Tear-jerking love songs: classic and popular hits from Japanese music
There are times when you just feel like crying, right?
Among those moments, I’ve picked out some Japanese songs that sing about love.
I think they’ll bring a tear to your eye.
It’s also nice to share them with your special someone.
And if there are songs you don’t know, be sure to tell your classmates about them, too.
- Songs you want to listen to when you’re in love. Masterpieces and popular hits from Japanese music.
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- A tear-jerking love song. A love song that stays close to a hurting heart.
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- [Tear-Jerking] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads
- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
- Masterpieces that sing of love. Recommended popular songs.
- [Long-Distance Love Song] Recommended love songs dedicated to couples in long-distance relationships
- Hidden gems of Japanese love songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance
- Touching Anime Ballads That Make You Cry [Moving & Heart-Wrenching]
Tear-jerking love songs. Japanese classics and popular tracks (71–80)
Welcome back.Tani Yuuki
A gem of a song filled with Tani Yuuki’s heartfelt emotions, gently singing of feelings for a loved one far away.
Even when separated by distance, two people bound by a red thread of fate will surely remain connected—such a wish imbues these story-rich lyrics.
It expresses a bittersweet love for a counterpart, like the sun and the moon, through delicate vocals and melody.
Released in November 2022 and included on the album “Memories,” this piece gently accompanies those experiencing parting from someone dear or yearning for a reunion.
sympathetic tearsYo Hitoto
A debut work by Yo Hitoto that delicately portrays people’s emotions in our lonely modern society.
Amid an information-saturated daily life, the protagonist searches for a place to belong, gently expressing the warmth of a heart that empathizes with others’ tears and stays by their side.
Its original sound weaves together elements of gospel, R&B, and oriental influences, beautifully harmonizing with her crystal-clear vocals.
Since its release in October 2002, the song reached No.
4 on the Oricon weekly chart.
The following year, it won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a song I sincerely want to share with those struggling with human connections or those who feel the urge to be there for someone.
Magic CarpetTakaya Kawasaki
Kawasaki Takaya’s pure, affectionate vocals seem to speak for the feeling of being in love.
The lyrics, woven with straightforward words, convey a deep yet gentle devotion to a loved one.
Even without money or status, the song candidly expresses the desire to protect someone important.
Released in July 2018 as a track on the album “I believe in you,” it was later selected as the theme song for a LINE drama in December 2020, drawing even more attention.
Don’t miss the beautiful, repeating vibrato in the chorus and the warm tone of the acoustic guitar.
It’s a gem of a love song to listen to when you realize your feelings for someone special—or when you want to confess them.
Why feat. Emimi NodaToya Takase
A heartbreak ballad distinguished by a beautiful, soul-stirring melody.
Toya Takase’s emotional vocals and Emi Noda’s clear voice brilliantly capture the bittersweet feelings after a breakup.
Released digitally in January 2022 and included on the album “13-gatsu 1-nichi” (The First Day of the 13th Month), this song resonated with many listeners who relate to the joys of love and the pain of parting, drawing attention on charts across Asia.
It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels the loneliness that deepens at night or the emptiness of losing someone dear.
MyraTani Yuuki
A gem of a love song that begins with the blissful everyday moments of two people waking up together and gradually portrays, with deep emotion, the process of their love falling apart.
It was the first track Tani Yuuki created with DTM after starting his music career, delicately weaving complex feelings for a lover while skillfully rhyming.
Its memorable melody and heartrending lyrics are sure to resonate with anyone facing a breakup.
Released as his debut single in July 2020, it was later included on his 2021 album “Memories.” The song was also featured in a TikTok commercial, capturing the hearts of many.
Highly recommended for those who want to share the thrill of love and the pain of heartache.
In that caseMacaroni Enpitsu
A narrative masterpiece by Macaroni Enpitsu that wraps a bittersweet longing for love in the refreshing tones of guitar and synthesizer.
While gently embracing the pain of heartbreak, the unshaken desire to believe in the other person’s dreams stirs the heart.
The melodic lines and Hattori’s emotionally rich vocals beautifully capture the warmth and ache of youth.
Released in January 2025 as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Blue Box, it weaves unattainable love and a growing inner world together with the anime’s atmosphere.
A gem of a song that stands with everyone who knows the joy of love and the pain of heartbreak, soothing the soul.
366 daysHY
I think “366 Days” is one of HY’s three major tear-jerker ballads, alongside “Song for.
.
.” and “NAO.” It was the theme song for the drama and film adaptations of Red Thread in 2008, and it’s a classic breakup song that many people sing at karaoke.