For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
There are moments in life when you just feel an overwhelming urge to cry, aren’t there?
In this article, we introduce songs that are guaranteed to make you cry and tracks to listen to when you want to let the tears flow.
We’ve gathered classic songs and masterpieces that support your desire to cry from various angles—heartache in love, the difficulties of life, the hardships of work, and more.
Anyone’s heart can get worn down if they push themselves past their limits.
If you’re feeling tired, please give these a listen.
I’m sure these wonderful pieces of music that gently stay by your side will bring you comfort.
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[For When You Want to Cry] Tear-jerking masterpieces that heal the heart. Life, love, and work (81–90)
boyAsakawa Maki
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
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.
Dreamersadamasashi
From the 2015 album “Kaze no Kiseki” (Trail of the Wind), this is a moving masterpiece by Masashi Sada.
It was the theme song for TBS Television’s 60th Anniversary Special Project, the Sunday drama “The Emperor’s Cook.” The work portrays how a hopeless boy grows up to become the Emperor’s chef, with Sada’s vocals in the drama resonating deeply in the heart.
one grainwacci
Released on October 29, 2025, this song is a poignant ballad told from the perspective of the one who chose to end the relationship.
Created as one half of a two-part project by wacci themed around the end of love, it forms a compelling pair with “Kanojo Janakunaru no ni,” which was released in September.
The lyrics gently examine each long-suppressed feeling, the warm sound of piano and strings offers close support, and Yohei Hashiguchi’s earnest vocals strike straight to the heart.
Interweaving regret and resolve as the protagonist carries both a lost everyday life and a safeguarded future, this work will resonate all the more deeply with anyone who has ever shed tears over their own decision.
applausechiaki naomi
This is Naomi Chiaki’s 13th single, released in 1972.
Just three months after it came out, the song won the Japan Record Award—still the fastest on record.
The lyrics tell the story of a woman who takes the stage unable to come to terms with the news of her lover’s death.
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki
A song released in 1986.
It’s been revived in recent years, but its wet, lush sound still brings back nostalgic scenes from that time.
With its refreshing vocals, listening alone on a rainy day can set a wonderfully moody atmosphere.
When it swells at the end, your tear ducts will likely reach their peak.
As an adult, give it a listen when you want to immerse yourself in past memories or when you’re going through something difficult.
[For When You Want to Cry] Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics. Life, Love, and Work (91–100)
Your Song for YouKawasaki Takaya
This is a heartwarming song that contrasts the grandeur of the universe’s history with the small acts of love found in everyday life.
It is one of Takaya Kawasaki’s signature works, included on the 2018 album “I believe in you.” After its initial release on an indie label, it was reissued by Victor Entertainment.
The song portrays the preciousness of each moment with a loved one, expressing a straightforward, sincere devotion to someone dear.
The gentle tone of the acoustic guitar and the tender vocals resonate as if softly enveloping those feelings.
It’s a piece that supports anyone reflecting on relationships with irreplaceable people—partners, family, and others—and feeling a deep sense of love.