Unrequited love songs recommended for college students: classic and popular Japanese tracks

Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri

Say goodbye to clinging love. / Matsuri (Good bye, toxic love) [Official Music Video]

This is a song by Matsuri that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman breaking free from a past dependence on love and trying to take a new step forward.

Released digitally in June 2022, it features striking lyrics about the struggle between telling herself she’s forgotten her former partner and the bittersweet memories that occasionally resurface.

The track gained popularity on TikTok and resonated with younger listeners, and a music video starring Yuu Miyazaki was also produced.

It’s a warm breakup song that offers comfort to those trying to face forward despite heartache and to those who still feel lingering attachment to past love.

Someone like you.riria.

riria. / Someone Like You. [Music Video]

This is a song by Riria.

that sings of the heartache of being unable to express your feelings.

It vividly captures the complex emotions of a girl who can’t be honest with herself, even though she can’t stop thinking about that special someone.

Released digitally in October 2024 as the ending theme for the anime Ranma 1/2, it received high acclaim, including reaching No.

2 on USEN’s weekly HIT J-POP rankings.

It’s the perfect track for anyone who’s felt their heart waver just by being near the person they like.

If you’re in unrequited love, give it a listen.

Beyond nostalgiaNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 “Beyond Nostalgia”

Memories of youth and the ache of unrequited love tighten the heart.

Created in February 2025 to mark Nogizaka46 member Yūki Yoda’s graduation, this piece is an emotional work built on a beautiful soundscape of piano and strings.

It’s filled with the regret of not confessing your feelings to the one you love, and simply reading the lyrics makes you empathize with that emotion.

It’s a song I recommend to anyone who has experienced parting with someone precious, or to everyone standing at a crossroads in life.

Sorry for dreamingAKB48 U-21 senbatsu

[MV Full] Sorry for Dreaming / AKB48 U-21 Selection [Official]

Among bittersweet unrequited-love songs, this AKB48 track stands out.

With the theme of summer’s end, it captures an impossible crush in a refreshing way.

Included on the single “Koi Tsumun Jatta,” released in July 2024, the song also serves as the ending theme for the anime “Stardust Telepath.” Its melodious sound and lyrics that say “I’m sorry” over and over really hit home.

You can keenly feel the emotions of a high school girl troubled by love.

The image of standing up to pedal a bicycle is pure youth.

It’s a must-listen for anyone nursing a crush.

Unrequited loveAimer

Aimer “Kataomoi” MUSIC VIDEO (FULL ver.)

When it comes to unrequited love songs by Aimer, the popular singer known for numerous tie-in tracks such as for the drama “Your Turn to Kill” and the anime “Demon Slayer,” this one stands out.

You’re so in love, yet you don’t have the courage to confess.

The lyrics convey a wish for the other person to notice these feelings.

It’s a song that makes your feelings for your crush grow stronger when you listen to it during a one-sided love.

Whose face comes to mind when you hear this track? It’s a recommended unrequited love song that helps you recognize—and rediscover—the strong feelings within you.

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sasashina

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astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Stargazing”

If there’s one song that made BUMP OF CHICKEN famous for their many emo tracks, it would have to be “Tentai Kansoku” (Stargazing).

The lyrics, about stargazing while thinking of a lover who’s drifted away, are heartbreakingly beautiful.

Released in 2001 as their third single, it reached No.

3 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and it continued to rank high in karaoke charts for many years after its release.

While the lyrics are about a breakup, the bittersweet emotion also resonates with unrequited love—so it’s a song I especially recommend to anyone currently nursing a crush.

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catDISH//

DISH// – Cat [Official Live Video 2019]

This is a song about lingering feelings for a love you let go of yourself.

The lyrics and music were written by the popular singer-songwriter Aimyon.

The protagonist’s regret—realizing how much their lover meant as the world seems to fade right after the breakup—is something high schoolers who’ve split up over small arguments or misunderstandings can’t help but relate to.

That aching wish to see the person you love in any way possible is an emotion many people with unrequited feelings share.

It’s a track that became quite the topic of conversation, so please give it a listen.

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