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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- 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)
First LoveUtada Hikaru
A melody that gently embraces a bittersweet farewell and unforgettable memories.
The lingering sweetness of young love woven by a 16-year-old Hikaru Utada seeps into the listener’s heart.
While accepting a past romance as a cherished memory, it also conveys a forward-looking strength to take a new step.
Included on the album “First Love,” released in March 1999, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Majo no Joken,” which began airing in April of the same year.
Set against a warm arrangement of piano and strings, even the breaths in the vocal performance resonate as part of the story.
This gem of a song offers solace when parting with someone dear or when you wish to bring closure to a past relationship.
Crying songs, tear-jerker tracks. A tearful request dedicated to you (191–200)
Your Song for YouKawasaki Takaya
This is a heartwarming song that contrasts the grandeur of the universe’s history with the small acts of love found in everyday life.
It is one of Takaya Kawasaki’s signature works, included on the 2018 album “I believe in you.” After its initial release on an indie label, it was reissued by Victor Entertainment.
The song portrays the preciousness of each moment with a loved one, expressing a straightforward, sincere devotion to someone dear.
The gentle tone of the acoustic guitar and the tender vocals resonate as if softly enveloping those feelings.
It’s a piece that supports anyone reflecting on relationships with irreplaceable people—partners, family, and others—and feeling a deep sense of love.
aspiration; longing; ardent desireFukuyama Masaharu
The theme song for the film My Happy Marriage? No—For the film If Only I Could Meet You Again on the Hill Where That Flower Blooms, in which the protagonist time-travels to a wartime era.
It’s an original song written specifically for the movie by Masaharu Fukuyama.
In writing the song, he read the script, watched the film, and crafted the lyrics from the perspective of the special attack unit depicted in the story.
Knowing that background and then listening to the song can be overwhelmingly moving.
Of course, even if you haven’t seen the movie, it’s a grand-scale piece that makes you reflect on caring for others, on love, and even on happiness and peace.
dearestFukuyama Masaharu
This is a ballad about parting with someone precious.
Released under KOH+, the duo of Masaharu Fukuyama and Kou Shibasaki, it was later self-covered by Fukuyama.
The song portrays a pure and heartrending love in which one sacrifices oneself to protect a beloved.
Released in October 2008, it gained attention as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X.” It was also used in a commercial for Toshiba’s REGZA LCD TVs.
This is a recommended track for those grieving the loss of someone dear or those who wish to give everything for the one they love.
White lilies on my birthdayFukuyama Masaharu
Masaharu Fukuyama’s song, which expresses gratitude to parents, was written as the theme for the family-bond drama Tonbi.
It portrays the emotional growth that leads to recognizing one’s appreciation for one’s parents over the years.
The chorus, which conveys heartfelt feelings with honesty, is especially striking.
Released in April 2013, the track debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Thanks in part to its synergy with the drama, it resonated with many listeners.
It’s a recommended song for those struggling with parent-child relationships or wishing to express gratitude to someone important.
Homeayaka
“Home,” sung by Ayaka, who is popular across a wide range of generations, is included on the album “Funtale,” released in June 2023.
Do you have someone who’s always in your heart even if they’re not by your side right now—someone whose very existence gives you strength? This song conveys feelings for that person you can’t see right away but always think about, and a wish for their happiness and for them to spend each day in good health.
Rather than being filled with sadness or heartbreak, it’s a heartwarming, tear-jerking number that overflows with gentle, calm emotions.
HappinessOnda Masanori
Masamori Onda’s “Shiawase” is a wonderful song paired with an MV that’s heartbreakingly poignant, like a home movie of happier days.
Believe it or not, Onda was still only 19 as of 2023.
“Shiawase” is a classic breakup song that looks back on days of happiness, yet it somehow avoids any trace of the usual clichés—there’s something mysterious about it.
The scene where he writes her name in the sand, in particular, is a real tearjerker.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants a good, cathartic cry!