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

Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze

Shonan no Kaze “Junrenka” MUSIC VIDEO (Original ver.)

This is a signature love song by Shonan no Kaze that passionately conveys a clumsy yet earnest love for someone special.

It tells the story of a romance that sprouts from everyday, ordinary moments and deepens into an irreplaceable love as it overcomes hurdles like fights and misunderstandings.

The protagonist acknowledges his own immaturity while single-mindedly caring for his partner—something that’s sure to make your heart swell.

Released in March 2006, the song topped the Oricon Karaoke Chart for 25 consecutive weeks.

Now a wedding staple, it colors the new beginnings of many couples.

It’s a moving track that makes you want to express your true feelings to the one you cherish.

I want to shout that I love you.BAAD

BAAD – I Want to Shout That I Love You (Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai) (Slam Dunk Opening Theme 1)

The moment that intro rings out, I bet many of you feel a sudden heat well up in your chest.

As the theme song of the anime SLAM DUNK, it’s an immortal classic by BAAD that represents the Being sound of the ’90s.

Kyoji Yamada’s husky voice, laced with a sense of urgency, sings of the frustration of never becoming more than friends, squeezing the listener’s heart in the process.

The chorus, where feelings burst out straight and raw, is a true cry of the soul.

It overlaps with the passionate drama of the story’s characters, wrapping you in a rush that makes the scenes unfold right before your eyes.

It’s a timeless anthem of youth, isn’t it?

Is that okay?RADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Is It Okay? [Official Music Video]

This is a RADWIMPS song that sings of such straightforward love that it overflows with feelings for someone you adore, to the point of bewilderment.

The track is included on the classic album “RADWIMPS 4: Okazu no Gohan,” released in December 2006.

Its popularity has remained strong; in December 2016, ten years later, the music video was re-shot together with fans.

It conveys sincere affection with a touch of humor.

Many listeners may have found courage in the lyrics, which suggest that repeatedly expressing daily gratitude and apologies deepens a couple’s bond.

Give it a listen when you want to savor the excitement of a budding romance or when you want to reaffirm your honest feelings for someone important to you.

First lovematsumura kanau

First Love – Kanau Matsumura [Official Music Video]

This is a song by Kanau Matsumura that’s packed with the sweet-and-sour feelings and frustrations of thinking about someone you like—the full spectrum of first love.

Released in June 2025, it’s a track that could be called the essence of his artistry.

The growing feelings for someone you can only meet in your dreams, the bittersweet longing that makes you take the long way home—listeners may find these emotions overlap with their own experiences.

When you like someone but can’t see them, even small things can make you anxious.

This gentle voice might softly stay by the side of that wavering heart.

Always, the two of usieiri reo

Leo Ieiri 'Always, the Two of Us' (Full Ver.)

I want to embrace everything about my lover—their strengths and their vulnerabilities.

This song, expressed through Leo Ieiri’s clear, pure vocals, captures that deep affection.

Released as a single in July 2017 and also included on the album “TIME,” it served as the theme song for the drama “Even If I Loved You, I Have a Secret,” resonating with the stories of lovers carrying hidden truths.

Perhaps this song speaks on behalf of those couples, conveying the happiness of simply being together and the desire to overcome even hardships side by side.

Love and peaceHirai Dai

Love and peace

This is a happy song by Dai Hirai that sings about the small miracles hidden in everyday life.

It carries a warm message: just having someone special by your side can turn each day into something special, filled with love and peace.

The track is the title song of an EP released in June 2025 as the tenth installment of a project that began in June 2024.

By the time you finish listening, gratitude and tenderness for your partner may overflow—and you might feel the urge to go see that special someone right away.

LOVE YOU ONLYTOKIO

LOVE YOU ONLY – TOKIO (Full)

TOKIO’s debut single leaves a vivid impression with its straightforward lyrics that shout, “I can only see you.” The song’s exhilarating band sound—brimming with a sense of speed as if capturing the rush of being in love—is simply refreshing.

Tomoya Nagase’s piercing vocals from his younger days are also incredibly pleasant to the ear.

Released in September 1994, the track was used as the theme song for the anime Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai.

The fact that they made their first appearance on the year-end NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen just a little over three months after their debut speaks to their popularity at the time.

It’s an irresistible track for anyone who loves crisp, refreshing rock.