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

The summer you gave meieiri reo

The Summer You Gave Me – Leo Ieiri (Full)

This song, themed around a one-summer experience, is a pep song that Leo Ieiri wrote in her twenties for people of the same generation.

Being young can feel like a fun time, but there are also many moments when it isn’t.

It’s a period full of anxiety and sadness—worrying about the future, facing setbacks, navigating relationships with a partner, and experiencing heartbreaking farewells with important people.

I think it expresses the poignant events that, precisely because we’ve become adults, we have to accept.

When you face those moments, this is a song that gives you a push forward toward the future.

KanadeSukima Suichi

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

Released in 2004, this song is one of Sukima Switch’s signature tracks—a timeless tearjerker that never loses its luster.

It begins with a heartbreaking scene of two lovers being separated.

A partner who makes your life feel brighter and different from before is someone you don’t meet many times in a lifetime.

While conveying the pain of parting from someone truly precious, the earnest lyrics that wish for their happiness are deeply moving.

This is a song that carries your feelings across the distance.

Even when you’re far apart, it gives hope that your hearts can still be connected, doesn’t it?

NonfictionHirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Nonfiction” MUSIC VIDEO (Short Ver.)

This song probes deeply into the anguish of life and the meaning of living.

Released in June 2017, it was written as the theme song for the TBS drama “Little Giants.” Born from Ken Hirai’s experience of losing a close friend, the piece is imbued with feelings for the person he lost and a profound sense of bereavement.

The lyrics candidly express the hardships of living and convey the importance of continuing on while accepting human frailty.

The music video, set in a nighttime amusement park, is striking for Hirai’s powerful vocals alongside a dancer’s performance.

It’s a tear-jerking track that offers solace to those who question life or have experienced the loss of someone dear.

Song of the Eternal NightKamisama wa saikoro o furanai

God Does Not Play Dice “Yoru-Naga Uta” [Official Lyric Video]

A beautifully crafted song that depicts the pain and sense of loss after heartbreak, this ballad by Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai (God Doesn’t Roll Dice) stands out.

Included on the album “A Perspective on Lambda,” it moves many listeners with its heartrending lyrics and delicate melody.

The protagonist’s lingering feelings and melancholy for a lost lover are intertwined with the scent of osmanthus and autumn scenes, expressed in poetic language.

After its release in May 2019, it gradually gained popularity through social media and ranked high on various music charts in 2020.

It’s a recommended track for anyone carrying the pain of a broken heart or looking for a song to cry to about love.

day by dayYoshida Yamada

Hibi / Yoshida Yamada [MUSIC VIDEO]

It’s a song that makes you realize the happiness found in ordinary days—a classic that conveys the preciousness and importance of expressing your feelings and gratitude to someone you care about.

Released in 2013 as the ninth single by Yoshida Yamada, a hugely popular duo known for their wonderful harmonies despite having completely different vocal timbres, the song was written specifically for NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” At the time, it became a major topic as a song that could move listeners to tears.

Our TomorrowElefanto Kashimashi

Elephant Kashimashi – “Our Tomorrow”

This is one of Elephant Kashimashi’s signature songs, celebrating the courage and hope to face life’s hardships.

Hiroji Miyamoto’s powerful vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

The lyrics, which highlight the importance of friendship and bonds and a forward-looking attitude toward the future, have struck a chord with many people.

Released in November 2007, it was also used in a commercial for House Foods’ “Ukon no Chikara.” Strong yet gently supportive, this track is perfect for times when you’re struggling with work or relationships, or when you want to rally yourself.

Prayer FlowerHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / Prayer Flower 2020 (Lyric Video)

I wonder how many people actually read the comments when they watch YouTube.

Beyond view counts and likes, the comments are full of raw, heartfelt reactions, and the comment section for this song is especially thought-provoking.

This song was written by Dai Hirai for his late grandmother.

A song overflowing with love for a cherished person who has left this world warms the heart, as if it transforms pain into beautiful flowers.

That’s precisely why it draws out so many different feelings from people.

When you’re grieving a painful farewell to someone dear and feel like crying, this song will surely give you strength.