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Ranking of Moving/Japanese Pop Songs [2026]
We’re excited to present the latest Top 100 ranking of the most-viewed Japanese emotional songs, all in one go!
Whether it’s the performance or the lyrics, there are many elements that can move us, but with Japanese music, the message in the lyrics often comes through very directly.
Sometimes it’s okay to let a touching song bring you to tears.
The playlist is updated weekly.
Most Moving Japanese Songs Ranking [2026] (1–10)
I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci1rank/position
This song by wacci is a warm piece that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman after a breakup.
Centered on themes of a new relationship and personal change, it expresses lingering attachment and inner conflict through a gentle melody.
Released digitally in August 2018, it gradually gained popularity through word of mouth and entered the charts around May 2019.
With over 50 million views on YouTube, it has become a song that resonates with many people.
It’s perfect for those who have experienced a breakup or are about to step into a new love.
The key isn’t too high, making it a moving karaoke song recommended for men.
Its heartfelt lyrics and warm melody are sure to gently embrace your heart.
NonfictionHirai Ken2rank/position
A heartfelt message song born from the experience of losing a close friend.
Ken Hirai’s powerful vocals portray the longing for a lost life and the wish to meet again, with a voice that stirs the soul.
Since its release in June 2017, this medium-tempo ballad has resonated with many.
Created as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Little Giant,” its delicate, acoustic guitar–based arrangement harmonizes beautifully with the drama’s worldview.
The lyrics probe deeply into the meaning of life and gently embrace life’s struggles and setbacks, woven with warm words that stay close to the heart.
This work will light a quiet beacon in the hearts of those standing at life’s crossroads or holding feelings for someone dear.
somedaySaucy Dog3rank/position
A rock ballad by Saucy Dog that pierces the heart with memories of someone dear.
It’s a track included on their first mini-album, “Country Road,” released in 2017.
The lyrics look back on the brilliance of time once shared—like the starry sky at the top of a hill and a lover lying on the ground—delicately portraying the aching feelings of a protagonist who can’t fully accept the breakup.
The word choices rooted in vocalist Shinya Ishihara’s real experiences, along with expressions woven with his hometown Shimane dialect, lend the song a deep sense of realism.
It’s an emotional track whose lyrics, addressed to someone they’ll never meet again, might just bring you to tears.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku4rank/position
A coming-of-age song that captures the bittersweet feeling at summer’s end.
Released in 2007 as the group’s 10th single, it was created with the fireworks festival at Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture in mind.
In simple words, it portrays the scene of looking up at the final firework and the moment of parting while carrying unspoken feelings.
It was also featured as an insert song for the Fuji TV drama “SUMMER NUDE” and in a LINE Mobile commercial, becoming a beloved classic that stayed in many people’s hearts.
It’s a track that, along with the air of summer fading away, makes you quietly reminisce about who you were back then.
The nostalgia for days of youth and the poignant sense of the changing seasons seep deeply into the heart.
deep redMy Hair is Bad5rank/position
This is a signature song by My Hair is Bad that vividly depicts the ache of heartbreak and self-loathing.
Within its emotional rock sound, it finely portrays raw human feelings and actions, as well as the complexities of romantic relationships.
The album “Hitomebore e.p.” brilliantly expresses a dual-sided relationship—physical intimacy and emotional walls, affection and control, dependence and independence.
Since its release in July 2015, it has become a staple at live shows, generating a strong sense of unity with the audience.
In April 2022, the band performed it on Music Station, drawing renewed attention for their expressive power.
This song, which pairs imagery evocative of spring with the heart of someone trying to move forward while carrying deep loss and self-loathing, offers a sense of closeness and comfort.
365 daysMr.Children6rank/position
The song used for NTT East and West Japan’s commercial was Mr.Children’s “365 Nichi” (“365 Days”).
It’s a track from their 2010 album SENSE, and even though it was never released as a single, it remains one of their most beloved signature songs.
It’s a romantic love song about “thinking of you all 365 days of the year.” Spring is also a popular wedding season.
Since “365 Nichi” is a classic wedding song, be sure to use it as background music for those moving moments!
Dear, boyHump Back7rank/position
This song by Hump Back, a three-piece girls band from Osaka, is a heartfelt message to everyone who keeps chasing their dreams.
Its passionate lyrics, urging the self who’s about to forget a once-held dream that it’s not over yet, strike a powerful chord with listeners.
Carried by a simple yet powerful rock sound, and highlighted by Momoko Hayashi’s straight, earnest vocals, this track was their major-label debut single released in June 2018, and it was also used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Buzz Rhythm 02.” It’s the perfect song to listen to when parting ways with friends after graduation or when you feel anxious about a new challenge.
It will steady a wavering heart and give you a firm push forward.