Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
When things don’t go well—like heartbreak or setbacks in life—and you’re feeling down, don’t you ever feel like having a good cry to get it all out?
On the other hand, some of you might want to play music when celebrating or expressing gratitude to family and friends, or you might be looking for a moving BGM to enrich those unforgettable wedding moments.
In this article, we’ll introduce tear-jerking songs tailored to a variety of situations like these.
From timeless tearjerkers to hidden gems, we’ve selected tracks that will stay close to your heart.
“If feels like it’s singing about me,” “It gently accompanies me when I’m feeling low or overjoyed”—give these tried-and-true songs, filled with such messages, a listen.
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Love, bonds, farewells, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make the tears unstoppable (61–70)
YC&K
The definitive love ballad from the male vocal duo C&K! This song tells a heartrending, fragile story—there’s no way you can listen without tears; that’s how much of a tearjerker it is.
At first glance, it might seem like an ordinary heartbreak song, but if you read the lyrics closely, it can also feel like it’s about being parted by death from someone precious.
An eternal farewell to one’s dearest… Even while singing about a theme this painful, the duo’s high-tone voices render it with stunning beauty.
mirage10-FEET
It’s included on their seventh album, “thread.” The tear-jerking melody and lyrics—imbued with the gentleness, warmth, and a touch of wistfulness so characteristic of guitarist-vocalist TAKUMA—loosen the tear ducts.
As we grow older, many of us may feel we get used to things, think we’ve got it all figured out, and find ourselves less easily moved or excited.
Those complicated feelings are what this song sings about.
The chorus, delivered as if wrung from the heart, really sinks in.
homeKiyama Yusaku
“Home” is a ballad by Yusaku Kiyama whose wistful yet beautiful melody really tugs at the heart.
The song expresses gratitude toward someone dear, and his gentle voice fits the lyrics perfectly—before you know it, you’ll find tears welling up as you listen.
Another highlight is the soft keyboard in the background and the gorgeous, layered string lines.
Be sure to pay attention not only to the vocals but also to the instruments when you listen!
An empty kitchenTakahashi Yuu
“An Empty Kitchen” is a song about facing the loneliness of parting with a loved one.
This tear-jerking, heartrending ballad has been performed since his street-performing days by singer-songwriter Yu Takahashi.
The imagery—“There used to be someone precious in the kitchen, but now it’s become an empty kitchen”—blends with his poignant vocals to resonate deeply with listeners.
Sung with just an acoustic guitar, it’s also a soothing track to listen to when you’re feeling worn out.
TearsX JAPAN
Released in 1993 as X JAPAN’s ninth single.
The song is based on “Tears ~Daichi o Nurashite~,” which YOSHIKI composed in 1992 as the theme for the 43rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
He later revealed that, as the lyricist, he wrote it in memory of his late father.
It is widely regarded as a masterpiece and one of X JAPAN’s most moving, tear-inducing songs.
I feel like going home.ikimonogakari
Released in 2008 as Ikimono-gakari’s ninth single.
The song was used as the theme for the Toho-distributed film “Sand Chronicle” and reached No.
7 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a song that evokes a sense of nostalgia, making you want to return to your hometown or think of someone dear to you.
Hello again ~ a place that’s been around since long ago ~My Little Lover
It’s one of My Little Lover’s early smash hits that propelled them into hugely popular artists.
The main riff feels very sentimental and somehow nostalgic, doesn’t it? That alone makes the song moving, but pay attention to the lyrics too! The narrator, “I,” is said to be expressing their feelings as they leave a place they’ve grown attached to.
That said, the lyrics could be interpreted in various other ways as well.