Popular and recommended poignant Japanese songs on YouTube Shorts: a collection of timeless tracks that touch the heart

Mikan HeartNEW!C&K

C&K – Mikan Heart

This is a ballad that gently cradles the pain of an unattainable love.

It sings, over a lyrical melody, of the lingering ache that stays deep in the chest when feelings never reach the other person.

The beautiful vocals highlight the emotions where the joy and fear discovered through first love intersect.

This work is a single released in October 2013 by the male vocal duo C&K.

It was later included on the album “CK AND MORE…”.

Unable to give up and unable to sever your feelings… This is a song that quietly stays by your side when you’re carrying that kind of pent-up emotion.

I miss youNEW!RADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Aitai

A gem of a ballad, imbued with a pure wish for a loved one who’s been lost—impossible to listen to without tears.

It appears as the final track on rock band RADWIMPS’ album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1= 10 years 10 songs,” released in March 2021, marking ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The album is filled with messages from the band, who have kept the affected regions close to their hearts for many years, and its quiet soundscape of piano and rich strings sinks deeply into the soul.

For those who carry the ache of wanting to see someone they can’t, or who seek solace in their sorrow, this is the piece to hear.

Its warm afterglow, beyond words, gently envelops the heart.

AnswerNEW!Ikuta Rira

Lila Ikuta 'Answer' Official Music Video

This song was crafted by Lila Ikuta, who also shines as the vocalist of the music duo YOASOBI.

Its clear piano and translucent vocals gently embrace the resolve to keep moving forward, even while carrying anxiety and inner conflict.

Released in March 2021, it was written as the theme song for Tokio Marine Nichido Anshin Life’s “Anshin Disability Income Insurance” commercial.

It was later included on the album “Sketch.” The video was filmed in Chicago, where she spent her childhood, and its warm scenery also drew attention.

When you face obstacles in a challenge or lose confidence, this piece quietly stays by your side.

If you catch it in a short video, you might just find tears welling up before you know it.

Heartbreak—Are you happy now?NEW!sonā poketto

[Lingering Attachment Level 200%] Sonar Pocket “Heartbreak ~Are You Happy Now?~” [MV Full]

Sonar Pocket, who have earned support with their heartrending love songs.

This work is a heartbreak song that was released digitally in December 2012 and later included on the album “Sonapocketism 4 ~A Flower Called You~.” It was selected as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “BREAK OUT” and Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting’s “DOOMO” for December 2012, and has been widely loved ever since.

It vividly portrays unresolved feelings for an ex and the pain of imagining their current situation.

More than simple sorrow, this piece presses on the heart with the regret and lingering attachment that remain after a relationship ends.

If you’ve experienced a parting with someone important and your heart hasn’t caught up yet, listening to this will surely resonate with your own experience and gently stay by your side.

budNEW!Kobukuro

Kobukuro – Tsubomi

This work was created against the backdrop of Kentaro Kobuchi’s feelings for his mother, whom he lost in his teens.

It portrays a sense of loss for what is gone and a powerful message about moving forward and overcoming it.

Gratitude and longing for his late mother are sure to strike a deep chord with listeners.

Released in March 2007 as Kobukuro’s 14th single, the song was chosen as the theme for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad,” which depicts the bond between parent and child.

Its gentle vocals will stay close to your heart and give you the courage to take a step forward.

LeoNEW!Yuuri

Yuuri 'Leo' Official Music Video

Singer-songwriter Yuuri, who captivates countless listeners with his overwhelming vocal prowess.

Featured on the album “Ichi,” released in January 2022, this work is a moving ballad that portrays the bond between a dog and its owner.

Told from the perspective of a beloved dog, the everyday moments—and the poignant farewell that eventually arrives—resonate deeply alongside Yuuri’s richly emotive vocals.

Following the release of the music video, views surged rapidly, and by August of the same year, total streams surpassed 100 million.

It’s a warm song that comforts not only dog lovers but anyone who cherishes time with their loved ones.

A masterpiece that teaches us the preciousness of everyday life—something we often realize only after it’s gone—and one that’s impossible to hear without tears.

Blue amberback number

back number – Blue Amber [Theme song for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.m. drama 'From the Day I Took You']

A ballad that epitomizes back number, fully portraying deep sorrow and complex emotions.

Released in April 2025, this song served as the theme for the drama “From the Day You Were Taken,” aligning closely with its weighty narrative.

Like rare amber that changes color depending on the angle, the piece explores the multifaceted nature of the human heart.

Even when acting with firm resolve, another self is screaming inside—its wavering comes through with piercing clarity.

The grief of being torn apart by inescapable fate and the indelible memories of love are carried by a beautiful melody, drawing you in until you can’t help but empathize.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear on sleepless nights when you’re burdened with feelings you can’t tell anyone.