Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits
When you hear the phrase “songs that make you cry,” what kind of songs come to mind?
From heartbreaking ballads like breakup songs to tracks that sing about life, there are many kinds of tear-jerkers.
In this article, we’ll introduce a comprehensive selection of moving songs recommended for men in their 40s!
We’ve picked a wide range—from songs that perfectly match your current situation to ones that will bring back old emotions and move you to tears—so be sure to read the lyrics and listen closely!
Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 40s: Classic and popular Japanese hits (1–10)
After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke
The bittersweet melancholy that Mr.
Kuwata suddenly reveals—despite his humorous performances and playful, clownish persona—feels richer and more poignant to us listeners as we grow older.
Released in 1994 as his fifth solo single, “Matsuri no Ato” is a masterpiece that fully unleashes Kuwata’s soulful, wistful singing.
For those who remember that era well, it likely also lives on in memory as the theme song for the NTV drama “Shizukanaru Don.” Even the title, “After the Festival,” evokes an indescribable sadness, and the lyrics—depicting the pure-heartedness of a clumsy, sensitive man through masterful word choice—are simply exceptional.
Naturally, if someone in their 40s or 50s sings this at karaoke, a full-on singalong is guaranteed.
Precisely because there are fewer singers today who can write and perform songs like this, I hope younger generations will give it a listen too!
overMr.Children
Mr.
Children is one of the best-selling bands of the 1990s, and even now, well into the 2020s, they continue to reign as a top band.
Among the countless masterpieces in their discography, the song “over,” which we’re featuring here, is especially beloved by fans—truly a masterpiece among masterpieces.
Released in 1994, it was included as the closing track on their monumental fourth album, Atomic Heart, which achieved the astonishing feat of selling 3.43 million copies in total, and it was later selected for their best-of compilations as well.
It’s a heartbreak song reminiscent of early Mr.
Children; beyond the excellence of its melody and sound arrangement, the lyrics—born from the unique perspective of Sakurai, a master of love songs—deserve special emphasis.
Precisely because it avoids difficult turns of phrase, the artful word choice reveals Sakurai’s innate talent as a lyricist.
Even the title, which carries the dual meanings of “to end it here” and “to go beyond this,” is devastatingly moving…
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi
In the 1990s, when million-sellers were coming one after another, Kazuyoshi Saito wasn’t necessarily blessed with massive hits, yet he commanded immense trust and popularity among dedicated music fans and fellow musicians.
One of his signature songs, Utautai no Ballad, released in 1997, is a track that came to be even more highly regarded in later years than at the time of its release.
Back then, it got plenty of exposure as the ending theme for TBS’s COUNT DOWN TV, but it ultimately peaked at just No.
91 on the charts.
Many of you may also remember that Bank Band—formed around Takeshi Kobayashi and Kazutoshi Sakurai—covered the song and performed it on the music program Music Station.
The fact that its music video wasn’t produced until 2008, eleven years after the release, is symbolic in itself.
It’s a superb classic, showcasing Saito’s distinctive voice and melodies and the elegant use of strings, but I especially want to highlight the brilliance of the lyrics.
It’s no wonder so many musicians have praised it.
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
Masayoshi Yamazaki is one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters and a gifted multi-instrumentalist.
His debut tagline, “A guy even greater than a genius,” was no exaggeration: while continuously producing outstanding classics, he has also excelled as an actor—a true multi-talent.
“One more time, One more chance,” chosen as the theme song for Moon and Cabbage, the first film in which Yamazaki starred as an actor, is a signature track from his early career and can be called his breakout hit.
Released as a single in February 1997, it became a long-running success, and the album HOME, released the same year, was also a hit, cementing his status as a popular singer-songwriter.
Sung with Yamazaki’s acoustic guitar and vocals, the song blends the gentle resonance of its plucked guitar with lyrics and a melody that are melancholic yet full of warmth, achieving perfect harmony.
Its extreme simplicity is precisely what moves listeners so deeply.
single bedSha ran Q
Younger generations might not even know that Tsunku once performed as the frontman of Sharam Q.
The iconic 1990s ballad “Single Bed” is one of the signature songs of Sharam Q, the popular rock band from Osaka, and it was also their first million-selling hit.
At the time, it was used as the ending theme for the TV anime D·N·A²: Dokokade Nakushita Aitsu no Aitsu, and since then it has continued to be loved across generations, regularly appearing as an insert song in dramas and more.
The beautiful, heartfelt melody and Tsunku’s remarkable vocals alone can bring you to tears, and the lyrics—plainly expressing the regret of a breakup—resonate with anyone who has had a similar experience, regardless of era or age.
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
One of Southern All Stars’ signature songs and a track that practically became synonymous with tear-jerking hits of the 2000s.
When it was released, people across a wide range of ages—from young listeners to adults—were hearing it everywhere, and many of those now in their forties likely experienced it in real time.
As suggested by the title “TSUNAMI,” it sings of lingering feelings after a breakup that sway and ripple like waves that surge and recede.
Coupled with the gentle, beautiful accompaniment and Kuwata’s poignant, husky voice, it’s a song that’s impossible to listen to without tears.
Last SongNEW!GACKT
Starting from a silence like freshly fallen snow and gradually building into passion, this dramatic progression makes it one of GACKT’s most memorable ballads.
The poignant theme of a “last song” dedicated to a loved one resonates deeply with listeners.
Released as a single in November 2003, it also plays a crucial role in the narrative of the album Crescent and continues to be cherished by fans today.
It was performed at the 54th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a widely known episode where its overwhelming expressiveness deeply moved audiences at home.
It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to quietly accept a love that has ended, or on nights when you look back on the past alone and try to face forward.