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 Japanese Songs [2026] (61–70)
Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN61rank/position
The song I want to listen to while reflecting on a friend I’m parting ways with is BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Tomodachi no Uta” (“Song of Friends”).
The lyrics, written by Motoo Fujiwara as he thought of characters from works he loved since childhood, convey a clumsy yet warm sense of friendship, and the grand sound incorporating trumpet is sure to resonate deeply with men as well.
Released in February 2011 as their 19th single, this track moved many as the theme song for the film “Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Angel Wings.” It’s a song that wraps up the anxieties of a new departure and gently nudges you forward.
Even if you end up walking separate paths, it makes you believe the time you shared won’t disappear—a masterpiece filled with kindness.
We areONE OK ROCK62rank/position
An empowering anthem that stands by the anxieties and struggles of young people, powerfully singing the importance of living true to yourself! Taka from ONE OK ROCK delivers an emotionally rich vocal performance, and the fusion with the emotive melody creates a soul-stirring sound that leaves a lasting impression.
Featured on the album “Ambitions” and released in January 2017, this track was chosen as NHK’s soccer theme song and deeply moved many viewers.
It’s a warm song that supports and encourages not only students in the midst of their youth, but also those who feel unable to face societal pressures and surrounding prejudice, and those on the verge of losing their sense of self.
somedaySaucy Dog63rank/position
A straightforward, honest love song that brings the ache and poignancy of heartbreak right to your chest.
Through real-life scenes—like the deserted park at Tawarayama and the sloping road where you can see the starry sky—the memories woven together vividly portray feelings for a precious person you can never meet again.
Released in May 2017 as a track on the album “Country Road,” this piece gently embraces an unforgettable love with warm lyrics that blend in the local Shimane dialect.
Its softly resonant melody offers quiet comfort to those who want to hold their one-sided love close, and to those who can’t quite put an end to a past romance.
LeoYuuri64rank/position
It’s a tear-jerking song told from a dog’s perspective, portraying its bond with its owner and the course of its life.
The track is by singer-songwriter Yuuri, known for the smash hit “Dry Flower,” and is included on the acclaimed album “Ichi,” released in January 2022.
This song tells a bittersweet yet heartwarming story that makes you realize how the ordinary days with an owner were irreplaceable treasures.
The regret and gratitude one feels when the “ordinary” is no longer ordinary seep deeply into listeners’ hearts through Yuuri’s emotionally rich vocals.
The music video, directed by Mai Sakai, also drew attention, with its moving story resonating with many.
It’s a piece not only for pet owners but for anyone who wants to reaffirm the value of someone precious.
wedgeOku Hanako65rank/position
A signature ballad by Hanako Oku that depicts undying feelings for someone you can’t forget.
The delicate piano tones express the unfillable hollow and sense of loss after parting from a lover.
Hanako Oku’s crystal-clear voice gently sinks into the heart, doesn’t it? Sung since her indie days, this piece was released as a 10th-anniversary single in July 2015 and is also included on the album Prism.
Despite having no tie-ins, it resonated online and became a hidden gem, amassing a total of 15 million video views.
It’s a heartbreak song, but perfect for creating a moving, mellow atmosphere.
With few key changes and easy emotional delivery, why not choose it as a song to touch the heart of someone you care about?
The Last Confession of the EarthKEMU VOXX66rank/position
“A fulfilling boyhood”—someone I met during that time.
I didn’t think much of it back then, but only after losing them did I realize I was in love.
This song evokes the bittersweet flavor of youth.
“I want to properly express the feelings I’ve just realized”—even if it’s already too late.
A classic Vocaloid song about such a heartrending love.
To the futureKiroro67rank/position
This song is a staple among graduation tunes.
It’s a track by Kiroro, a female duo from Okinawa, released as their second single in June 1998.
Originally, the songwriter composed it in middle school to express gratitude to her mother, but its warm lyrics also resonate with the feelings we have for those who supported us at graduation.
Its simple, heartfelt melody has been featured as an insert song in the anime “Tsuki ga Kirei” and in commercials.
Singing of hope for the new paths ahead, this moving piece gives courage in times of parting and new beginnings.
It’s sure to be a song that gently nudges someone forward.
Ayano’s Theory of Happinessjin68rank/position
A moving song that poignantly portrays the delicate emotions of a girl named Ayano.
Composed by Jin, also known as Shizen no Teki-P, and released in April 2013, it was created as part of the Kagerou Project series.
The lyrics, themed around love for family and self-sacrifice, blend with IA’s gentle vocals to create a deeply affecting piece.
The beautiful timbre of the strings also stirs the heart, making this a gem of a ballad.
Knowing the story will deepen the impact even more, so be sure to check out the related works of the Kagerou Project as well.
Calc.Jimii Samu P69rank/position
This is a Vocaloid song that gently stays by your side through the sorrow of heartbreak.
It’s a track by JimmyThumb-P, a Vocaloid producer known for many hits like “from Y to Y,” released in September 2010.
The unforgettable parting is sung over a heartrending sound, and before you know it, you empathize with the protagonist and find yourself in tears.
If you listen to it when you want to sort out your feelings about losing someone important, you’ll probably cry—and feel refreshed afterward.
MetronomeYonezu Kenshi70rank/position
A song that overlays the gradual misalignment of two people’s relationship with an instrument keeping a steady rhythm, conveying a poignant sense of missed connections that tugs at the heart.
Included on the 2015 album “Bremen,” this track powerfully conveys the helplessness of starting in the same tempo only to drift apart over time, as well as the lingering attachment that makes you keep searching for the other person even after you’ve parted.
The animated music video—hand-drawn by Kenshi Yonezu himself with about 200 illustrations—visually deepens the song’s world and leaves a strong impression.
For anyone with an unforgettable love or who has experienced growing apart from someone dear, this is a sorrowful yet beautiful ballad that resonates deeply.