Tear-jerking love songs: classic and popular hits from Japanese music

Cats and AllergiesMushroom Empire

Kinoko Teikoku – Cats and Allergies

It’s the title track from their major-label first album, Cat and Allergy.

Up until then, Kinoko Teikoku had many songs with a pretty downer, dark image, but this album overall has a lot of easy-to-listen-to tracks, and among them, Cat and Allergy has a pop, gentle vibe.

Rejected-Love GirlSayuri

Sanketsu Shoujo Sayuri “Furaregai Girl” MV (Short ver) – Song Provided & Produced by RADWIMPS’ Yojiro Noda

This is a renowned song by Sayuri, the “oxygen-deprived girl,” written and produced by Yojiro Noda of RADWIMPS.

Noda’s lyrics are compelling both to listen to and to read, but above all, Sayuri’s vocals are phenomenal.

Her voice has a distinctive quirk, yet it’s a track you’ll want to listen to over and over again.

It hurts.Ryuji Kiyoshi

Ryujin Kiyoshi – Itai yo

Ryuji Kiyoshi is active in many fields, such as producing idol groups, but among his songs, I think “Itai yo” is a wonderful ballad.

I believe every girl wants to be loved from the bottom of the heart by the boy she likes in this way.

I can't put it into wordsOf course

Kotoba Ni Dekinai

A gemlike ballad that gives voice to the ineffable emotions faced at love’s end.

Included on Off Course’s album “over,” released in December 1981, and later issued as their 23rd single in February 1982, this song gently portrays the subtle shifts of feeling that emerge through parting from someone dear.

The “la la la” that threads through the chorus is a striking phrase that reminds us how, at times, it can express the heart more eloquently than words.

Used in a Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercial, it has surely lingered in many listeners’ memories.

It’s a song that stands beside you through life’s many moments, embracing the complex emotions we feel—cherishing someone important, tenderness, and a sense of loss.

single bedSharam Q

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

A melodious ballad that poignantly portrays the feelings of a man who, after heartbreak, can’t bring himself to step into a new love.

The single bed etched with memories of his beloved now stands as a symbol of lonely solitude.

The simple, everyday happiness they once shared, and the aching longing for someone who has now become distant, tighten the chest.

Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, this song was used as the ending theme for the anime D·N·A² and is also included on the album “Inferiority Complex.” It’s a song that gently supports those who are trying to move forward while looking back on a past love, and those who have experienced parting with someone dear.

White LoversKeisuke Kuwata

Keisuke Kuwata – Shiroi Koibitotachi (Full ver.)

A gem-like ballad woven from winter’s chill and gentle warmth.

Rather than viewing past love as a failure, it tenderly celebrates those moments of affection, wrapped in the distinctive warmth of Keisuke Kuwata’s vocals.

With imagery like snow quietly piling up and a calm atmosphere shaped by strings and winds, this single was released in October 2001.

Familiar from Coca-Cola commercials and, more recently, UNIQLO’s HEATTECH ads, the song also won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It’s a heartfelt recommendation for anyone who has gone through a farewell with someone dear and wants to cherish the memories.

May it be filled with kindnessJUJU

JUJU 'So That It Overflows with Kindness'

This is a heartwarming ballad that gently embraces deep love and gratitude for someone precious.

Even as everyday life changes in the blink of an eye and we feel on the verge of losing sight of what truly matters, the presence of a loved one reminds us of life’s meaning and joy.

The song portrays the beauty of unconditional love and mutual support, conveyed through a voice that resonates with the heart.

Released in February 2009 as JUJU’s ninth single, it became her first to enter the Oricon Weekly Top 10 and was also featured in a collaborative commercial by MTV Japan and Nissan.

Included on the album “What’s Love?”, it has garnered wide support, including numerous cover versions by various artists.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when your feelings for someone special overflow or when you want to express your gratitude.

Let the warm vocals fill your heart with kindness.