Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... classic songs that sing about affection
There are many different kinds of love, aren’t there?
Of course there’s the love between couples and spouses, but also the love between parents and children, and the love shared among friends and companions.
In this article, we’ll be introducing lots of songs that sing about these various forms of love!
From lovey-dovey mutual-love tracks to bittersweet unrequited-love songs, and heartwarming tunes themed around family love—you’re sure to find songs that capture the kind of love you’re looking for!
As you listen, try reading along with the lyrics and feel the emotions poured into each song!
- Songs to give to your lover or someone you like. Love songs devoted wholeheartedly to your boyfriend or girlfriend.
- Songs of pure love. Recommended masterpieces and popular pure-love love songs.
- [Family Love] Masterpieces of Japanese songs that sing about one’s wife
- [To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard
- [Songs with Great Lyrics] Masterpieces you’ll want to listen to while savoring the words that resonate with your heart
- [Mutual Love Songs] A curated selection of sweet and bittersweet love songs about mutual affection!
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- [A Song That Makes Love Come True] Carefully selected love songs perfect for those who want to make their unrequited love come true!
- [Couple's Song] Love Songs to Listen to on Good Couple Day and Anniversaries
- J-Rock love songs: timeless and popular romance tracks that resonate with the heart.
- [Classical] A comprehensive introduction to famous love pieces: recommended popular works
- [Song of Destiny] Love songs to listen to when you meet your destined person
- [Songs to Hear on Anniversaries] Love Songs for Couples That Deepen Your Bond
Mutual Love, Unrequited Love, Familial Love... Classic Songs About Affection (161–170)
Why not me?Misaka Saki

This song delicately portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love.
They were close as friends, but before he knew it, romantic feelings had begun to grow.
Those complex emotions of a boy are expressed through a clear, transparent singing voice.
Released in February 2021 as the theme song for ABEMA’s popular romance reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita” (Today, I Fell in Love), it resonated with many listeners.
It’s a perfect track for anyone struggling with their feelings for a crush.
Listening to this song might give you the courage to take a step forward.
senpainozomi

An unforgettable song that delicately captures wavering feelings for an older upperclassman.
Told from the perspective of a younger student tossed about by their senior, it portrays the anguish of love.
While captivated by every little gesture—the red lipstick, swaying earrings, and pale fingertips—the narrator is painfully torn by the fear they might be nothing more than a way to pass the time.
Released in August 2023, this self-produced work was entirely handled by Noshi, from lyrics and composition to arrangement.
It’s a song that speaks for your heart—highly recommended for anyone who has fallen hard for someone much older, or who’s stuck in the haze of not knowing how the other person really feels.
Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... Classic songs about affection (171–180)
LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu

An R&B masterpiece ballad that lifts your spirits like a carousel.
It beautifully captures both the sweetness and the ache of romance.
Toshinobu Kubota’s silky vocals and Naomi Campbell’s whisper-like chorus blend in exquisite harmony.
Released in May 1996, it became a breakout hit as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Long Vacation,” selling 1.856 million copies and winning the Japan Record Award for Excellence.
With a warmth that gently wraps the rain in your heart, this song is perfect for those newly in love and for adults who cherish precious memories.
just a littleIgarashi Haru

A song whose heartrending, soul-stirring vocals move every listener.
With delicate wording, it weaves a poignant love swayed by the whims of fate—encounters that come at the wrong time.
Haru Igarashi is a singer-songwriter with the unusual background of being a former police officer.
Released in March 2024, this work has drawn major attention, topping the Billboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs chart for two consecutive weeks.
The line about pretending to like what the other person likes just to stay by their side is so earnest it tightens the chest.
PRIDEImai Miki

A gem of a love song that portrays a woman pledging her heart to the Southern Cross.
The deep affection for the lover who taught her both loneliness and freedom soaks into the heart through Miki Imai’s translucent vocals.
Written and composed by Tomoyasu Hotei, the song was released in November 1996 and topped the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Doc,” it became a massive hit, selling 1.6 million copies.
In 2006, the couple appeared together on the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, delivering the performance with Hotei’s guitar accompaniment.
A heartwarming anthem that conveys the joy and ache of love, and the strength to turn feelings for a beloved into pride.
Recommended for those who want to keep moving forward while thinking of someone precious.
PreciousItō Yuna

This is a sweet and bittersweet song by Yuna Ito that portrays the subtle shift of the heart from anxiety to certainty.
It’s natural that vague fears and doubts arise as your feelings for someone grow stronger.
But this work shows that because the two continue to face each other sincerely, they can build a relationship where they truly trust one another.
Released in May 2006, it drew attention as the theme song for the film “Limit of Love: Umizaru.” It’s a recommended track for times when you want to feel the bond with someone important, or when you want to reaffirm the feelings you share for each other.
DiNAYuuri

This song by Yuuri vividly portrays how everyday memories with a lover become etched into the heart like genes.
Its delicate depictions resonate deeply with anyone who lives carrying both the bittersweetness and the joy of love.
Released in January 2025, the track drew attention after its performance on THE FIRST TAKE.
Singing of memories of love and the resolve to take a new step forward, this work is a must-listen for those who feel both loneliness and happiness whenever they think of someone dear.


