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

PRIDEImai Miki

Miki Imai - 'PRIDE' Music Video

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.

LeoYuuri

Yuuri 'Leo' Official Music Video

Included on Yuri’s first album, “Ichi,” this song gently portrays the precious bond between a dog and its owner—from their first meeting at a pet shop to the warmth of a small body and the time spent side by side.

Released in January 2022 and featured on the album “Ichi,” it resonated widely on social media, and its music video has surpassed 40 million views.

It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to when you want to savor your feelings for someone dear.

A heartwarming message song that reminds us of the importance of time with family and loved ones.

The day we stopped being loversYuuri

Yuri “The Day We Stopped Being Lovers” Official Music Video

Released as a digital-only single in February 2023, it was also included on the album “II,” which came out in March of the same year.

Judging by the title alone, you might assume this is a breakup song, but the lyrics actually feature two different “days we stopped being lovers.” The first is the day they broke up, which is what most people would imagine.

The couple in the song does part ways once.

However, they can’t forget each other, and when they meet again, they get back together.

Determined not to be alone this time, a proposal follows, and they become husband and wife—this is the second “day they stopped being lovers.” It’s a truly lovely story, and I imagine many readers were deeply moved by the lyrics.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hane Keisuke

Report a problem

Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai

Ai Tomioka – Goodbye Bye (Music Video)

A delicate song by Ai Tomioka that sings of a love so pure it almost hurts.

The transparent vocals capture the frustrating feeling of almost closing the distance with someone, yet never quite getting there.

Even while knowing the other person has someone special, the complicated emotions of being unable to let go resonate deeply.

Released in September 2023, it captured many hearts, reaching the Top 10 on Spotify’s Viral charts in six Asian countries.

The song is memorable for its blend of English and Japanese lyrics and its catchy melodic line.

It’s a track that comforts anyone holding onto unspoken feelings for someone they love, or struggling with a love that may never come true.

Drowning loveDomura Riu

Drowning Love – Riu Domura (Official Music Video)

A heart-stirring song by Riu Domura that candidly captures the anxiety and loneliness born from thinking of someone, carried by a melodious sound.

It delicately portrays the fear of parting and the instability of emotions that arise precisely because of deep love for the other person.

Even while being conscious of the inevitable farewell that will come someday, the pure feeling of being unable to stop thinking about them pierces the heart.

Released in December 2020, the track later appeared as a remixed version on the album “Yakei,” and has been cherished as one of Riu Domura’s signature songs.

It’s a song that stays close to your heart when you can’t be honest about your feelings of love, or when your feelings for someone precious become so overwhelming that it hurts.