A ballad song about unrequited love
There are many different styles of unrequited love songs, but I’ve put together a selection of “ballad-style unrequited love songs” that I especially recommend to those who love gentle, heartfelt romance tracks.
Some are about love that will never come true, and others are lingering-love songs about still having feelings after a breakup.
Every song hits you right in the heart, so please give them a listen.
Ballad-style unrequited love songs are also perfect for when you just want to cry.
I hope you find one song on this list that stays close to your feelings.
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- Unrequited love songs by bands. Japanese pop/rock love songs.
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- Back Number Unrequited Love Songs: Popular Song Ranking [2026]
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A ballad song about unrequited love (21–30)
Act like an adult.suisou gurashi

A bittersweet love song that portrays the complex emotions of a woman who goes to meet someone on the last train at midnight.
Released by Suisougurashi in March 2022, the song delicately captures the feelings of a woman swept up in an adult romance.
Set to jazzy sounds and a catchy melody, it vividly depicts her inner conflict as she keeps the relationship going by hiding her true self to suit the other person’s convenience.
With a clear, translucent vocal, it expresses a woman wavering between her straightforward affection and the anxiety of losing her sense of self.
A song that offers comfort to those hurting from unrequited love or heartbreak.
ConclusionSenchimirimentaru

A profound love story chronicling meetings and partings that cannot last forever.
Born from the desire to capture memories with a loved one in music, this heartrending ballad emerged after nine years in the making.
Crafted with heartfelt care by Atushi from Centimillimental, the song was chosen as the theme for the September 2024 release Given The Movie: To the Sea, drawing attention for its beautiful harmony with the film’s world.
It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone struggling with a relationship and carrying a bittersweet ache in their heart.
Ballad songs about unrequited love (31–40)
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.
youHY

A song by HY that paints a picture of aching, unrequited love.
Entrusting feelings for a beloved person to a song, yet being too awkward to express them honestly—that vulnerability is deeply moving.
Featured on the album “Street Story,” this track has been cherished by fans for years, and its raw lyrics, combined with Izumi Nakasone’s powerful yet delicate vocals, resonate with many listeners.
It’s perfect for anyone caught in the swirl of one-sided love, where joy and pain intertwine.
Highly recommended for those feeling heartache or looking for the courage to confess their feelings.
In loveHY

Even if you weren’t the one they chose, the fact that you loved doesn’t change… A bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment runs through this touching HY ballad.
Written as the theme song for the film “366 Days,” released in January 2025, the track is positioned as an answer song to their 2008 classic “366 Days.” It beautifully portrays emotional growth—rising from the pain of heartbreak and embracing even that experience as a cherished memory—and is also included on the album “TIME.” Set across Okinawa and Tokyo, the film unfolds a pure love story spanning 20 years, and this song superbly captures its worldview.
For those who have reached the end of a romance, or who are about to take a new step forward, this is a song that will gently give you a push.
Kasane AiSoala

Soala’s translucent vocals gently embrace the feelings that pass each other by and the wish to reunite, delicately expressing subtle emotions.
Released in January 2025 as a track on the EP “Bluem,” the song is distinguished by its piano-centered, gentle sound and memorable melodic lines.
The music video—featuring model Ryoka Orita and actor Yusei Ito—has also garnered attention, spreading waves of empathy across social media.
It’s a song I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who carries a “what if”—wondering how things might have been if you’d met in a different way.
You said the moon is beautiful.berry meet

This song paints a picture of a winter night sky and the bittersweetness of love.
Its delicate vocals and acoustic tones settle quietly in the heart like falling snow.
The melody gently embraces the anxiety, hopes, and unspoken frustrations of someone in love, leaving a strong impression.
Released as berry meet’s single in November 2023, it resonated with many listeners.
Listening during the winter season—especially while gazing up at the night sky—deepens the feelings of someone in love.
It’s a perfect track for those with unrequited feelings or those hesitating to confess.


