7 Recommendations for Japanese Anime That Will Make You Emotional, Get Ready to Cry

Watching anime is not always synonymous with exciting adventures, explosive action, or magnificent fantasy worlds. Among the various genres offered by the Japanese anime industry, there is one type of viewing that can truly touch the heart: anime that is full of emotion and sentimentality.

Such anime typically presents touching stories about love, loss, friendship, and meaningful life journeys. With a strong narrative approach and stunning visuals, emotionally-themed anime often succeed in making their viewers shed tears without realizing it.

Need something that stirs mixed feelings? Don’t worry, below are seven recommendations for Japanese anime that will definitely make you cry, summarized on Saturday (4/5/2025).

1. Suzume (2022)

Recommendations for Heartwarming Japanese Anime (Source: Imdb)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Suzume is an anime film that takes viewers on an emotional adventure of a high school student named Suzume Iwato. She accidentally meets a mysterious young man named Souta Munakata, who is on an important mission to close supernatural doors that could trigger earthquake disasters in Japan. Together, they embark on a journey full of wonder, self-growth, and sacrifice.

The film has received widespread acclaim for its stunning animation quality, strong character portrayals, and touching musical accompaniment. Although some consider the story of Suzume to have a similar feel to Shinkai's previous works, the film still manages to capture the hearts of many viewers. Not only that, but Suzume also achieved the feat of being one of the highest-grossing anime films in Japan throughout 2022.

2. Weathering With You (2019)

Recommendations for Japanese Anime That Will Make You Emotional (Source: Imdb)

Still from the talented hands of Makoto Shinkai, Weathering With You is a film that premiered in 2019 and immediately captured the public's attention. The film tells the story of the meeting between Hodaka, a teenager who runs away to Tokyo, and Hina, a young girl who turns out to have a rare ability to control the weather. Together, they utilize Hina's powers to help many people, until they are ultimately faced with a difficult choice to save one another.

With a touching narrative and Shinkai's signature stunning visuals, Weathering With You successfully conveys messages about love, sacrifice, and relevant climate change. The warmth of the relationship between Hodaka and Hina becomes the emotional center of the story, making this film one of the most touching anime recommendations in the last decade.

3. Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)

Recommendations for Japanese Anime That Are Most Heartwarming (Source: Imdb)

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas or Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai presents a heartbreaking story about life and death, wrapped in the growing relationship between two teenagers with contrasting personalities. Sakura Yamauchi, a seemingly cheerful student, harbors a big secret: she suffers from a deadly pancreatic disease. Only one person accidentally discovers this secret—Haruki Shiga, her quiet and introverted classmate.

As time goes by, the two begin to form a deep bond. Their relationship evolves from awkwardness to a meaningful companionship. The film combines visual beauty with an evocative story, offering a new perspective on how to face life within the constraints of time.

4. Your Name (2016)

Recommendations for the Most Touching Japanese Anime (Source: Imdb)

One of the most famous works by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name or Kimi no Na wa tells the story of Mitsuha and Taki, two teenagers who mysteriously swap bodies despite having never met before. From there, curiosity, longing, and the desire to find each other grow—until they ultimately become trapped in a situation larger than themselves.

This film beautifully combines elements of fantasy, romantic drama, and Japanese culture. The stunning visual support and the soundtrack by Radwimps further enhance the emotional atmosphere of the film. Your Name is not only a commercial success but has also become one of the anime films with a significant cultural impact in the history of modern Japanese cinema.

5. A Silent Voice (2016)

Recommendations for the Most Touching Japanese Anime (Source: Imdb)

A Silent Voice tells the story of Shouya, a teenager who often bullied Shouko, a deaf girl. After graduating from high school, Shouya regrets his actions and tries to atone for his mistakes by searching for Shouko to apologize.

This anime explores themes of bullying, regret, and redemption very realistically. Shouya's struggle to correct his wrongs is very touching.

Shouya's change in attitude and his efforts to understand Shouko highlight a touching maturation process. This anime delivers an important message about the impact of bullying and the significance of apologizing.

6. The Garden of Words (2013)

Recommendations for Japanese Anime That Are Most Heartwarming (Source: Imdb)

Unlike other feature-length anime films, The Garden of Words has a runtime of only about 46 minutes, yet it manages to convey an emotional story very efficiently. The film follows the encounters between Takao, a high school student aspiring to be a shoemaker, and Yukino, an adult woman who harbors emotional wounds. They often meet by chance in a park during the rain, which then becomes an escape from the real world for both of them.

With highly realistic visuals and a melancholic atmosphere, the film depicts how two souls of different ages and backgrounds can find comfort in silence and simple words. Short yet meaningful, The Garden of Words is proof that duration is not a barrier to telling a touching story.

7. 5 Centimeters per Second (2007)

Recommendations for Japanese Anime That Will Make You Emotional (Source: Imdb)

Released in 2007, 5 Centimeters per Second became one of Shinkai's most emotional films, raising themes of distance, time, and separation. The story is divided into three parts that depict the life of Takaki Tōno and his unfinished love story with Akari Shinohara, his childhood friend. This film illustrates how relationships that cannot be united by time and distance still leave a mark in someone's memory.

Without using fantasy elements, this film relies on the power of narration and poetic visuals to convey feelings of loss and longing. The background music accompanying the storyline also enhances the deep emotional atmosphere. 5 Centimeters per Second is a simple yet reflective film, very suitable for viewers who wish to contemplate the meaning of love that does not have to possess.

(kpl/ses)