[Songs for Thinking of Someone You Love] Love Songs That Make Your Chest Tighten—From Unrequited to Mutual Love

I love you.Inoue Sonoko

Sonoko Inoue – I Love You.

“Daisuki,” Sonoko Inoue’s 2015 track that captures the real feelings of being in unrequited love, when your head is completely filled with thoughts of the person you like.

The poppy, bouncy melody conveys the giddy excitement of having a crush.

You’re thinking about that special someone all the time, no matter when or where, and your feelings just overflow and won’t stop! Of course there’s anxiety in unrequited love, but it’s also full of that fluttery, heart-throbbing thrill that’s different from being in a relationship.

Let this song, which sings about the same feelings you have when you’re crushing on someone, help you fall even more in love with the person you like.

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In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – In the Useless (Official Video)

A heartwarming song that gently portrays the love hidden in everyday, ordinary moments.

Its lyrics express love through the five senses, and a pleasant melody infused with jazz elements blends seamlessly to create a tender world that anyone can relate to.

Described by Gen Hoshino as “the first love song I wrote head-on,” the track was released as a single in March 2011 and is also included on the album Episode.

It reached No.

17 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for 24 weeks, gaining widespread popularity.

Singing softly about the subtleties of human relationships—exchanges between lovers and reconciliation after hurting one another—this is a recommended song for anyone who wants to cherish time with someone special.

It’s love, right?wacci

wacci 'Koi Daro' Music Video

A work with a strong message that cheerfully supports love.

Brimming with pure romantic feelings, it gently expresses the warmth of thinking about someone special.

A signature song by wacci, this track—included on the album “suits me! suits you!”—was written as an insert song for the Fuji TV drama “Yan Gotonaki Ichizoku” and released in April 2022 as a digital-only single.

It won the Excellence Award at the 64th Japan Record Awards.

A heartwarming love song that fits anniversaries for couples and special moments spent with loved ones.

Even if you find it hard to express your true feelings, this song can help convey them.

Happy endingOhtaki Eiichi

Happy ending

As the theme song for a Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.

drama, this is a gem of a love song that Eiichi Ohtaki released for the first time in 12 years.

Its gentle, heartwarming melody and lyrics that carefully weave the feelings of a woman in love blend beautifully, leading to a massive hit of 970,000 copies sold since its release in November 1997.

Used in Love Generation, the song also marked Ohtaki’s first-ever Top 10 entry as a solo artist, showcasing his rich musicality to the fullest.

Portraying a sweet yet bittersweet love story, this track is highly recommended for those harboring feelings for someone special or wishing for a happy future with a loved one.

Love WindIkuta Rira

Love Wind

It’s a heart-fluttering song that feels like a refreshing spring breeze blowing into your heart.

It’s a track by Lila Ikuta, chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s romance reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita: New Zealand Edition.” Gently expressing the feelings of wanting to confess but not being able to, and the inability to take that final step, the song resonates deeply.

The fresh guitar tones by Takashi Yamaguchi are another highlight.

Filled with the confusion and inner conflict at the start of love, as well as those heart-racing moments, this song is sure to give a gentle push to anyone struggling with romance.

Why did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinki

Tohoshinki / Why Did I Fall in Love with You?

A gem of a ballad that captures the aching heartbreak and pure love for another, pressing on the listener’s heart.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist watching a bride and groom at their wedding, touching on the subtle emotions woven from a wish for a loved one’s happiness and lingering regret.

Released by Tohoshinki in July 2008, the song’s elegant piano-and-strings arrangement blends beautifully with the five-member harmony, earning it the No.

1 spot on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It also won an Excellent Work Award at the 50th Japan Record Awards, paving the way for the group’s first appearance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

A track that seeps into your heart on night drives, rainy days, or when love is weighing on your mind.

AitaiKato Miria

Miliyah Kato - “Aitai”

I think this is the song that made Miliyah Kato famous.

When you’re in love, some wishes come true and some don’t.

Many people might relate to this song that sings about that bittersweet feeling of hoping it will come true, yet fearing it might not.