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)
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.
Final scene.eill
Singer-songwriter eill, known for her translucent vocals and versatile musicality, continues to draw attention.
Chosen as the theme song for Amazon Prime Video’s reality dating show “Love Transit Season 3,” this track was released for streaming in October 2025.
Set to a classic R&B groove, it delicately portrays the emotions of a woman striving to move forward while holding onto feelings for someone she’s parted ways with.
It’s moving in its depiction of the aching loneliness of having no one left to keep her warm, alongside the complex desire to cherish that love in her heart forever.
Give it a listen when you feel like looking back on a past romance.
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.
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.
dead endHoshino Gen
Ikidomari, the theme song for the film A Moon in the Flatlands, by Gen Hoshino.
It’s a quiet love song composed only of piano and vocals.
The lyrics, which depict adult loss and regret—continuing to harbor feelings for someone unforgettable even while standing at a dead end—resonate deeply.
Hoshino has commented that it’s “not a song about myself, but a song that tells the story within the song in the first person,” which shows how faithfully it conveys the film’s worldview.
Please take your time and immerse yourself in its poignant afterglow.
life hackVaundy
A love song by Vaundy that portrays the wavering of the heart where anxiety and expectation in romance intersect.
It depicts how the narrator rides an emotional rollercoaster with every change in the other person’s attitude, unable to suppress the surge of unstoppable feelings.
The psychological portrayal of oscillating between the desire to create and the urge to protect captures a genuine conflict that anyone in love can relate to.
Released digitally in March 2020, the track was later included on the May 2020 album “strobo.” In 2022, it was selected as the TV commercial song for the apparel brand GLOBAL WORK, delivering a refreshing world in a CM featuring Tsubasa Honda.
It’s a song to listen to when you’re puzzled by the push and pull of romance, or on nights when your heart races thinking about someone you love.
Guaranteed to move your emotions! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era (21–30)
motion sickness from proximitywanuka
I want to pour out my true feelings under the influence of alcohol, but I can’t put them into words honestly… In Wanuka’s song, the protagonist’s bittersweet emotions are sung as they try to express their love by taking refuge in drinking.
When a short version was posted on TikTok in 2020, its unique worldview became a hot topic, and after the official release in February 2021, it topped Spotify’s Viral Chart.
The Japanese-inspired sound, which incorporates the yonanuki (pentatonic) scale, feels nostalgic yet radiates a fresh charm.
The desire to get closer to someone, even if it means borrowing the courage of drunkenness, and the frustrating uncertainty over whether those feelings are truly genuine—this is recommended for anyone who relates to the real struggles of love.