Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... classic songs that sing about affection

Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri

Say goodbye to clinging love. / Matsuri (Good bye, toxic love) [Official Music Video]

This is a song by Matsuri that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman breaking free from a past dependence on love and trying to take a new step forward.

Released digitally in June 2022, it features striking lyrics about the struggle between telling herself she’s forgotten her former partner and the bittersweet memories that occasionally resurface.

The track gained popularity on TikTok and resonated with younger listeners, and a music video starring Yuu Miyazaki was also produced.

It’s a warm breakup song that offers comfort to those trying to face forward despite heartache and to those who still feel lingering attachment to past love.

My dearest personMatsuri, Takumi

One I Loved / Matsuri, Takumi [Official Music Video]

A beautiful collaborative piece by Matsuri and Takumi that sings of poignant scenes and an unattainable love.

Accompanied by skillful piano melodies, it’s a pure love story-song that wistfully asks, “If only I could go back to the past,” and longs for a love that has been lost.

That day you met, the kindness you shared, the tears you shed—precious memories are depicted in a way that tightens the chest and sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.

Released in November 2023, this work offers solace to those whose relationship with someone they loved has ended and who still can’t make sense of their feelings.

It’s a song you’ll want to keep close for quiet nights alone, when you’re ready to face the pain of love.

sparklingmosao.

Kira Kira / Mosawo. [Music Video]

A sparkling expression of the feeling of being in love, a song by Mosa o.

The lyrics delicately depict the brilliance and bittersweetness of romantic emotions, and the gentle vocals resonate deeply.

From the lyrics, you can sense the lover’s anxieties and inner conflicts.

Released in September 2020, the song garnered widespread empathy, especially on social media.

It’s perfect for those with a one-sided crush or anyone who can’t bring themselves to confess their feelings.

When you want to summon the courage to take a step forward, this is a song that quietly gives you a nudge.

Tightly.mosao.

Tightly. / Mosawo. [Music Video]

A warm, comforting song that depicts the gentle everyday life of lovers.

It portrays the intimate bond between two people in love, such as the change in warmth when holding hands and the happy moments of watching a partner sleep.

Mosawo’s soft vocals further enhance the lyrics that cherish the small joys of daily life.

Released in July 2020, the song resonated with many, reaching No.

1 on the LINE MUSIC weekly ranking.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to treasure time with their partner or look back on memories with someone special.

love-coloredmosao.

Koishoku / Mosawo. [Music Video]

It beautifully portrays the exhilaration of falling in love and the way feelings for someone overflow.

Released in September 2021 as a collaboration with the manga ‘A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren),’ it became a hot topic especially on social media.

Its acoustic sound and warm lyrics wonderfully capture love’s sparkle and bittersweetness.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to with someone special at the start of a new season.

You’re unfair, you know.riria.

riria. / Sneaky You. [Music Video]

This song poignantly expresses the feelings of unrequited love.

Released in December 2024, it is also included on the album “Kiseki,” out in January 2025.

With a clear, airy vocal that paints wintry Christmas scenes, the track features a warm arrangement incorporating piano and strings.

The lyrics convey pure emotions toward a one-sided crush, something teens in particular are likely to relate to.

It’s a perfect winter song for elevating a romantic mood.

Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Midsummer Fruit [Live at Chigasaki Park Baseball Stadium, 2023]

A classic song released in July 1990 that poignantly portrays a bittersweet love.

As the theme song for the film “Inamura Jane,” directed by Keisuke Kuwata, this ballad was presented to the world by Southern All Stars.

Set against the transition from late summer to autumn, it delicately weaves the feelings of a man reflecting on a past romance with subtle melodies and beautiful words.

Memories by the seaside, the lingering traces of love that remain in the heart, the loneliness of being drenched by the chill of autumn rain—its poetic world resonates deeply with listeners.

After its release, it reached No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became a hit certified Platinum.

It’s a song that gently accompanies those nights when you want to dwell in the afterglow of summer and face your nostalgic memories.