A tear-jerking love song. A love song that stays close to a hurting heart.
Love isn’t always fun, is it?
You might mustered up the courage to confess your feelings only to be rejected, be led on and strung along, or realize from the start it was a love that could never come true… Chances are, you too have experienced a painful love.
In this article, we introduce tear-jerking love songs that sing about that kind of heartbreak.
If you’re hurting right now, why not try finding a song that stays close to your feelings?
Listening to songs about the same situation might help you find clues for facing that love.
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- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
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- Breakup songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular hits.
- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
Tear-Jerking Love Songs: Love Songs That Soothe an Aching Heart (71–80)
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu

A gemlike ballad that gives voice to the ineffable emotions faced at love’s end.
Included on Off Course’s album “over,” released in December 1981, and later issued as their 23rd single in February 1982, this song gently portrays the subtle shifts of feeling that emerge through parting from someone dear.
The “la la la” that threads through the chorus is a striking phrase that reminds us how, at times, it can express the heart more eloquently than words.
Used in a Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercial, it has surely lingered in many listeners’ memories.
It’s a song that stands beside you through life’s many moments, embracing the complex emotions we feel—cherishing someone important, tenderness, and a sense of loss.
single bedSha ran Q

A melodious ballad that poignantly portrays the feelings of a man who, after heartbreak, can’t bring himself to step into a new love.
The single bed etched with memories of his beloved now stands as a symbol of lonely solitude.
The simple, everyday happiness they once shared, and the aching longing for someone who has now become distant, tighten the chest.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, this song was used as the ending theme for the anime D·N·A² and is also included on the album “Inferiority Complex.” It’s a song that gently supports those who are trying to move forward while looking back on a past love, and those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
White LoversKuwata Keisuke

A gem-like ballad woven from winter’s chill and gentle warmth.
Rather than viewing past love as a failure, it tenderly celebrates those moments of affection, wrapped in the distinctive warmth of Keisuke Kuwata’s vocals.
With imagery like snow quietly piling up and a calm atmosphere shaped by strings and winds, this single was released in October 2001.
Familiar from Coca-Cola commercials and, more recently, UNIQLO’s HEATTECH ads, the song also won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
It’s a heartfelt recommendation for anyone who has gone through a farewell with someone dear and wants to cherish the memories.
Tear-Jerking Love Songs: Love Songs That Comfort a Hurt Heart (81–90)
passing by each otherSoala

A heartrending love song by Soala that delicately portrays the clumsy emotions of falling in love.
It beautifully captures the fragile moment of parting born from the inability to be honest with the one you love.
Many will relate to the protagonist, who regrets their actions even as they recognize their excessive possessiveness and self-centered behavior.
Released in July 2023, the song drew attention with its airy vocals and comfortable R&B vibe, racking up 20 million streams in just six months.
The warm voice that seems to wrap around a troubled heart and the down-to-earth lyrics truly resonate.
It’s a recommended track for anyone who has ever caused distance by caring too much, or who is struggling with their relationship with a beloved partner.
Like the shining moonSuperfly

A Superfly ballad that gently sings of gratitude and love for another, using the light of the moon and sun as motifs.
It vividly portrays a protagonist who had carried loneliness and anxiety opening their heart through meeting someone special, and being reborn into a new self.
Released in August 2012 and featured as the theme song for the TBS drama “Summer Rescue: Tenku no Shinryojo,” the track drew significant attention.
It was also included on the album “Force,” receiving a strong response.
This song will gently resonate with those who struggle to be honest with their feelings or who wish to express gratitude to someone important.
May it be filled with kindnessJUJU

This is a heartwarming ballad that gently embraces deep love and gratitude for someone precious.
Even as everyday life changes in the blink of an eye and we feel on the verge of losing sight of what truly matters, the presence of a loved one reminds us of life’s meaning and joy.
The song portrays the beauty of unconditional love and mutual support, conveyed through a voice that resonates with the heart.
Released in February 2009 as JUJU’s ninth single, it became her first to enter the Oricon Weekly Top 10 and was also featured in a collaborative commercial by MTV Japan and Nissan.
Included on the album “What’s Love?”, it has garnered wide support, including numerous cover versions by various artists.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when your feelings for someone special overflow or when you want to express your gratitude.
Let the warm vocals fill your heart with kindness.
Fake loveSTUPID GUYS

A melodious love song by STUPID GUYS that portrays the ache of a bittersweet romance.
The complex emotions of a man and woman wavering between a physical relationship and pure affection are expressed through mellow vocals and rap, weaving delicate words to depict a heart drowning in desire while harboring self-denial.
Included on the album “False Love,” released in July 2019, the track has garnered over 4 million views on YouTube.
It’s a song that resonates with those troubled by a love they can’t tell anyone about, or suffering from a love built on pretense.


