A classic Japanese song that sings of sorrow
In everyday life, we all go through sad experiences—like heartbreak or setbacks at work.
When you’re feeling down, some people listen to upbeat, energizing songs to lift their spirits, while others intentionally choose sad songs.
Which are you?
Sometimes, letting yourself sink into the ultimate sentimental mood with a sad song can actually make the sadness fade.
Here, we’ll introduce some classic Japanese songs that sing of sorrow!
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- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
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- Hidden gems of yami songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces that depict various kinds of gloom.
- Masterpieces with the theme of “tears.” A roundup of moving tracks that tug at the heartstrings.
- A masterpiece that sings of loneliness. Recommended popular songs.
- A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.
- Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Today's Tearjerker Song] Tear ducts destroyed! Timeless and trending tracks that will make you cry no matter what
- Classic and popular unrequited love breakup songs
Masterpieces of Japanese songs about sorrow (71–80)
OverMr.Children
It’s a breakup song with a curious atmosphere that also leaves a somewhat carefree impression.
It’s a track by the national rock band Mr.
Children, included on their fourth album, Atomic Heart, released in 1994.
The way the vocals spill out the singer’s inner thoughts, bit by bit, really lingers in the ear.
If you can get into this kind of mindset, maybe even the big event of a breakup will feel like it’s come to a close.
It’s a number I’d also recommend for karaoke.
tragic heroineMy Hair is Bad
Known for their heartrending love songs, My Hair is Bad delivers another youth anthem that tightens the chest, capturing the sorrowful feelings after a breakup.
Released in February 2024, this track depicts a scene where a woman from a former couple visits her ex-boyfriend’s home.
The lyrics convey how she can’t suppress her lingering feelings, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s a song that evokes breakup memories many can relate to.
The music video also weaves fragmentary images together with meaning, making it visually engaging as well.
It’s especially recommended for those who’ve experienced heartbreak, but it’s also perfect for anyone seeking a bittersweet track.
To You Who Don’t Know LoveNEWS
This is a song by NEWS that was used as the theme for the drama adaptation of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
When you listen to it alongside the film’s story, it becomes a track that evokes a sense of sadness.
It’s a song that men who’ve experienced heartbreak can relate to, so why not give it a listen?
HappinessSHE’S
From the title and lyrics, you might expect a happy, lovey-dovey couple’s song, but by the end you realize it’s actually a sad track about recalling happier times—this is “Shiawase” (“Happiness”).
The song appears on SHE’S, a four-piece piano rock band’s first mini-album “WHO IS SHE?” released in 2014.
With its beautiful melody and vocals that heighten the sense of poignancy, many listeners will likely find themselves in tears.
For anyone going through a breakup, it’s probably a song you can’t listen to without crying.
BYE BYESHISHAMO
A bittersweet yet somehow bright rock tune that depicts the state of being down after a broken heart.
When you get your heart broken, you can feel like you can’t trust anything anymore.
You might even snap and just say “to hell with it!” The song also voices the desire to say goodbye to the version of yourself that’s still stuck in the past, and SHISHAMO’s sound and vocals give you courage.
Partings are sad, but they’re also the next step, right? After you have a good, cleansing cry with this song, a new you is sure to be waiting.
You’ve got this!
I×USilent Siren
It’s a sad love song that brings back memories of winters spent with someone special.
It’s a track by the girl band Silent Siren—affectionately known as “Saisai”—released in 2013 as their fourth single.
The band sound, featuring piano tones, has a clear, translucent quality that alone feels heartrending.
The melody pairs perfectly with vocalist Sumire Yoshida’s unadorned, straight, spine-tingling voice, and it’s tear-inducing.
You may naturally project yourself onto the song’s protagonist and find yourself reminiscing about a past love.
Love letterTHE BLUE HEARTS
A warm message wishing happiness for a loved one even after heartbreak—this is the essence of “Love Letter.” Released in 1989 by the rock band THE BLUE HEARTS and covered by numerous artists, the song features a gentle melody unfolding at a slow tempo, resonating with Hiroto Kōmoto’s tender vocals.
It’s a ballad that captures the bittersweet realization of still thinking about someone you love, even though you can no longer be together as lovers.
Perhaps true love is the kind of heart that can wish for someone’s happiness, even when you cannot stay by their side.
