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

Always the two of usShimazu Aya

Aya Shimazu “Always the Two of Us” Official Music Video

Aya Shimazu gently sings about memories with her beloved dog, whom she met under warm sunlight.

The original Japanese song included on the album “AYA’s Soul Searchin’ -Aretha Franklin-,” which covers Aretha Franklin’s music, expresses her feelings for the dog she spent 12 years with.

Since its release in July 2024, it has been featured on TBS Television’s “Wannyanko Kansatsu Variety Animaring,” drawing significant attention.

This work is not only relatable to those who have lost a cherished dog, but also a tender, encouraging song that resonates with anyone who has experienced a farewell to someone dear.

ElfAdo

[Ado] Elf

Woven with a vibrant, life-affirming voice, the ethereal melody portrays the strength of a solitary soul moving forward.

Ado’s delicate yet passionate expressiveness powerfully sings of life’s pain, inner conflict, and hope.

Set to a lyrical tune, the lyrics reflect a protagonist walking an endless road alone, resonating deeply with listeners.

This song has been selected as the theme for the TBS Friday drama “Who Watched the Peacock’s Dance?” airing from January 2025.

It harmonizes beautifully with the series led by Suzu Hirose, enriching the story’s world even further.

A song that stands beside those searching for their path or facing hardship, it offers the courage to live with strength.

The True Nature of TearsSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “The True Form of Tears” MV (Theme song for NHK Night Drama ‘Vanilla na Mainichi’)

This song gently seeps into the heart, delicately portraying the inner conflicts and emotional fluctuations that people carry.

In this work from SUPER BEAVER, the tender vocals and warm melody line express the loneliness everyone experiences and the feelings we hold inside, wrapping them in kindness.

It tells us that tears are not a sign of weakness, but rather something precious that helps us understand and accept ourselves.

Released in January 2025, it was written as the theme song for the NHK General TV drama “Vanilla na Mainichi.” The song is used strikingly within the show, carrying significant meaning for the story’s protagonist.

It’s the perfect track for those who are trying to overcome painful experiences or want to face their own emotions—an ideal song for when you need a good cry.

dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo

Hitoto Yo – Hanamizuki

A beloved masterpiece by Yo Hitoto that gently sings a prayer for loved ones and a wish for peace.

Released in February 2004, it has soothed many hearts with her unique sensibility as a Japanese-Taiwanese artist and her clear, transparent voice.

Using the flower—an emblem of Japan–U.S.

friendship—as its motif, the song expresses bonds with precious people and hopes for a happy future.

It was featured as the theme song for NTV’s Tuesday Suspense Theater and in JRA commercials, and set a record by staying on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart for 125 consecutive weeks.

Whether in moments of aching love or parting, or at life’s milestones such as weddings and graduations, it remains a song that shines without fading.

threadNakajima Miyuki

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

A beautiful ballad that likens human connections to warp and weft threads soaks into the heart through Miyuki Nakajima’s gentle yet powerful voice.

The lyrics, depicting fateful encounters and the warm fabric of life woven from them, evoke deep empathy—a true masterpiece.

Included on the album EAST ASIA, this song has continued to resonate with many people since its release in October 1992.

In 1998, it was chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints), earning even broader acclaim.

It’s a track that soothes the heart at life’s turning points—meetings and farewells, fresh starts, and more.

Celebrated by many, it’s perfect for weddings, anniversaries, and any occasion that honors bonds with loved ones.

Family SongHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Family Song (Official Video)

Set to a heartwarming melody, this masterpiece gently sings about the small joys of everyday life and the connections between people.

Gen Hoshino delicately depicts scenes like morning light and windowsills, as if capturing familiar moments within a family.

Its message—embracing bonds that go beyond blood ties and accepting the diversifying forms of family with warmth—resonates deep within.

Released in August 2017, the song was used as the theme for the Nippon TV drama “Overprotected Kahoko” and reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Its distinctive sound, which skillfully incorporates elements of late-1960s to early-1970s soul music, is another draw.

It’s a gem that stays close to the feeling of wishing happiness for someone important to you, so why not listen to it in a quiet moment alone? Its gentle sound may even move you to tears.

homeKiyama Yusaku

Yusaku Kiyama - Home

A song of love from a father to his child.

Yusaku Kiyama’s gentle, embracing voice blends with a heartwarming melody to vividly portray the bond between parent and child.

Through its calm tone, it conveys a parent’s feelings as they stay close to their child’s growth and the importance of cherishing the small joys of everyday life.

Released in February 2008, it was used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Uta-Suta!!” and Yomiuri TV’s “Joho Live Miyane-ya,” and later that year Kiyama performed it at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Beloved at important life moments such as graduations and weddings, this song is a perfect choice when you want to express gratitude to someone special or deepen your family bonds.