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 ballads, tear-jerker songs. A tearful request dedicated to you (181–190)
How to Love AfterimagesTele
A delicate sonic world, woven to gently embrace the pain and regret that lie deep within the heart.
Riding on Tele’s slowly flowing, lyrical melodies, the song about a lost love quietly stays close to the listener’s heart.
The tender, almost whispering vocals and the dreamlike soundscape that seems to reflect a city at night create a space filled with a familiar, aching nostalgia.
Released in February 2025, this work serves as the theme song for Tele’s nationwide tour, coloring 12 shows across 9 cities starting in March.
It’s a song that gently accompanies those who have experienced parting with a loved one or who carry unspoken feelings in their hearts.
If you call it loveUru
No matter what difficulties lie ahead, “Sore wo Ai to Yobu Nara” portrays the bonds of people supporting one another.
Uru, who drew attention through numerous cover songs and original releases, put it out in 2022.
Even when you drift apart from someone important or things don’t go well, it carries a heartwarming message of wanting to stay together.
Her clear, enveloping vocals bring out a range of emotions from the narrative lyrics.
It’s a ballad whose words to a lifelong family member or partner strike straight to the heart.
Be sure to listen to this song, which is often used in TikTok videos depicting moving, emotional moments.
Until the day I can no longer rememberback number
This is a poignant song about parting with someone dear.
Iyori Shimizu’s delicate vocals gently enfold the feelings for the one who was lost.
It carefully depicts the depth of their bond and the emptiness that follows their absence, making it a piece that resonates deeply with listeners.
The song was also selected as the ending theme for a TV Tokyo music program, winning widespread empathy.
It’s the perfect track for when you want to remember someone important, or reaffirm your feelings for them.
Why not close your eyes and listen slowly?
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
A gemlike love song woven from evanescent yet beautiful poetic expressions and a crystal-clear singing voice.
While skillfully depicting scenes from nature, it delicately conveys the feelings of thinking about someone dear.
When Tota posted it on social media in June 2021, it quickly sparked a huge response.
In December 2022, it was selected as the tie-in song for a Pure Gummy web commercial, and the full version was released in February of the following year.
Recommended for those who want to face everyday reality while feeling the sorrow of losing someone precious and the strength to keep looking forward.
Changing seasonsren
Ren is a singer-songwriter who rose to fame on social media, earning overwhelming support from her generation for lyrics that feel real and relatable.
Her song “The Changing Seasons” is a love song so resonant that anyone who’s been heartbroken will be moved to tears.
Not limited to heartbreak, it captures that universal feeling we all know when we’re down—thinking “the world might as well end”—and expresses it in words that are simple yet beautiful.
The pain of feeling left behind comes through vividly: the seasons change, everything around you keeps moving on, and yet you alone remain standing still.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
Partings from those dear to us, encounters with the ones we love, and emotions too deep for words.
This gem of a ballad, released by Off Course in February 1982, gently sings of such delicate moments in life.
Kazumasa Oda’s clear, pure voice and the beautiful melody seep deep into the heart.
The song is included on the album “over” and was released as a double A-side single with “Kimi ni Okuru Uta.” In 1999, it was chosen for a life insurance company’s commercial, once again moving the hearts of many.
It’s a song to play when your feelings for someone overflow or when you want to express gratitude to someone precious.
fireflySazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars is a five-member rock band that has continued to captivate fans since their debut, standing as a quintessential group representing summer in the J-pop scene.
“Hotaru,” included on their 54th single Peace and Highlight, was selected as the theme song for the film The Eternal Zero.
Its lyrics, which evoke farewells with loved ones and prayers for peace, are ones many listeners may find themselves identifying with.
With a gentle yet heartrending message and melody that stir the heart, it’s a ballad that feels sentimental while still conveying a sense of positivity.
