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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- A tear-jerking love song that gently stays by your heart
- When you want to immerse yourself in music alone! Tear-jerker songs released in the Reiwa era
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- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
[For When You Want to Cry] Tear-Jerking Masterpieces to Soothe the Heart: Life, Love, and Work (1–10)
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi
One of Kenshi Yonezu’s signature songs, “Eine Kleine,” released in 2014.
This song, which seems to affirm the greatness of love even while being afraid, truly makes you cry more the more you listen to it.
The music video is composed entirely of animation using illustrations drawn by Yonezu himself, showcasing his diverse talents.
Endless JourneyMr.Children
It’s said that people even seek out chances to cry—so much so that there’s a trend called “ruikas,” where you listen to tear-jerking songs, shed some tears, and feel refreshed.
Perfect for such moments is this track, Mr.Children’s 15th single: a grand, moving song that begins with nothing but a solo piano accompaniment.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “Naguru Onna” (The Woman Who Strikes).
SparkleRADWIMPS
This is an insert song from director Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 blockbuster film Your Name.
It begins with beautiful piano tones and is very pleasant to listen to.
If you know the film, you’ll probably notice that the lyrics are linked to the story, so it can be nice to listen while recalling the movie.
If you don’t know the film, you might instead purely enjoy the poetic worldview of the lyrics.
The theme is a difficult romance, but within that situation, you can picture someone striving for love.
It’s a gentle song that, though bittersweet, conveys the power of love.
SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song with a melody that touches the heart and words that resonate deeply.
Released in November 2022, it was written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love” (Lageri yori Ai wo Komete).
Showcasing a new side of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, it paints a grand portrait of the meaning of life and feelings for loved ones.
The sweeping arrangement featuring strings is striking and highlights the band’s musical range.
It’s a recommended track for those feeling lost in life or wishing to reaffirm their feelings for someone important.
With lyrics that resonate and a beautiful melody, it’s sure to soothe your heart.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako
This song, which became a memorable insert track in the anime film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, was reportedly created by Hanako Oku based on the script and storyboards given to her by the director.
The lyrics capture the film’s content so perfectly that her talent and the work’s completeness are astonishing.
The story involves time leaps, and within the flow of time the protagonists move through, a bittersweet love is sung.
There are few certainties that remain unchanged in the past, the future, or the present—everything keeps shifting and passing by.
In such times, what we want to believe in is the human heart and love.
This song conveys that kind of hope.
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
The song was released in 1997, but it became the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters per Second in 2007, and in 2018 it was also featured in the film 50 First Kisses.
No matter how many years pass, it remains a masterpiece by Masayoshi Yamazaki that moves many people’s hearts.
I think everyone has experienced wishing they could go back to the time they spent with a beloved partner.
Even knowing you’ll never meet again, you can’t help but remember, and find yourself hoping you might see them once more—at the very moment you empathize with that feeling, tears seem ready to fall.
Why are sad songs so beautiful…? Perhaps it’s because this song lets us feel what true love is.
Even if it’s one of a kindNEW!kujira
That sudden sense of loneliness, the impatience that comes from comparing yourself to others.
KujiRa’s “Even If I’m an Only One” gives voice to those feelings that have nowhere to go.
Released digitally in July 2025, the track is also included as the coupling song on the CD single featuring the opening theme for the anime “Shabake.” The lyrics, which capture fragments of contemporary life, and the light yet somehow wistful melody slip right into your heart.
We all have those nights when we worry we’ll never become anyone at all, don’t we? In those moments, KujiRa’s distinctive choice of words is sure to gently loosen a heart grown stiff.