Guaranteed to move your emotions! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era
In recent years, the word “emoi” has been widely used among young people.
It comes from “emotional,” meaning a state that’s easily affected by feelings, and it’s used to express emotions like happiness, sadness, loneliness, nostalgia, and bittersweetness.
This time, we’ve put together a list of “emoi” tracks limited to releases from the Reiwa era.
Beyond just the lyrics, some songs feel “emoi” through their melodies and ensemble, so we hope listeners of all ages—not just younger generations—can feel the “emo” vibe.
- Just listening to it gives me chills! A moving song released in the Reiwa era
- Gently soaking into a weary heart... Healing songs released in the Reiwa era
- When you want to immerse yourself in music alone! Tear-jerker songs released in the Reiwa era
- Listening will surely fill you with courage! Cheer songs released in the Reiwa era
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- [Sentimental/Emotional] A Collection of Vocaloid Songs That Shake the Heart [Moving Songs]
- A collection of Vocaloid youth songs [emo, romance, etc.]
- Recommended for couples! Reiwa-era love songs that warm the heart
- Emotional songs that resonate in a sentimental autumn. A collection of autumn tunes.
- A collection of uplifting, youth-themed songs — timeless tracks that set your heart on fire
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Emotional songs to listen to in spring: a collection of masterpieces that suit the season of meetings and farewells.
- An emo song for winter. A winter tune that resonates with the heart.
Guaranteed to move you emotionally! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era (11–20)
Rejuvenation feat. Hikari Mitsushimajoōbachi
Queen Bee is a rock band that has gained support with songs featuring vocals that span a wide range, switching seamlessly from low to high registers.
This track, included on the album Jūnijigen (12th Dimension), also made waves when a version featuring a collaboration with Hikari Mitsushima was released.
Their overwhelming expressive power—shifting between male and female vocal parts—offers more than enough impact to understand Queen Bee’s appeal.
Released in March 2023, this song is an emotional number with a bittersweet melody and a pleasing ensemble that contemplates past love and memories.
Spot the differenceSuda Masaki
This is the first digital single by Masaki Suda, who draws attention both as an actor and a singer with his unique presence.
The track was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Perfect World.” Released in May 2019, it achieved the remarkable feat of reaching top positions on various streaming platforms.
Centered on the search for “mistakes” and “correct answers” in life, it conveys a simple yet profound message.
Its striking lyrics and wistful melody are irresistibly captivating.
It’s a moving song that’s perfect for reflecting on your relationship with someone important.
evening primroseNovelbright
This ballad, which portrays a love you can’t forget even after a breakup, was released by Novelbright in December 2020.
It was selected as the Monthly Song for the weather segment of Fuji TV’s information program “Tokudane!” in February, and the band also appeared live on the show.
The grand arrangement woven by piano and strings is layered with Yudai Takenaka’s emotional high-tone vocals, creating a world that is both heartrending and beautiful.
The lyrics, which reflect on memories spent in a city at dusk and feelings for someone you can no longer meet, will deeply resonate with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.
When you face parting with someone dear—carrying loneliness and regret yet trying to look forward—this song will gently stay by your side.
Cinderella BoySaucy Dog
Written from a female perspective, this song is a heartfelt love ballad that portrays unrequited feelings and the turmoil of betrayal.
Paralleling the story of Cinderella, it poignantly captures the moment when, like magic fading after midnight, she notices her lover’s true self beneath the idealized image.
Self-deception in turning a blind eye to betrayal, and the complex emotions of anger and dependence, are conveyed over a wistful melody.
Included on the mini-album “Lazy Sunday,” the track was released digitally in August 2021.
It debuted on Music Station in 2022 and ranked second in the annual karaoke charts.
It’s a must-listen for anyone struggling with one-sided love or feeling hurt by a complicated relationship.
Memento moriŌmori Motoki
A song themed around life and death included on the EP “French,” released in February 2021 as a solo work by Motoki Ohmori of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
As its Latin title—meaning “remember death”—suggests, it contemplates the finiteness of life through motifs such as parting, departures, and memories, yet delivers a warm sense of affirmation rather than fear.
The piece was adapted into a picture book in September 2021, and further expanded beyond the realm of music with a stage adaptation as a reading play starring Mone Kamishiraishi set for December 2024.
With serene, lyrical soundscapes that seep into the heart, this ballad reflects on the farewells that will one day come and teaches the importance of living in the present.
1991Yonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu, a singer-songwriter leading the Japanese music scene.
This song, written as the theme for the live-action film “5 Centimeters per Second,” bears the title 1991—the year he was born—reflecting his deep attachment to the original work.
The lyrics, woven around themes of memory and loss that trace personal emotions, convey a will to keep moving forward while facing the past, making it highly relatable for many listeners.
It’s an emotional number that will resonate deeply with those at a turning point in life or anyone wishing to confront precious memories.
Guaranteed to move your emotions! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era (21–30)
JANE DOEYonezu Kenshi, Utada Hikaru
This work brings together two of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters, Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, as the ending theme for the feature-length anime Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.
It is included on the double A-side single IRIS OUT / JANE DOE, released in September 2025.
The lyrics, poetically weaving pain and memory and a call to what has been lost, sweep through the heart like a breeze through Utada’s clear yet melancholic vocals.
The delicate world crafted by Yonezu and the expressive power of Utada overlap to create a transience and lingering resonance that gently accompanies you when someone dear comes to mind or when you want to quietly face your emotions—a song that truly strikes a chord.