Unrequited love songs by bands. Japanese pop/rock love songs.

to youNEW!MONGOL800

To You by MONGOL800

A signature number from MONGOL800 that blends the warmth and exhilarating drive of Okinawa’s breeze.

The lyrics, written in straightforward words, convey overflowing feelings for a loved one directly, heating listeners’ hearts.

Released in September 2001, it’s included on the classic album “MESSAGE,” which sold over 2.8 million copies.

Though not a single, it has been featured in a detergent commercial, the film “Utatama♪,” and the drama “Ososaki no Himawari,” and has been loved for many years.

Its appeal is also evident from covers by artists like Mrs.

GREEN APPLE.

Its unadorned words give a push to one-sided love and help deepen the bond between two people.

You don’t listen to rock.NEW!aimyon

Aimyon – You Don’t Listen to Rock [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A signature song by Aimyon that blends the sweet tang and faint bitterness of youth, gripping listeners’ hearts and never letting go.

Released in August 2017 as her third single, this track portrays a clumsy crush: trying to convey one’s feelings to someone who isn’t into rock through a beloved record.

Many will likely see their younger selves in the earnest “I,” wishing to close even a little of the distance.

Upon release, it earned power-play rotation at 42 radio stations nationwide, catapulting her recognition.

When you’re wrestling with the frustration of unrequited love, why not listen to this song for a dose of courage?

% 〜m.e.r〜HY

HY – “% ~m.e.r~” lyric video

Released as the fourth installment of a five-month consecutive release project conducted in December 2020, this work is included on the 14th album, HANAEMI.

Based on a true story from someone Nakasone knows, it’s a love song that portrays the heartrending story of being separated without ever confessing your feelings to the one you love.

The lyrics, which try to express the distance between the two and the certainty of their feelings through numbers and symbols, really strike a chord.

It’s a song I’d like people nursing unspoken feelings in a one-sided love to listen to.

Coffee SongHOWL BE QUIET

HOWL BE QUIET – Coffee Song

A love song that overlays the ache of unrequited feelings onto an everyday moment.

Released digitally in 2021 by the piano rock band HOWL BE QUIET and later included on their final album, HOWL BE QUIET, this track is also known for having been created through communication with fans during livestreamed performances.

Told from a female perspective, its portrayal of a love that goes unrewarded is deeply moving.

With lyrics that revive memories along with the aroma of coffee, it’s perfect for nights spent thinking of someone.

A song for everyone who carries feelings that can’t reach their destination.

I’ll end up hating you.Kaneyori Masaru

Kaneyori Masaru [You’ll Make Me Hate You] Music Video

Kaneyori Masaru is a three-piece all-girl rock band based in Osaka.

Released in July 2024, this song is a summer love tune that captures the sweet-and-sour ache of a one-way crush.

Produced with music producer Junji Ishiwatari, it features a simple, catchy beat and an exhilarating melody.

Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics, which weave together possessiveness and an earnest plea—wishing that love with anyone other than oneself won’t come to fruition.

The track is also included on the mini-album “To Us Who Won’t Live Yesterday,” released in January 2025.

It’s a number that gives a gentle push to those in love.

Unrequited love for lifeGarakuta

Garakuta – Unrequited Love for a Lifetime (Official Music Video)

This is a song by Garakuta, a four-piece band based in Nagoya, that portrays unrequited feelings of love in a down-to-earth, relatable way.

If confessing would risk ruining what we have now, I’d rather keep my feelings to myself.

Many listeners will likely feel their hearts tighten at the blend of bravado and honest emotion in the lyrics.

Featured as the first track on their EP released in March 2024, “May it be my song that fills the gaps in your heart,” this piece is perfect for anyone stuck in a love they can’t quite step forward into, despite how strongly they feel.

LÖVE MEBUDDiiS

BUDDiiS「LÖVE ME」Official Music Video

It’s a BUDDiiS track that captures the frustrating feelings of a one-sided crush—wanting to get closer to someone but not being able to—in straightforward, relatable words.

Released as a single in May 2025, it blends sweet-and-sour lyrics with classic pop sounds, creating a cute world that makes your heart race just by listening.

Many will relate to the pure feelings of love sung over its dramatic melody.

For anyone stuck on the verge of stepping forward toward the person they can’t take their eyes off, this song gives a gentle push.