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!
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
- 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
Japanese masterworks about sorrow (41–50)
applausechiaki naomi
Speaking of Naomi Chiaki, she is a legendary female singer.
When I listen to her song “Kassai” (Applause), I get the illusion that she’s singing about herself.
It’s a very sad song, but its melody and lyrics are so beautiful that I want to listen to it over and over again.
Masterpieces of Japanese songs about sorrow (51–60)
Our FailureMorita Doji
“Our Failure” by Doji Morita is also a classic that sings of sorrow.
It became a massive hit as the theme song for the popular TV drama High School Teacher.
Both the drama and the song felt overwhelmingly melancholic, offering little sense of hope and only deepening a feeling of suffocation.
LOVEDMISIA
Heartbreak is sad, but there are loves that make you glad you fell for that person, aren’t there? For those who feel that way, this song is recommended.
It might be painful now, but as time passes, it will turn into a good memory.
When you want someone to understand your painful heartbreak, listening to this song will calm your heart.
Never Grow Upchanmina
There are lots of heartbreak songs that pour out the pain of a broken heart.
Among them, the one I’ve picked this time is Chanmina’s “Never Grow Up.” The song moves along with a light rhythm, but its sound blends in a poignancy that doesn’t really feel bright.
The title could be interpreted to mean that heartbreak has stopped one’s growth.
Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri
A song by singer-songwriter Matsuri that delicately portrays a woman’s feelings as she tries to move forward after heartbreak.
Released in June 2022, it gently expresses—in down-to-earth words—the emotional state of someone bound by a past romance yet determined to take a new step.
With a sweet, bittersweet vocal and a melody that evokes deep empathy, it stands out as a memorable breakup song.
The music video, featuring actress Yū Miyazaki, known for her role in films such as “Ninkyō Gakuen,” also drew attention.
It’s a song that quietly stays close to those trying to overcome the pain of heartbreak or move forward while remembering someone dear.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
A massive hit song by Off Course, an artist beloved by people of all ages for their exceptionally rare high-tone vocals and the clear, transparent world of their music.
It’s a masterpiece that captures the pain and sorrow of a relationship ending—one you thought would last forever.
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
A major hit by Golden Bomber, an artist popular with younger generations for catchy melodies that stick after a single listen and upbeat, fast-paced tracks.
While the lively rhythm often takes the spotlight, the lyrics are actually about heartbreak, expressing lingering feelings for a former lover.