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 That Make You Cry So Much the Tears Won’t Stop (21–30)
Because (I’m) aliveLUNKHEAD
This is LUNKHEAD’s 14th single, “Ikiteiru kara,” released in 2013.
Even just from the title, it sounds like a classic, but both the lyrics and the melody hit you right in the heart.
By confronting “death,” the song makes “life” come into clear focus, and it suggests that even with hardships, living gives things their meaning.
It’s a track I’d recommend to anyone worn out by everyday life.
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.
Love, bonds, partings, cheers… songs that pierce the heart and make you cry until the tears won’t stop (31–40)
KBUMP OF CHICKEN
Among BUMP OF CHICKEN fans, the song “K” enjoys extremely high popularity.
The meaning of the letter K becomes clear by the end as you read the lyrics… and that stylish device is just so cool.
The lyrics unfold entirely like a story, creating an atmosphere that truly says, “This is BUMP!!” The craftsmanship of weaving a message into a narrative structure—and even embedding the meaning of the title itself—is nothing short of superb.
You’ll surely be moved by the black cat who keeps running to fulfill a bond of friendship.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number
Known for tear-jerking songs and being the best at singing about bittersweet love, back number’s “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” From the title you might think it’s a birthday song, but it’s not sung to someone else—it’s sung to oneself.
It’s a song overflowing with the feelings of wanting, or having wanted, to be celebrated by the person you like; an unfulfilled love; and a one-sided affection for that special someone.
If you laugh at the skywacci
When you think of wacci, love songs—especially breakup songs—tend to come to mind, but their youth anthems like this one are absolutely wonderful, too! For students in clubs or anyone pouring their heart into something, this song is sure to be truly inspiring.
When you’re striving toward a goal, you sometimes run into results you’re not satisfied with.
In those moments, having teammates fighting alongside you can make you want to give it another try, right? This song captures those youthful days, carrying a message that resonates with everyone—whether you’re in the thick of it now or an adult looking back on your own youth.
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
Aoi Teshima, a singer from Fukuoka with a one-of-a-kind voice and commanding presence.
Her 2016 release “Letter to Tomorrow” was chosen as the ending theme for the drama “We Will Surely Someday Remember This Love and Cry,” starring Kasumi Arimura.
That same year, it won the Best Theme Song at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2016.
“Letter to Tomorrow” is a song of encouragement dedicated to those who stray from the conventional path yet keep chasing their dreams through struggle.
Even when daily life threatens to overwhelm us, it gently reassures us: “Don’t give up on your dreams or on living.”
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
Among Masayoshi Yamazaki’s songs, this one is especially popular and has become one of his signature tracks.
It was used as the theme song for the film “5 Centimeters per Second,” and many people may have discovered it through the movie.
Yamazaki’s wistful vocals carried by a gentle, intimate guitar accompaniment leave a strong impression and naturally bring tears to your eyes.
The lyrics capture feelings that almost everyone has experienced, and simply listening to them evokes vivid scenes, wrapped in a sense of realism and melancholy.