Masterpiece! Tear-jerking breakup songs by Japanese bands
Introducing a carefully curated selection of tear-jerking breakup songs from Japanese bands!
Love is fun in any era, but once you experience a breakup, even the happy memories can become painful to recall.
Not many people choose band songs when they’re heartbroken, but I’ve gathered some recommendations—so take this chance to give them a listen.
I focused on popular artists to make the picks easy to enjoy, even for those who don’t usually listen to band music.
You might even find that song you’ve been curious about!
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[Masterpiece!] Tear-Jerking Breakup Songs by Japanese Bands (21–30)
wishsumika
This song was chosen as the theme for the drama “Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.” What would you do if you found out that the person you like has someone they like? I think the shock of realizing your love won’t be returned is immeasurable.
Sumika’s “Negai” sings about that kind of heartbreak.
Even while holding feelings that can’t be accepted, it ultimately wraps everything up warmly and encourages taking a step toward a new love.
HappinessSHE’S
From the title and lyrics, you might expect a happy, lovey-dovey couple’s song, but by the end you realize it’s actually a sad track about recalling happier times—this is “Shiawase” (“Happiness”).
The song appears on SHE’S, a four-piece piano rock band’s first mini-album “WHO IS SHE?” released in 2014.
With its beautiful melody and vocals that heighten the sense of poignancy, many listeners will likely find themselves in tears.
For anyone going through a breakup, it’s probably a song you can’t listen to without crying.
Tokyoichou BOYZ
Even though I should be sad, what I keep remembering are the good times.
It’s a song by the punk rock band Ginnan BOYZ, who led the rock scene of the 2000s.
It’s included on their 2005 album “Kimi to Boku no Daisanji Sekai Taisen-teki Ren’ai Kakumei” (A Third World War-esque Love Revolution Between You and Me).
The lyrics describe how, in the midst of the city, the image of the person you love suddenly pops into your head.
The wrung-out vocals and palpable emotion are irresistibly compelling—an achingly moving work.
Give it a listen when you really want to cry your heart out.
holy warjoōbachi
Queen Bee, known for their unique worldview and large fan base.
The song “Holy War” is included on their 2019 album “Ten” and was also the theme song for the film “Sadako.” When you go through a breakup, you can end up not trusting anything anymore and feeling like you don’t want to let anyone but yourself get close.
This song feels like a breakup anthem that stays close to a heart like that.
It’s the kind of track that slowly seeps in and hits those tear-jerking points.
It’ll get stained.Chatto Monchī
This is the ninth single by Chatmonchy, a two-piece rock band that led the wave of girl bands emerging in the J-pop scene since the 2000s, though they disbanded in 2018.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Tonsura,” and it’s also known for being released as a single at the strong request of the members.
Tracing the memories of a former lover while being unable to fully move on is something many people—especially those fresh from a breakup—can relate to.
With a melody and guitar sound that exude melancholy, it’s an emotional rock tune that tightens the chest.
rayBUMP OF CHICKEN
It’s a forward-looking breakup song that can make you laugh and cry at the same time.
Created by the popular rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN, known for many classics like “Tentai Kansoku,” it was released digitally in 2014.
The heavily digital-tinged sound arrangement was unusual for BUMP OF CHICKEN at the time and became a big talking point.
Despite its refreshing tone, the lyrics overflow with feelings for the “you” they parted ways with.
Still, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a wonderful song that leaves you feeling positive once you’ve finished listening.
I wish you were hereLEGO BIG MORL
The four-piece rock band LEGO BIG MORL, commonly known as “Lego.” Their cool, clear voice is striking.
“Anata ga Ireba Ii no ni” is a love ballad that makes full use of that beautiful voice.
It sings about the emptiness of not having that special someone to think, “If only you were by my side.” Whether you continue to carry that lingering attachment depends on whether time works things out or you find a new love, right? But I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to hold on to those feelings.