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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- 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 tracks. A tearful request dedicated to you (51–60)
tear-coloredNishino Kana
It’s Kana Nishino’s 21st single, released in 2013.
The pain of a broken heart is something only those who’ve been through it can truly understand.
Every time you think back, it’s the happy moments that overflow.
You may never be able to see him again, but the resolve to turn it into a beautiful memory makes this a song that brings you to tears.
Love SongGO!GO!7188
This is the hidden gem “Koi no Uta” by GO!GO!7188.
The melody line alone brings tears to my eyes.
The somewhat nostalgic tune pairs perfectly with the vocals that have a touch of innocence, making it feel like the song slips into the empty spaces of your heart.
It’s absolutely wonderful.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This is a song that resonates with the aching feeling of holding on forever to the memory of a beloved person you’ve lost.
It’s the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, known for his unique musical world, released in 2004 and written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” It topped the year-end Oricon singles chart and became a massive hit, with total shipments exceeding one million copies.
It’s a ballad overflowing with the sorrow of only being able to meet that person in memories—when closing your eyes brings their smile to mind.
If you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or if you want to quietly reflect on the past, please give it a listen.
fireworksSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
It likens a bittersweet summer romance to fireworks, creating a moody atmosphere that conveys a certain adult kind of sorrow.
While many summer songs are upbeat, this one expresses, in polite language, a man’s sadness as he laments the fleeting beauty of fireworks and the reality that he must part from someone precious, which makes it feel all the more heartrending.
Crying songs, tear-jerker tunes. A request of tears dedicated to you (61–70)
wailing in griefKudō Shizuka
Shizuka Kudo’s 18th single, released in February 1993.
It was the theme song for the prime-time Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Ano Hi ni Kaeritai,” in which she also appeared.
With lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima, it’s a classic tearjerker.
The melody is pleasant and easy to sing.
It peaked at No.
1 on the Oricon charts, with total sales of 939,000 copies.
Before our feelings overlapHirai Ken
Ken Hirai is famous for “Hitomi wo Tojite,” but this song is also a moving, wonderful piece.
It’s about hoping that even if someone dear to you forgets who you are, you could smile and accept it—and wishing that you, right beside them, would be thinking the same thing.
Where have the tears gone?Minamino Yoko
This is Yoko Minamino’s 14th single, released in February 1989.
Although it’s a heartbreak song, the melody is bright and has a fresh, idol-like feel.
Released at a time when her popularity was beginning to wane, it peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold a total of 205,000 copies.