A melancholic “yami” song that was a hit in the 2000s. A bittersweet track.
Everyone must have experienced it at least once.
In those moments when you feel like your heart is about to break, a lyric or melody suddenly reaches your ears and, in a mysterious way, resonates with you and lifts you up.
The 2000s in particular were a tumultuous era when the way we enjoyed music changed dramatically.
Amid the shift from CDs to online distribution, countless “yami songs” (songs that grapple with darkness or emotional pain) were born, and they still support many people’s hearts today.
Lyrics you can’t help but relate to, melodies that pierce the chest.
Let yourself sink into that bittersweet feeling, along with the nostalgic memories of those days.
- Breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s
- [Yami Song] A mental breakdown track that sings the true feelings of a melancholic heart
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- Heart-wrenching Japanese hit songs from the 2000s. Songs that make you cry.
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
- [Heisei Love Songs] A carefully selected collection of gem-like love songs that continue to be cherished even in the Reiwa era!
- Ballad songs that were hits in the 2000s
- Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
- Nothing but iconic hits that defined an era! 2000s classics popular on TikTok
- [Relatable Lyrics] Emo songs to listen to when you're stuck after a breakup or relationship troubles
Yami songs that were hits in the 2000s. Heart-wrenching tracks (1–10)
366 daysHY
A four-piece band from Okinawa, HY features a male-female twin vocal mix and is active mainly in their local area.
This song, used as the theme for the film “Threads of Destiny,” is included on their fifth indie album, “HeartY.” The poignant lyrics and melody—born from vocalist/keyboardist Izumi Nakasone’s real-life experience—likely resonated with many women.
Despite never being released as a single, it is known as one of HY’s signature songs: a gem of a heartbreak ballad.
White LoversKuwata Keisuke
It is a lyrical ballad that depicts the bittersweet feelings of love in winter.
Released in October 2001, it is a work by Keisuke Kuwata themed around the winter season.
Rather than simply mourning a love that has passed, it also carries a sense of celebrating the memories of love, portraying warm emotions alongside scenes of a city blanketed in falling snow.
It was used as the theme song for Coca-Cola’s “No Reason” campaign commercial, and later featured in UNIQLO’s “LifeWear” commercial, earning affection from a wide audience.
It is a heartwarming song to listen to when you want to heal a heart hurt by love or reflect on cherished memories.
I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana
Kana Nishino’s songs have straightforward lyrics that really resonate.
I think girls who’ve just gone through a breakup can especially relate to the word “trembling.” It’s even harder when the other person is already seeing someone else.
Kana Nishino also has strong vocal ability, which makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world of her songs.
Yami songs that were hits in the 2000s. Heart-wrenching tracks (11–20)
sparklingaiko
When it comes to heartbreak, it’s got to be Aiko, right? This song is about a girl who believes that the person she loves will come back someday and waits for him.
The things she wants to tell him keep piling up while he’s not by her side.
She spends her nights alone, thinking of him.
It’s a song cheering on a girl who just went through a breakup.
planetariumOtsuka Ai
A heart-stirring ballad that projects the ache of love onto the stars in the night sky, this piece is marked by Ai Otsuka’s delicate vocals and lyrical piano.
Memories of a lover and the wistfulness of time gone by are woven into the beautiful imagery of starry skies and planetariums, resonating deeply with listeners.
Used as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi” and included on the album “LOVE COOK,” it has continued to soothe many hearts since its release in September 2005.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while gazing up at the stars on a solitary night—recommended for those looking to heal the pain of heartbreak or to immerse themselves in cherished memories with someone special.
Flavor Of LifeUtada Hikaru
This is a masterpiece that delicately portrays the bittersweet pain of heartbreak and parting.
Released in February 2007, it’s a song by Hikaru Utada and served as the image song for the TBS drama “Boys Over Flowers 2 (Returns).” It beautifully expresses the many emotions brought on by saying goodbye to someone you love, with a memorable melody that resonates as if you can feel the very essence of love throughout your whole body.
The song topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks and was also included on the album “HEART STATION.” It’s a track that resonates deeply during the poignant moments of love or when you’re feeling uncertain about a relationship with someone important.
Things that have formShibasaki Kou
This song is the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” Together with the movie, it became a huge hit.
It’s a heartrending song about someone who can no longer live by the side of the person they love.
All they can do is watch over them, so they wish for that person to find happiness with someone else.