A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 1980s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
Picking out “breakup songs” from among the classic hits of the ’80s!
When it comes to breakup songs, that contrast between a wistful melody and lyrics still burning with uncooled passion really hits home, doesn’t it?
The tracks we’re introducing today are all packed with the powerful feeling of “I still love you” amid the sadness—songs that’ll bring you to tears.
If you’re thinking, “I want to know ’80s breakup songs,” or “I want to hear the hit songs of my youth again,” be sure to check these out.
They may be from the ’80s, but true classics move us regardless of the era.
If you’re younger, take this chance to give them a listen!
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Breakup songs that were hits in the 1980s. Classic and popular Japanese songs (21–30)
I’ll wait.amin
Amin’s “Matsuwa” sings of always thinking about the one you love, no matter what.
Released in 1982 as their debut single, it was written and composed by member Takako Okamura, who also works as a singer-songwriter.
Everything about the song is captured in its title, which means “I’ll wait.” Even if there’s little hope of ever being together, it depicts a single-minded resolve to keep thinking of that special person and to keep waiting.
It’s a song that will resonate with your feelings when you’re just not ready to give up yet.
Midnight Flight – A Lonely Christmas EveHamada Shogo
A bittersweet breakup song set at Christmas.
The first verse is written from a man’s perspective, and the second from a woman’s.
Each verse weaves in their feelings and the scenes they’re seeing, making it easier for listeners to empathize.
The wintry beauty of the music further accentuates the poignancy of the story told in the lyrics.
While many Christmas songs tend to be happy, there are also songs like this—about a helpless, heartrending breakup between a man and a woman.
Stay aquamarineKarurosu Toshiki & Omega Toraibu
Even after changing their name from 1986 Omega Tribe to Carlos Toshiki & Omega Tribe, the band kept churning out hits, and their refreshing sound gives them a strong “summer band” image.
They were a perfect fit for summer and the sea, right up there with TUBE and Southern All Stars.
“The love is ending and you’re changing, but only when you’re with me…”—he compares the girl he doesn’t want to change to an aquamarine shining with eternal brilliance.
If heartbreak could be this stylish, I’d want to experience it at least once! If you haven’t listened to them yet, you definitely should!
loveMatsuyama Chiharu
A hit that colored the charts of the 1980s and continues to be loved today, Chiharu Matsuyama’s classic “Koi” (Love).
From the intro—quietly suffused with loneliness and poignancy that subtly hints at the end of a romance—the song immediately grips your heart.
The opening line becomes the linchpin of the piece, and the lyrics, unfolding from a woman’s perspective, have moved many listeners to the core.
In particular, the chorus, which pierces the heart of the misalignment between man and woman, conveys the woman’s searing emotions with palpable force.
Woven with words that carefully trace the delicate heart of a woman, it is truly a gem among love songs.
Hello, Sadnesssaitou yuki
Yuki Saito, who emerged from Miss Magazine, was something of an outlier during the idol boom of the ’80s and ’90s.
In today’s terms, she had a bit of a “mysterious girl” vibe.
Her unpolished, unaffected charm—unspoiled by the entertainment industry—may also have been part of her appeal.
This song is about a “strong girl” who doesn’t stop moving forward even after heartbreak or a breakup.
Its pleasantly upbeat tempo—unusual for a breakup idol song—should help soothe the sting of lost love.
It’s a feel-good track I’d love people who are moping after a breakup to listen to!
Sad Colors, huh? ~ OSAKA BAY BLUESUeda Masaki
A classic ballad that lets you fully savor the charm of old-school songcraft, “Kanashii Iro Yane.” It’s a 1982 single by soul singer Masaki Ueda—who also delivered many beloved tunes with the band emblematic of the Kansai blues scene, Ueda Masaki & South To South.
The lyrics were written by the legendary Chinfa Kan, who colored countless masterpieces from the Showa to Heisei eras.
The composition is by Tetsuji Hayashi, a melody maker known for crafting breezy songs now often grouped under city pop.
Masaki Ueda’s husky, overwhelmingly emotive vocals are incredibly cool, and the lyrical expressions resonate with a deep, heartrending poignancy.
It truly brings tears to your eyes…
A masterpiece whose quietly evocative expressions heighten the sense of melancholy, gently nestling close to a broken heart, while setting many memories in motion and even conveying a certain strength.
Eris with Azure Eyesanzenchitai
A rock band led by Koji Tamaki, whose very name Anzenchitai, the men’s makeup—everything became the talk of the town.
They debuted after serving as the backing band for Yosui Inoue, and even that kind of apprenticeship story feels very much of its era.
This song showcases the skill of lyricist Goro Matsui, who, while using heartbreak as a motif, never resorts to spelling out “I love you, I hate you.” Koji Tamaki’s melody transforms a gently remembered, almost ornamental kind of romance into a beautiful song.
It’s especially recommended if, after a breakup, you feel like spending a little time alone.