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 Tear-Jerking J-Pop Songs [2026] (41–50)
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro43rank/position
A singer-songwriter with a voice of “steel and glass” that resonates in the heart, Motohiro Hata delivers a moving ballad.
Its lyrics, which depict the warmth of those who stay by your side and the unchanging bonds that endure even when you’re apart, gently accompany the season of farewells.
Released as a single in August 2014, this song was created as the theme for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon.
Its messages, which overlap with the film’s story, struck a chord with many people, and by 2015 it had become such a massive hit that it dominated the karaoke charts.
No matter if the paths we walk diverge in the future, our hearts will always remain connected—this is a song that inspires that kind of hope.
Sing it arm-in-arm with friends at graduations or farewell parties as they set off on new journeys, and it will surely become a memory that lasts a lifetime!
366 daysHY44rank/position
A gem of a ballad by HY, a mixture band from Okinawa, included on their 2008 album HeartY.
Chosen as the theme song for the film Threads of Red, it became a major hit.
Based on member Izumi Nakasone’s own experience of heartbreak, the lyrics candidly portray the aching feelings of being unable to forget someone after a breakup.
Carried by a simple piano melody, the powerful vocals convey the protagonist’s pain and lingering attachment with great depth.
Though centered on an unfulfilled love, it’s a masterpiece that brings the feelings for the other person poignantly to the fore.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako45rank/position
This is a piece with a beautiful piano melody, perfect for those summer evenings when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.
Through the lyrics—almost as if a character in a film were speaking directly to you—feelings of nostalgia for irreplaceable days gone by and a deep, unwavering affection for someone precious, unchanged by time, come straight through via Hanako Oku’s clear, translucent voice.
If you’ve ever had those sudden moments when a memory rushes back and your chest tightens, this will really resonate.
The song is included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, and can also be heard on the album “TIME NOTE,” released in March 2007.
It is also known for coloring some of the most moving scenes as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
It’s a work I hope you’ll experience at least once in a summer filled with youthful memories—friendship, first love, and more.
The summer you gave meieiri reo46rank/position
When it comes to summer songs by Leo Ieiri, who is well-known for her ballads, “Kimi ga Kureta Natsu” stands out.
The lyrics, depicting the feelings of a man parting from the one he loves, are sure to resonate with many.
The song is also known as the theme for the 2015 drama “Koinaka.” Listening to it may remind many of the drama’s heartrending story.
In addition, the music video, in which Leo Ieiri sings on a bench at night, deepens the poignant mood.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on a summer night.
seems like (just) my imaginationChōchō P47rank/position
A timeless song whose poignant feelings resonate in your ears.
Released in 2014, this track is by Chouchou-P.
GUMI’s gentle vocals shine throughout.
You’ll be moved by the story of a robot “me” who realizes he has a heart through his love for a human girl “you.” It’s a song I hope you’ll listen to when you’re heartbroken and sad, or when you feel lonely.
It might give you a chance to face the emotions deep within your heart.
Endless JourneyMr.Children48rank/position
This is one of Mr.
Children’s signature works, featuring impressive lyrics that depict the journey of life and a grand, sweeping sound.
Its universal messages—about the importance of moving forward, the courage to face hardship, and the quest to find your ideal self—resonate deeply.
Released in October 1998 and used as the theme song for the TV drama “Naguru Onna,” it became one of their defining tracks.
It’s a song that will surely support those who keep striving toward their dreams and goals, as well as those standing at a crossroads or searching for themselves.
SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE49rank/position
Is there any other song that sings of the preciousness of life with such tenderness and strength? Released in November 2022 as Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s first single in about three and a half years, this piece was written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa.
In step with a story that upholds love for family against the harsh backdrop of a Siberian labor camp, the lyrics—like reciting by heart one’s feelings for a beloved—etch themselves into the soul.
Its grand arrangement featuring strings wraps unspoken everyday emotions and hope for tomorrow into a sweeping ballad.
It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone choosing to believe in the future, no matter how difficult the days may be.