Unrequited love songs to listen to in April. Spring love songs.

Spring sceneryMinamino Yoko

Harugeishiki by Yoko Minamino

This gem of a love song by Yoko Minamino portrays the bittersweet feelings of a young woman entering university and her boyfriend who has become a ronin student after failing his entrance exams, set in the spring of graduation.

Initially included on the April 1986 album “Gelato” and later featured as the B-side of “Kanashimi Monument” in July of the same year, the song delicately captures the subtleties of youth against the backdrop of Kobe.

Amid warm sunlight and fluttering cherry blossoms, the couple’s confusion about their changing circumstances resonates with a nostalgic melody.

Celebrated as a classic idol song, it continues to be loved as a piece that stays close to the heart at life’s milestones—love, parting, and setting out on new journeys.

evergreenŌhashi Chippoke

Ohashi Chippoke “Evergreen” Music Video

This is a love song by Chippoke Ohashi that gently portrays lovers dreaming of unchanging love, set to a warm, tender melody.

Its sincere, diary-like lyrics—expressing the wish to always be with a loved one—resonate deeply.

Included on the mini-album “you,” released in October 2021, the track sparked a huge response, surpassing 100 million streams.

It’s a song we especially recommend to those who hold feelings for someone dear in their hearts or who wish for an eternal bond with the one they love.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

A song by Hinatazaka46 set in the cherry blossom–filled spring season, depicting the bittersweet feelings of a love that couldn’t be confessed on graduation day.

It tells a memorable story of hidden emotions sealed within a graduation photo and lingering regrets that won’t fade with time.

Nao Kosaka serves as center for the sixth time after a six-release interval, and the music video portrays a fantastical world of swirling cherry blossoms under the theme of a parade that heralds spring.

The single, set for release on January 29, 2025, will be available in five formats: Limited First Edition TYPE-A through TYPE-D, and a regular edition.

The song premiered at the Tokyo Dome concert on December 26, 2024, captivating the audience.

It’s a track to be heard with empathy during spring, the season of partings and new encounters.

Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takako

Takako Matsu – When Spring Comes Tomorrow

A nostalgic coming-of-age song that begins with memories of a white ball tracing a parabolic arc.

Takako Matsu’s clear, translucent voice gently wraps around her feelings for “you,” who is devoted to baseball.

The bittersweet wish to reunite at a place of memories and the unwavering love for someone precious soak into the heart with the arrival of spring.

Released in March 1997, the song was featured in NTT’s “Exciting New Life” campaign commercial and was also performed on that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

In April 2007, marking the 10th anniversary of her debut, a new version was released on the album Cherish You.

It’s a warm song that gently encourages those graduating or embarking on a new chapter in life.

Cherry blossomMatsuda Seiko

"Cherry Blossom 2021" from Seiko Matsuda Concert Tour 2023 “Parade”

It is a classic song with a refreshing melody that evokes the arrival of spring and heartwarming lyrics portraying the beginning of a new romance.

Seiko Matsuda’s poised vocals beautifully express the feelings of a protagonist taking a brave first step.

The sense of anticipation for the future beneath a blue sky, and the joy of being in love, resonate deeply alongside her clear, transparent voice.

Released in January 1981, this piece was born from producer Muneo Wakamatsu’s challenge to explore new music.

It reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and was also included on the album “Silhouette.” Loved for many years by countless listeners as a song to enjoy in spring—especially during cherry blossom season—it’s a lively, hopeful track that cheers on the start of a new chapter, and is highly recommended when you want to make a fresh start.

Oh, early summer rainSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Samidare yo'

A poignant love song by Sakurazaka46 that portrays feelings of love through the motif of early-summer rain.

Released in April 2022 as their fourth single, it received a tremendous response, topping the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Like rain that never stops, the swelling emotions are expressed through delicate vocals and choreography, gently embracing unspoken love and the struggles it brings.

It is a warm track that waits for the arrival of spring, resonating with those in the midst of unrequited love or unable to convey their feelings.

Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Sakuzuki'

A single released by Sakurazaka46 in February 2023, themed around youthful farewells and new encounters, with a poignant love depicted through the imagery of cherry blossoms that tugs at the heart.

The delicate feeling of “being unable to tell you how I feel” is entrusted to the falling blossoms, while the protagonist’s resolve to live as beautifully as a full-bloom sakura is expressed through a fleeting yet powerful melody.

In their fifth single, second-generation member Rena Moriya serves as center for the first time, and the members’ expressively nuanced performance is a major draw.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear in the spring season of partings—one that encourages young people heading into new lives, such as through transferring schools or moving on to higher education.