That bittersweet “first love” that only happens once in a lifetime.
In this article, we’ve gathered songs that capture that very first love.
People often say “first love doesn’t last,” but how was it for you?
Some married their first love, some didn’t see it blossom, and some might be in the midst of their very first love right now, overwhelmed by feelings that only grow stronger.
Pure, straightforward, fleeting… emotions that make you blush to remember now.
But at the time, it was just a desperate, all-consuming first love.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs—from those about being in the throes of first love to those that look back on it nostalgically.
Give them a listen.
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A masterpiece about first love. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
fireworks launched into the skyAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
Released in 2017, DAOKO’s “Uchiage Hanabi” has become a staple summer song.
The track is a collaboration with Kenshi Yonezu, who also wrote and composed it, and there’s even a self-cover version by Yonezu.
It portrays a bittersweet, delicate summer romance, stirring that yearning, heart-tightening feeling anyone can relate to.
It resonates from both male and female perspectives and carries a touch of nostalgia.
The piano melody is beautiful, further amplifying the sense of longing.
Unrequited lovemiwa
A quintessential unrequited love song, miwa’s “Kataomoi.” Released in 2012 as her eighth single, the track captures the feelings of love you can’t stop even when you know it won’t come true—the overthinking that never settles, the aching heart.
Don’t we all have an “unforgettable love” that made us feel this way? Some may recall a youthful romance, while others might be experiencing unrequited love right now.
Either way, it’s a poignant love song that resonates deeply.
First loveMurashita Kōzō
Keeping the title exactly as it is, the straightforward “Hatsukoi” (First Love) is truly a must-have when it comes to first love songs.
Released as Kozo Murashita’s fifth single in 1983, this track became his biggest hit and has been covered by countless artists.
It’s a song that portrays the gentle first love of one’s school days, and no matter the generation, it slips easily into the ear and invites empathy.
The lyrics paint scenes that unfold vividly behind your eyes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number
It’s the song that was chosen as the theme for the drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love.” The drama centers on a woman who was raised in a studious family and has barely experienced any real romance.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” is filled with the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love.
It somehow leaves you with a feeling like there’s a hole in your heart.
First LoveUru
Many people may find their tear ducts loosen when listening to Uru’s singing voice.
The song “First Love” also shakes the heart, a piece that can make tears spill before you even realize it.
It was the theme song for the film of the same title starring Keiko Kitagawa.
Rather than brimming with youthful, first-time romance, it feels like a song about “truly falling in love with someone for the first time.” It’s a love song that conveys the sadness and pain of someone who stays in your heart forever—a love you can never forget.
First loveHata Motohiro
First love isn’t always a fond memory for everyone.
Motohiro Hata’s “Hatsukoi” is a song about a broken first love.
Its tone evokes a deep sense of loneliness—surely born from the sorrow of parting.
I imagine many people can relate to a sound that feels sad beyond simply bittersweet.
Even as we carry this sorrow, I want to believe that happiness—like in “Himawari no Yakusoku”—awaits us afterward.
First loveUtada Hikaru
Do you remember your first love? Hikaru Utada’s “Hatsukoi” captures those never-before-felt emotions—the sensation of being swayed by your own feelings—in a way that startles you.
The song was written as the image song for the drama “Hana Nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season.” With no rhythm instruments and a progression led by strings, it powerfully conveys the transience of first love and an aching sense of helplessness.