For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work

NamidairoYUI

Yui – Namidairo Live

This is YUI’s 11th single, “Namidairo,” released in 2008.

It’s a ballad that sings of aching love, a song that makes your chest tighten.

The acoustic guitar’s tone fits perfectly and slips gently into your ears.

It’s a track that feels like pouring out sad, painful feelings—one to listen to when you feel like crying, or if you’re experiencing a bittersweet love.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

It’s okay to cry.Momoiro Kurōbā Zetto

[Momoclo MV] It's Okay to Cry / Momoiro Clover Z (NAITEMO IINDAYO / MOMOIRO CLOVER Z)

Released in 2014, this is Momoiro Clover Z’s 11th single.

It also drew attention because Miyuki Nakajima wrote both the lyrics and the music.

A song for people who keep working hard without running away from hardship, it’s an uplifting track that makes you think, “Once you’ve had a good cry and feel refreshed, let’s start walking again.”

SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] SAY YES / CHAGE and ASKA

Theme song of the drama “The 101st Proposal.” As the song from Fuji TV’s historic mega-hit, it gained popularity not only in Japan but also overseas.

The lyrics, which express feelings for a loved one, are truly stirring.

It is also one of CHAGE and ASKA’s signature songs.

boyAsakawa Maki

Maki Asakawa Shonen Julia Akishino

Maki Asakawa, a leading female blues singer in Japan who passed away suddenly in 2010.

In this track from her second album, MAKI II, everyday scenes are sung in an understated way, yet an unbearable wistfulness seeps through.

It’s perfect for when you want to sink into a blue mood, like a languid evening.

I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana

Kana Nishino 'I Miss You, I Miss You (short ver.)'

The masterpiece that made Kana Nishino’s name widely known.

It’s a song that voices the anguished cry of a woman betrayed by the one she loves.

The ending of the music video is shocking—an old-school scene where a cute gal cuts her own hair.

You can feel Kana Nishino’s soaring high notes, her cool edge, and the beauty of her falsetto.

It’s a track that makes you once again realize how good a singer she is.

Not just the lyrics—the sheer skill of her singing is enough to move you to tears.

Velvet Poemback number

Velvet Poem

There is a gemlike ballad by back number—known for lyrics and melodies that shake the heart—created as the theme song for the film Akira and Akira.

Shimizu Iyori’s voice, singing like a prayer and wishing that his laid-bare self could be seen as something beautiful, sinks deep into the chest.

The piece quietly yet powerfully seems to cheer on those who, despite their anguish and inner conflicts, keep moving toward their goals.

This moving song was released in August 2022 and was later included on the acclaimed album Humor.

Premiering alongside the film, it became beloved by many, debuting at No.

2 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart—a sign that its impact has resonated widely.

It’s the perfect song for moments when you’re wavering over a major life decision or need a gentle word of encouragement.

It will surely echo deep within your heart and give you the strength to take a step toward tomorrow.

paintingŌmori Motoki

Motoki Ohmori – “Painting” Official MV

This work reveals a new side of him as a solo artist—one that stirs the heart deeply.

Released in May 2025 as part of Motoki Omori’s first solo digital single in about four years, it’s marked by quiet, mysterious soundscapes that seem to gently speak to the listener’s inner self.

The lyrics express a poignant wish: for someone to portray his existence using colors only he possesses, and to see even the parts of himself that feel wretched as something beautiful.

It’s a song whose warm melody soothes deep sorrow and loneliness, leaving a lasting impression.

Put it on during a quiet night when you want to be alone with your thoughts.