Crying songs, tear-jerker tunes. A request of tears dedicated to you.
When you hear the phrase “tearjerker song,” what kind of track comes to mind?
A heartbreaking breakup song, a love song that sings of earnest devotion, a piece that tells a moving story, an anthem that cheers on life, a song about loss…
Even just listing them like this shows how many kinds of tearjerker songs there are, doesn’t it?
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of masterpieces that shake us listeners to the core—songs you can’t hear without tears.
We’ve picked out all kinds of genres and moods—above all, songs that will make you cry.
If you find one that resonates with your experiences and feelings, it’s sure to become a treasured song for you.
Songs that make you cry, tearjerker anthems. A tearful request dedicated to you (1–10).
Midnight ExpresswayFurawā Kanpanīzu
A signature song by Furukawa Honpo with an unforgettable impact in the chorus.
It’s powerful yet steeped in a quiet sadness.
It sings of the struggle of living, and its earnest emotion comes through palpably.
The rising voltage in the latter half is especially tear-jerking.
It gently stands by those feelings of regret, and it feels like it acknowledges the heart and the self that each of us carries.
I’m sure there’s a part of it that will resonate with anyone.
When you’re worn out by daily life or stumble over something, give “Shinya Kousoku” (Midnight Highway) a listen.
You’ll feel like you can still keep going.
I long to see you now.MISIA
A number in which MISIA’s majestic vocals resonate deeply in the heart.
It was used as the theme song for the mega-hit drama JIN.
The song was created from the desire to focus on the theme of life—reflecting the drama’s content—and was based on a letter MISIA herself read, written by a soldier heading on a kamikaze mission during the war to his lover.
It portrays a powerful longing to see someone you can no longer meet.
For those who have lost someone and yearn to see them again, the lyrics are especially relatable—so moving they tighten the chest.
Coupled with MISIA’s overwhelming vocal performance delivering those words, the tears simply won’t stop.
Because you are hereUru
A number by Uru, whose captivating voice seems to envelop the listener’s heart.
It was written as the theme song for the drama “Ship of Theseus” starring Ryoma Takeuchi.
Just having someone important to you can give you the strength to overcome anything and keep going.
Do you have someone who makes you feel that way? This song expresses feelings for that special person whose mere presence is enough.
If you listen while thinking of someone you can no longer meet, someone you can’t easily touch anymore but still cherish deeply, you may find tears naturally welling up.
Just the two of usRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS are now known by many people, and this is one of the hit songs that made them popular.
In contrast to its gentle melody, the lyrics unfold briskly and lightly, creating a pleasant feeling that makes you close your eyes and listen intently.
Brimming with the charm that makes you think, “Maybe this is what happiness is,” the lyrics convey a heart in love, shouting with all its might how much it loves the other person.
It’s a song I can recommend to people of all ages.
Released in 2006, it can truly be called a masterpiece that is still loved by many today.
NAOHY
HY has created many moving songs.
Among them, this track can be considered a signature heartbreak song.
The gentle melody traces memories and scenes from when the two were happy, and just reading the lyrics can bring you to tears.
Those who have experienced heartbreak will empathize, and those currently in a relationship will be inspired to think, “I want a love like this.” Though the ending is sad, it makes you feel that there was a wonderful, beautiful love at its core—a truly beautiful song.
himawariMr.Children
A number whose gentle, grand melody—so quintessentially Mr.
Children—brings tears to your eyes.
It was chosen as the theme song for the film Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, starring Minami Hamabe and Takumi Kitamura.
The movie itself is impossible to watch without tears, and when this song plays after those moving scenes, it only makes them flow faster.
It’s about a heartbreaking farewell to someone who could always smile and instantly brighten a dark world.
Even so, the self who remains here must start walking forward.
This is a song that, even as you weep with sorrow, gives you the resolve to keep moving ahead.
The End of Summeraibii karaa
A summer song by Ivycolor overflowing with a distinctly Japanese, emotionally beautiful atmosphere.
It’s a track from 2019.
Just hearing the keyboard tone is enough to bring me to tears… It’s so heartrending it makes my chest tighten.
The nostalgic fragility of summer’s end and the dramatic developments tug at the tear ducts.
It may sound like a farewell song, but perhaps the moment the fireworks fade is actually the beginning of love.
A wonderfully delicate and beautiful track that brims with Ivycolor’s charm.