Beautiful tear-jerking songs / songs that make you cry your eyes out

Unrequited Love Song: A heartrending love song dedicated to you who are going through a painful romance

Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

When you have an unrequited crush and feel like “it hurts, I want to cry,” you want to listen to songs that share those feelings, right?

In this article, we’ll introduce “tear-jerking unrequited love songs” we recommend just for you.

From the latest hits to timeless classics, every track is a gem with heartrending lyrics that sink deep into your heart.

“If I confess, we can’t go back to how we were.” “I know I should give up, but I still like you.” “We broke up, but I can’t bring myself to hate you.”

If you’re hurting from unrequited love in any of these ways, please give these songs a listen.

[Unrequited Love Songs] Heart-wrenching love songs for you who are going through a painful romance (141–150)

usmilet

milet 'us' MUSIC VIDEO (Theme song for the Nippon TV Wednesday drama 'Gisou Furin' [Fake Affair])

usmilet

A heartrending love song by milet that earnestly sings about cherishing the present moment, even while feeling anxious about possibly losing a relationship by confessing one’s feelings.

She conveys the interplay of courage and fear in taking a step forward through her signature husky voice.

Born from the album “us,” released in August 2019, this track also perfectly captures the world of the NTV Wednesday drama “Fake Affair,” for which it served as the theme song.

It gently accompanies those who struggle to express their feelings honestly to someone, or who hesitate out of a desire not to change a precious relationship.

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I can’t sayiri

iri – Ienai (Music Video)

I can't sayiri

This song poignantly expresses feelings that have been quietly harbored in the heart.

The lyrics, woven in a calm, narrative tone, let the frustration of emotions that cannot be conveyed seep through.

The protagonist’s inability to accept reality is further highlighted by the softly tinted sound.

Released by iri in November 2020, the track is included on the album “Sparkle.” When you’re troubled by a love you can’t tell anyone about, this song will stay close to those feelings and gently resonate with the “words” hidden deep in your heart.

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motion sickness from proximitywanuka

Yori Yoi / Wanuqa [Music Video]

motion sickness from proximitywanuka

This song delicately portrays a sweet yet bittersweet love and the emotions of a woman who can no longer contain those feelings.

Wanuka’s gentle vocals beautifully capture both the strength of her longing and the frustration of being unable to express it.

With this hit, Wanuka—known for a distinctive musical style and worldview—became widely recognized.

Since its release in February 2021, the song quickly gained attention, especially on social media, and as a track included on the album “Aonisai,” it has come to symbolize the poignant love stories of today.

It is a song that offers comfort to those who keep their love a secret and to those who swallow their feelings.

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[Unrequited Love Songs] Heart-wrenching love songs for you who are going through a painful romance (151–160)

Don’t appear.rikon densetsu

Divorce Densetsu – Don’t Appear (Official Music Video)

Don't appear.rikon densetsu

While lingering memories of sweet kisses and hugs remain, this song by Rikon Densetsu delicately portrays the complex emotions of a woman unsettled by her partner’s ambiguous behavior.

The lyrics, which wish “let’s never meet again” even as she still yearns for them, convey a poignant mix of lingering attachment and resolve.

The nostalgic, mellow sound and Ayumu Matsuda’s clear, translucent vocals further heighten the sense of wistfulness.

Released digitally in January 2024, the track was also performed at their solo show at Zepp Shinjuku, captivating the audience.

It’s a song that empathizes with those trying to put an end to a past romance and gives them the courage to take a new step forward.

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Why feat. Emimi NodaTakase Tōya

Takuya Takase / Why feat. Emi Noda (Official Music Video)

Why feat. Emimi NodaTakase Tōya

A heartbreak ballad distinguished by a beautiful, soul-stirring melody.

Toya Takase’s emotional vocals and Emi Noda’s clear voice brilliantly capture the bittersweet feelings after a breakup.

Released digitally in January 2022 and included on the album “13-gatsu 1-nichi” (The First Day of the 13th Month), this song resonated with many listeners who relate to the joys of love and the pain of parting, drawing attention on charts across Asia.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels the loneliness that deepens at night or the emptiness of losing someone dear.

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Sunday’s Maison desfuri

Furi (from “Aitsu no Kanojo”) / Sunday’s Maison des

Sunday's Maison desfuri

A heart-wrenching song that portrays a colorful yet bittersweet longing for love.

Born from a collaboration between the music project “Nichiyoubi no Maisonde” and Weekly Shonen Sunday, it was released in April 2025.

Former TUYU vocalist Rei delivers a clear, translucent voice that vividly conveys the pain and sadness of a forbidden love.

It’s a delicate and beautiful love song that offers solace to those who resonate with the complex emotions of romance or who are suffering from unrequited love.

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Love even your melancholyKoresawa

Koresawa “Love Even the Melancholy” [Music Video]

Love even your melancholyKoresawa

A heartwarming pop tune by Koresawa that delicately portrays the feelings of a girl living with the negative emotions everyone experiences.

Released in August 2020, this first single is a re-recording of a song long regarded as a legendary hidden gem.

Set to a gentle, acoustic guitar–driven sound, it conveys the strength to move forward while harboring vague anxieties and loneliness—and learning to accept them.

It’s the perfect track for anyone who resonates with the stance of not denying any feeling but choosing to love them, or for those who want to keep looking ahead even while carrying a touch of melancholy.

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