[Support for the Heart] Songs That Give You Courage When Times Are Tough
In life, tough and painful times are bound to come, and you’ll likely experience major setbacks as well.
In those moments, many people find it hard to carry everything alone, yet don’t quite feel like talking to someone either.
At times like that, letting music gently stay by your side is something I recommend.
In this article, I’ve gathered songs that can give you strength when you’re going through hard times.
From timeless classics to the latest hits, I’ve picked a variety—so please find the support song that’s just for you.
- [For those doing their best] A comforting song to listen to when you're tired of life
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- Timeless songs that stay close to your heart when times are tough. Uplifting tracks with gentle lyrics that really sink in.
- [Songs Portraying Strong Women] Positive Tracks to Listen to When You’re Feeling Discouraged
- Take the first step!! Songs that give you courage, songs that make you persevere when you listen
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- Songs to listen to when you’re feeling down! Tracks that boost your self-confidence
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- [Deeply Moving] A Tear-Jerking Cheer Song: Popular Inspirational Anthems That Resonate with the Heart
- Timeless songs that sing of hopes and dreams. Masterpieces that lead those who strive toward the future.
- A famous song about setbacks. A song that stays by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up.
- [Today's Cheer Song] To everyone giving it your all! A gem of an inspiring anthem that resonates with the heart
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
[For the Heart] Songs That Give You Courage to Listen to When Times Are Tough (111–120)
The true soundKOKIA
This is a song by KOKIA that calls on listeners to tune in to their true inner voice when they feel they’re losing sight of the meaning or purpose of life.
It urges us to face the part of ourselves that gets swept along by a superficial world and to reexamine our fundamental values.
With a translucent vocal and a beautiful piano melody that soaks into the heart, the piece feels like a cry from the depths of the soul.
Included on the album “moment,” released in May 2011, this work stands as a symbol of KOKIA’s musical maturity and has deeply moved many listeners.
It’s a song that offers companionship to those who feel lonely or anxious and are on the verge of losing their sense of purpose, and to anyone seeking a path that is true to themselves.
more than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
You can’t help but be struck by this cheer song from Hitsujibungaku.
Moeka Shiozuka’s clear, transparent voice sinks into your heart, making it a song that stays by your side in tough times.
Chosen as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, it was released in September 2023.
The lyrics sing about the importance of continuing to believe in yourself, and they’re sure to give you courage.
The delicate guitar tones and driving rhythm give you the strength to face forward.
When you’ve experienced setbacks and lost confidence, give this song a listen.
Wrapped in its kindness, you’ll feel the courage to take a new step forward.
A Gentle BallAimer
Set to the strains of a dreamlike waltz, a mysterious tale unfolds on the stage of a nighttime ball.
Aimer’s husky, lustrous voice gracefully paints a fantastical scene bathed in moonlight.
The feelings of a girl who keeps dancing within the fleeting hours of the night, searching for faint memories and traces of the past, will resonate deeply with us as adults.
This piece is included on the single “SCOPE,” released in February 2025, and was newly written for NHK’s “Minna no Uta” broadcasts for February and March.
It’s a song you’ll want to savor at the close of the day, in a quiet room—one that will gently accompany and soothe a heart tired from work.
Night MusicMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song that gently envelops the solitary moments of facing oneself in the stillness of the night.
The longing to be loved, the desire to convey the pain buried deep within the heart—yet being unable to put it into words…
Such tender, aching emotions are expressed through delicate melodies and a dreamlike soundscape.
Released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in January 2024 as the theme song for the film “Silent Love,” the track drew a huge response, surpassing 100 million streams on Billboard Japan.
On nights when you can’t face your own weakness, or when your heart feels like it’s about to break, let this song stay by your side—it will surely bring you solace.
UniqueAARON
This song is also the theme for the drama “Isn’t That a Rip-Off?”—and I always look forward to Kyoko Yoshine’s slightly spacey, soft-hearted character in it.
It’s also the debut track from the artist AARON—pronounced “Aaron.” Even when unexpected rain falls or your IC card won’t work and you feel a bit down, the song embraces a positive mindset that sees those moments as “unique.” The lyrics brim with energy to keep moving forward day by day, and there’s so much to relate to.
As you listen on, elements of a love song blend in, and that subtle touch is great too.
It’s a track that leads to a happy ending—one I’d love for you to play when you need a boost.
aimlesslyAimer
Aimer’s 22nd single, released in 2023, is “Ate mo Naku.” It’s a ballad overflowing with gentle warmth, written as the ending theme for the anime Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage.
It feels like it’s telling you, “You don’t have to push yourself too hard—just be who you are,” and it really hits home when you listen.
It carries Aimer’s message of wanting to warm each person’s heart, so definitely give it a listen!
room for growthCreepy Nuts
Creepy Nuts has delivered a track full of eagerness to explore life’s possibilities.
Included on their September 2021 album “Case,” this song portrays the growth you come to recognize as you get older and the boundless potential within yourself.
It captures, from a distinctive angle, the more flexible way of seeing things that comes with adulthood and the encounter with a new version of yourself.
Also adopted as a cheer song for professional baseball, this track gently encourages anyone who wants to believe in their limitless potential or transform who they are now.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you’re feeling setbacks or uncertainty, and when you’re ready to take a new step forward.