A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
When you’re heartbroken, many people listen to breakup songs to soothe the sadness or find someone who shares their pain.
When you hear a song that matches how you feel, it’s strange how it can make your heart feel lighter.
In this article, we’ll highlight breakup songs specifically from the 1990s.
We’ve selected songs that share your feelings, songs that grieve alongside you—tracks that gently stay by your side when you’re hurting from a broken heart.
When times are tough, lean on the power of music to help heal your sorrow, even just a little.
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Breakup songs that were hits in the ’90s. Classic and popular J-pop tracks (21–30)
Only You ~Summer Heartbreak~Sazan Ōrusutāzu
A poignant classic that colored the summer of 1995.
This exquisite heartbreak ballad portrays lingering feelings for a summer romance that has ended, set against the backdrop of a beautiful seaside scene.
Released as a single in July 1995, it became a major hit as the theme song for the drama “Itsuka Mata Aeru” (Someday We’ll Meet Again).
It was later included on the acclaimed album “Young Love,” and has become a special number—so much so that Keisuke Kuwata has called it “one of my favorite songs” among his own works.
The rich, weighty sound and Kuwata’s voice, which gives full voice to helpless, aching emotion, truly resonate in the heart.
Glass BoyKinKi Kids
Released when KinKi Kids were still just boys making their debut, this song immediately captured everyone’s attention.
They sing so poignantly and coolly about a boy’s dilemma of not being able to win the love he wants, conveying the pure heart of teenagers.
It’s the ultimate heartbreak song.
The fact that it’s a Tatsuro Yamashita composition also drew major attention.
The duo’s bittersweet harmonies still resonate, and many people continue to sing this song at karaoke.
As a breakup song, it remains a popular favorite to this day.
Breakup songs that were hits in the ’90s. Classic and popular J-Pop tracks (31–40)
A little; a bitDaikoku Maki
This is the third single by singer-songwriter Maki Ohguro, who, at the time of her debut, inspired various urban legends due to her mysterious presence.
The song was used as the opening theme for the TV drama “Ichigo Hakusho,” and Ohguro’s powerful, emotional vocals make a strong impact.
The lyrics depict the complex feelings of being unable to move on because of an ex-lover’s half-hearted behavior—resonating with many women and likely making men realize they should be more careful.
With its dynamic vocals and refreshing melody, it’s a track that can blow away the pain of heartbreak.
Swallowtail Butterfly ~Love Song~YEN TOWN BAND
A single by YEN TOWN BAND, a fictional band from a film starring the singer-songwriter CHARA that actually made its real-world debut.
Written as the theme song for the movie Swallowtail, it features a sentimental melody that showcases CHARA’s signature whispery vocals—instantly catchy.
The lyrics capture a complex feeling: supporting a loved one’s dream while imagining the farewell that may come once that dream is fulfilled, echoing the film’s worldview with a bittersweet resonance.
A nostalgic breakup song whose lingering vocals pierce the heart.
excuseSha ran Q
A quintessential 90s rock ballad that powerfully voices a man’s aching heart.
This is the 10th single by Sharam Q, the rock band led by Tsunku♂, who is also known as a music producer.
While spouting selfish excuses, the protagonist’s inability to sever his lingering attachment to the lover who left is portrayed over a wistful melody.
Released in April 1996, the song was used as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Age, 35 Koishikute,” won the Excellence Award at the Japan Record Awards, and cemented the band’s popularity.
It’s a gem of a breakup song that makes you want to pour your emotions into it at karaoke.
as A personKahara Tomomi
Tomomi Kahara’s “as A person” is a song about longing for an unforgettable lover.
Released in 1999, the lyrics were written by Kahara herself as a message to an ex.
It recounts the end of a love that felt like a once-in-a-lifetime romance, capturing a lingering attachment that refuses to fade.
The more deeply you love someone, the harder it is to forget them, leaving you wandering in sorrow.
From this song, you can keenly feel a profound love that cannot be dismissed with the simple word “regret.” If you have a lover you just can’t forget, this song will resonate with your feelings.
beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko
It’s one of the signature breakup songs that became a hit in the ’90s.
The slow melody and her signature vocal style gently soothe the listener’s heart.
It’s a wonderful song that lets you quietly look back on your love after a breakup and remember the happy times—crying and laughing along the way.
She says that while a beetle’s shell looks hard and strong, it might actually be a fragile and lonely creature.
From those words, the heartbroken protagonist is likened to a beetle.
Perhaps women fall in love while doing their utmost to protect themselves.