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.
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- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- [A Cheer for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best
- A beautiful Japanese song that purifies the heart. A highly recommended classic.
- Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
- Nostalgic Showa-era heartbreak songs. Soothe your heart with timeless classics that can move women in their 60s to tears.
Crying songs, tear-jerker tunes. A tearful request dedicated to you (151–160)
I just feel like crying.Nagayama Miho
Miho Nakayama’s 28th single, released in February 1994.
It was the theme song for the drama “If Wishes Could Be Granted,” in which she starred.
Rather than a heartbreak song, it’s dedicated to a friend getting married—so perhaps the tears are tears of joy.
It’s reportedly often performed at weddings.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart, with total sales of 1.048 million copies.
SAD SONG feat. No No Girls FINALISTSchanmina
A special song by Chanmina and the “No No Girls” finalists has moved many to tears with its stirring performance.
The lyrics—filled with the bittersweetness behind happiness and a strong resolve to believe in the future—captivate listeners and make the piece deeply compelling.
Said to be based on Chanmina’s real experiences, it conveys the loneliness of chasing a dream and the importance of bonds with fellow travelers.
Released in January 2025, the song’s performance on THE FIRST TAKE in May of the same year tied in with the audition project and generated great emotion, topping YouTube for 10 days.
If you’re working hard at something, this song is sure to gently nudge you forward.
Don’t miss the chance to experience it.
365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB48
It was produced as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Asa ga Kita,” and also drew attention for being the first time Sayaka Yamamoto served as center.
The song encourages you not to push yourself too hard and to try your best tomorrow, and its gentle melody makes you feel uplifted.
Song for…HY
Among HY’s songs, this one—often called a masterpiece—expresses the aching feeling of wanting to see someone precious but being unable to.
Even if your feelings of love don’t change, not being able to meet can make your heart feel like it’s about to break, and it can make you sad, right? Tears well up at the bittersweet resolve of telling yourself you have to be strong.
me me sheRADWIMPS
In 2016, RADWIMPS achieved a major breakthrough, including an appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, with the theme songs for Your Name.
However, ever since their debut, they’ve had many hidden gems beloved by fans.
Among them, the song that makes me cry is this one—it’s the ballad by RADWIMPS that hits me the hardest and never fails to break my tear ducts.
NANIMONONakata Yasutaka
This is the solo debut track by Yasutaka Nakata, the producer behind Perfume—who have broken through globally with their performances and staging—and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who has brought Harajuku culture to the world.
It’s a collaboration with Kenshi Yonezu, and it’s a song that moves you to tears more through its melody than its lyrics.
Crying songs, tear-jerker tunes. A request of tears dedicated to you (161–170)
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
Hitomi Yaida’s debut single, released in October 2002.
Its uniquely Asian-flavored melody interwoven with contemporary lyrics spread as a “tear-jerker” song.
It was said to resonate even with people who were increasingly becoming socially withdrawn at the time.
Marking a striking debut, it peaked at No.
4 on the Oricon chart and sold a total of 464,000 copies.