Sad Song Rankings [2026]
Here is this year’s ranking of “sad songs.”
We present the most-listened-to tracks of the year in order of their ranking.
Songs created by overcoming experiences of “sadness,” along with their lyrics, seem to resonate with many listeners.
They will surely be music that people keep listening to for years to come.
- Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]
- Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]
- Crying-Your-Eyes-Out Song Rankings [2026]
- Lonely Song Rankings [2026]
- Popular Depressive Songs Ranking [2026]
- Popular Heartbreak Song Rankings [2026]
- Ranking of Tear-Jerking Japanese Songs [2026]
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- Popular Moving Songs Ranking [2026]
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- Ken Hirai’s Tearjerker/Weepy Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- HY’s Tearjerker Songs: Top Cry-Inducing and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
Sad Song Rankings [2026] (61–70)
If only I could remain at zeroOfisharu Higedan Dism64rank/position
The band Official HIGE DANDism has captivated many listeners with numerous love songs.
Their stylish yet catchy performances powered by outstanding musicianship, and vocalist Fujihara’s beautifully soaring voice, are truly compelling.
This song is about a long-distance relationship.
After meeting on the weekend and saying goodbye, the next chance to see each other is five days later…
The title “If Only It Could Stay at Zero” can be understood as a heartfelt wish for those five days until they meet again to become zero.
The lyrics not only convey hope for a future marriage someday, but also the anxiety over whether they’ll even make it that far, making it a song that invites deep empathy and can move you to tears.
March 9Remioromen65rank/position
This song is Remioromen’s signature track and is also beloved as a classic graduation song.
It gained attention as an insert song in the drama “1 Litre of Tears,” too.
Interestingly, the song was originally written by the band members for a friend’s wedding and sings about the presence of someone dear.
With a forward-looking message painted through numerous beautiful scenes, combined with its gentle, tender atmosphere, it becomes a deeply moving piece.
Whether as a graduation song or a wedding song, it’s a touching track that listeners can enjoy while overlaying it with their own feelings.
OrangeSMAP66rank/position
Among SMAP’s songs, “Orange” is often called a hidden gem.
Released in 2000 as the B-side to “Lion Heart,” it’s a coupling track that enjoys high popularity in fan-voted rankings.
It’s a classic ballad that carefully portrays a parting from a loved one—a heartrending love song.
Yet it still feels warm, perhaps because the lyrics end not with “goodbye” but with “thank you.” Covered by female artists such as miwa and loved by listeners of all genders, this song asks you to deliver its final words gently and memorably.
passing by each otherSoala67rank/position
Overwhelming love can, without us noticing, turn into invisible chains that bind the other person.
Soala conveys this painful mismatch with a heartrending voice.
It leaves you with a helpless feeling—the ironic reality that actions and affection meant for the best can end up closing the curtain on a relationship.
Released in July 2023, the song resonated with many, surpassing 20 million views on TikTok within six months.
It pierces deeply into the hearts of those who worry that their love might be a burden to the other.
The regret of not finding an answer to what you should have done—it’s truly heartbreaking.
The summer you gave meieiri reo68rank/position
It was released in 2015 as Leo Ieiri’s 10th single.
It served as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Koinaka,” and also became the subtitle of the final episode.
The song captures the resolve to live on without forgetting memories of a summer romance, while also conveying the sorrow of bittersweet recollections.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE69rank/position
The 31st single by DREAMS COME TRUE.
It was the theme song for the drama “The Castle of Sand.” Among DREAMS COME TRUE’s singles from the 2000s, it achieved the highest sales.
Even if it’s a love without a future and without reward, it’s a song brimming with mature allure that can’t help but keep thinking of “you.”
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro70rank/position
It’s probably Hata Motohiro’s most famous song, isn’t it? Released in 2015 as the theme song for the film “STAND BY ME Doraemon,” it became a long-running hit.
It’s a song that moves you far beyond tears—it truly seeps into the heart.
Even from the intro, the melody is incredibly gentle.
You can really feel the deep care for a friend coming through.
There’s also a mysterious charm that makes you want to come back to it from time to time for no particular reason.
Please listen to it while thinking of someone precious to you.
