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 make you cry nonstop (121–130)
A Sunlit SlopeDo As Infinity
When you’re going through something tough in life, I want you to listen to Do As Infinity’s “Hi no Ataru Sakamichi” (“The Sunlit Hill Road”).
The vocalist, Tomiko Van, has a clear, translucent voice that can lift you up when you’re feeling down! The acoustic guitar and string arrangements are also beautiful and match her voice perfectly—another great thing about this song.
The lyrics, which suggest that hope awaits after the uphill trials we face, are so moving they might bring you to tears.
HOMEAnjura Aki
It’s a message song that makes you think of your hometown.
It’s a track by singer-songwriter and pianist Angela Aki, released in 2005 as her major-label debut single.
Perhaps because the lyrics are so down-to-earth amid the grand sound arrangement, it feels deeply moving.
When you’ve been pushing forward with everything you’ve got and suddenly feel a pang of loneliness—give this song a listen.
single bedSha ran Q
Sharan Q’s “Single Bed” is a song that expresses the regret of having broken up with a lover.
The lyrics—saying that even a cramped single bed felt like happiness as long as the two could be together—really hit home.
The guitar, keyboard, and drum performances are excellent as well, heightening the bittersweet mood.
If you’ve parted with someone important and find yourself thinking, “If only I could go back to those days…,” and are overcome by a helpless sense of sorrow, give this song a listen.
Rising SunMiyamoto Hiroji
Hiroji Miyamoto’s intensely macho singing voice is incredibly captivating.
This song, too, is quintessentially him—gritty rock ’n’ roll.
The story in the lyrics can be taken as a pep talk to a self who’s smoldering on the sidelines, unable to become the hero he imagined.
Like the sun that sets and rises every day, it makes you think, “I’m going to keep trying, too!” When someone encourages you like this, your tears start to well up before you know it.
It reminds you that tear-jerkers aren’t just ballads—there are songs this fiery and intense that can move you to tears, too.
Love, bonds, goodbye, encouragement... songs that pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably (131–140)
motherHayashi Asuka
This is Asuka Hayashi’s second single, released in 2003.
It’s a powerful song delivered with a strong voice, yet at the time she was still in junior high school.
Even when living away from her parents, she is grateful for everything, starting with being born as her mother’s child.
MetronomeYonezu Kenshi
Among the songs by Kenshi Yonezu, a singer-songwriter leading the J-POP scene, this one is especially beloved by fans as a real tearjerker.
The lyrics compare the relationship of a man and a woman to a metronome ticking at a steady tempo, expressing the helplessness of growing apart and the lingering feelings that won’t fade.
It’s a song I especially want those who’ve just had their heart broken, or those who still can’t forget a love even after a long time, to listen to—because it portrays a straightforward, unshakable love that nothing can fix.
I’m proudKahara Tomomi
This song is Tomomi Kahala’s third single, and “I’m proud” literally means “I am proud.” When you’re on the verge of breaking but held together by something, when there’s a distance between you and someone you can’t understand no matter how hard you try, or when you can’t forgive yourself—listening to this song makes the tears flow naturally, and it makes you feel that it’s okay to be proud of the path you’re walking now.
I think it’s a masterpiece that does that.
