[Perfect for Autumn] Heartbreak songs that resonate with bittersweet feelings

tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa

Koresawa “Tobacco” [Music Video]

One of singer-songwriter Koresawa’s signature songs, this track portrays a painful heartbreak from a woman’s perspective.

He’s no longer in the room they used to share, yet traces of their time together remain everywhere, creating a palpable sense of sorrow.

Among these, the most striking is the cigarette that gives the song its title.

It’s something he left behind, but that cigarette becomes the trigger that unleashes a wave of lingering feelings.

It’s a song many women can surely relate to—an aching, heartrending story whose atmosphere also fits perfectly with the autumn season.

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Hane Keisuke

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Stardust StageChekkāzu

The Checkers LIVE 1985 “Stardust Stage”

This is the fourth single by The Checkers, a seven-member rock band formed around singer-songwriter Fumiya Fujii that enjoyed immense popularity from the 1980s to the 1990s.

It was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Uchi no Ko ni Kagitte…” and also served as the entrance march for the 57th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, making it one of The Checkers’ signature songs.

The lyrics, which depict leaving a lover in pursuit of a dream, may feel even heavier and more melancholic thanks to the relaxed shuffle beat.

With its emotional chorus that stirs the heart, it is a lyrical breakup song.

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Hoshino Takashi

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My loverGorin Mayumi

My Lover

Mayumi Itsuwa’s signature song “Koibito yo” (“My Dear Lover”) is her 18th single, released in 1980.

It became a hit, winning the Gold Prize at the 22nd Japan Record Awards and the Best Vocal Performance at the 9th FNS Music Festival.

Although it never states it outright, the lyrics contain many words that evoke autumn.

The song was written when producer Takasuke Kida, with whom Itsuwa had a close relationship, passed away, and it uses the changing seasons as a metaphor to sing about parting from a loved one.

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Ryo

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Moonlight FlowerJanne Da Arc

Gekkouka by Janne Da Arc

This Janne Da Arc song, which beautifully portrays a bittersweet love, is a perfect fit for long autumn nights.

Using natural motifs like flowers, rain, and the moon, it vividly depicts lost love and longing for the past.

Many listeners will be moved by the protagonist, who tries to look forward despite the pain of heartbreak.

Released in January 2005, the song was also used as the opening theme for the popular anime Black Jack.

It’s a track you might want to listen to alone in the quiet of an autumn dusk—but it could also be nice to share with friends who’ve experienced heartbreak.

No matter how…Nishino Kana

Kana Nishino 'No Matter How Much...' MV Full

While her realistic lyrics—born from her own and her friends’ experiences—resonate strongly with women, this is the 15th single by singer Kana Nishino, who announced a hiatus in 2019.

Written specifically for the Walkman “Let’s set music free Project,” for which she served as the image character, the song features a clear, soothing arrangement highlighting piano and strings.

The lyrics, overflowing with regret and lingering feelings for a former lover, remind us of how we only recognize what’s truly important after we’ve lost it.

With a wistful, beautiful melody that captures the ache of heartbreak, it’s a perfect ballad for a nostalgic autumn.

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Hoshino Takashi

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alone in my roomSuzuki Ami

CM Ami Suzuki – alone in my room (2nd Single)

Ami Suzuki, an artist who was active from 1998 to the early 2000s.

Rather than a full-on artist, she engaged in activities that were half-idol-like, so she had many male fans.

One of her hit songs, “alone in my room,” was her second single released in 1998 and was used as the opening theme for the popular TV show ASAYAN.

Although it’s a heartbreak song, it’s memorable for its brisk, refreshing sound with a sense of speed.

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Ryo

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Oh, Girl (The Sad Screen of My Heart)Sazan Ōrusutāzu

OH, GIRL (Sad Screen of the Heart) [2024 Remaster]

A gem of a ballad crafted by Southern All Stars.

It portrays, from a third-person perspective, a woman who single-mindedly continues to long for someone she can no longer meet.

The metaphor in the lyrics—that her sweet yet painful emotions are projected onto a screen—is truly superb.

This piece is included on the classic album “Southern All Stars,” released in January 1990, and was later featured on the best-of collection “Ballad 3: the album of LOVE.” Keisuke Kuwata’s wistful vocals and melody link exquisitely with the lonely, autumnal atmosphere, making it a masterpiece.