pair it with moving ceremony footage or a slideshow of photos with friends, and make your graduation unforgettable—try using it in your Instagram Stories.
The clap-along rhythm makes it perfect for everyone to sing together.