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

First LoveHikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada – First Love

A melody that gently embraces a bittersweet farewell and unforgettable memories.

The lingering sweetness of young love woven by a 16-year-old Hikaru Utada seeps into the listener’s heart.

While accepting a past romance as a cherished memory, it also conveys a forward-looking strength to take a new step.

Included on the album “First Love,” released in March 1999, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Majo no Joken,” which began airing in April of the same year.

Set against a warm arrangement of piano and strings, even the breaths in the vocal performance resonate as part of the story.

This gem of a song offers solace when parting with someone dear or when you wish to bring closure to a past relationship.

Your Song for YouTakaya Kawasaki

Takaya Kawasaki - Kimi no Tame no Kimi no Uta [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is a heartwarming song that contrasts the grandeur of the universe’s history with the small acts of love found in everyday life.

It is one of Takaya Kawasaki’s signature works, included on the 2018 album “I believe in you.” After its initial release on an indie label, it was reissued by Victor Entertainment.

The song portrays the preciousness of each moment with a loved one, expressing a straightforward, sincere devotion to someone dear.

The gentle tone of the acoustic guitar and the tender vocals resonate as if softly enveloping those feelings.

It’s a piece that supports anyone reflecting on relationships with irreplaceable people—partners, family, and others—and feeling a deep sense of love.

Tearful KissSouthern All Stars

Tearful Kiss

A bittersweet yet beautiful melody that seeps into the heart, this ballad delicately portrays the protagonist’s sorrow and lingering feelings as they face a breakup with a lover.

The emotionally rich vocals woven by Southern All Stars, together with a simple instrumental arrangement, convey the pain of heartbreak with striking clarity.

Released in July 1992, it drew major attention as the theme song for the drama “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta.” It became Southern All Stars’ first million-selling single and won the Excellence Award at the 34th Japan Record Awards.

Whether you’re seeking to heal the sadness of parting or reminiscing about past love, this song gently stays by your side—and continues to be a source of comfort for many to this day.

Gentle RainKyoko Koizumi

Kyoko Koizumi – Gentle Rain (Official Video)

The lyrics penned by Kyoko Koizumi herself delicately depict loneliness in the city, chance encounters, and a heartfelt longing for the other person.

Released in February 1993, the song drew attention as the theme for the drama “To Love” and became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon charts and selling over 950,000 copies.

Koizumi’s voice, carried by Shoko Suzuki’s beautifully composed melody, blends poignancy with warmth, gently resonating with listeners.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to alone on a rainy day—one that softly soothes the heart when you’re feeling the loneliness of the urban bustle or holding onto thoughts of someone dear.

I won't fall in love anymore.Noriyuki Makihara

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “I Won’t Fall in Love Again” (Music Video) [5th Single] (1992) Noriyuki Makihara / Mou Koi Nante Shinai

A gem-like ballad that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak and the hope of taking a new step forward.

Noriyuki Makihara’s gentle vocals tenderly envelop the protagonist’s complex feelings as they struggle to accept a breakup with their lover.

While carefully depicting the loneliness and confusion felt in everyday life, it also resonates with the positive resolve hidden behind the words “I won’t fall in love anymore.” Released in May 1992, the song was used as the theme for the drama “After the Children Are Asleep,” reaching No.

2 on the weekly Oricon chart and No.

7 for the year.

It’s a song that stands as emotional support, accompanying you through the healing process of a broken heart.

Kasane AiSoala

Soala – Kasaneai [Official Music Video]

A heart-stirring ballad by Soala that paints the ache of lost love in beautifully poignant words.

Wrapped in a clear, gentle voice, it tenderly holds the regret for a love that might have lasted if only they had met differently, and the feelings that will never again converge.

Released in January 2025 and included on the EP “Bluem,” the song also drew attention for its music video featuring model Suzuka Orita and actor Yusei Ito.

With a melody that sinks into the heart, it portrays memories of happy days and the fragile story of a love that ends in parting.

When you’re struggling in a relationship or want to sing while thinking of someone dear, this song is sure to speak for your feelings.

Sentimental KissReira Shio

Reira Shio / Sentimental Kiss Acoustic ver. (full) [Official Music Video]

A gentle ballad by Reira Shio that delivers bittersweet feelings on a warm acoustic sound.

The lyrics delicately portray the distance between lovers after a breakup and the emotions wavering between heart and body, resonating deeply.

Her voice weaves memories of a feverish love and a faint lingering warmth with novel-like beauty, tenderly embracing the kind of heartache everyone has felt at least once.

Released in March 2022, the song was also used as background music for ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Wolf-chan Won’t Deceive.” It’s a track that will stay by your side on nights when you want to bask in memories of someone special, or when you need someone to hear the feelings you can’t hold inside.