Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits
By the time you’re in your 40s, most people have gone through at least one or two heartbreaks.
There were probably songs that stayed close to your feelings during those past breakups, weren’t there?
In this article, we’ll introduce breakup songs recommended for women in their 40s.
We’ve gathered Japanese breakup songs that will bring back memories from those days.
Every once in a while, try looking back on the past as you listen to the songs you used to play back then.
By revisiting those moments now, your heart from that time may soften, even just a little.
It’s not about good or bad—those experiences can all become cherished memories.
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Recommended breakup songs for women in their 40s: Classic and popular Japanese tracks (21–30)
Goodbyes still dwell in my heart even now.ZARD
It was released in 1995 as ZARD’s 16th single.
It was chosen as the theme song for our film series “Reiko Shiratori de Gozaimasu!” and reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
You can feel the resolve to look at heartbreak positively by retracing the places filled with memories of him.
It’s a song that gives strength with lyrics about sorting through those memories and graduating from him.
Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryoko with t.komuro
Ryoko Shinohara’s classic song “Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to.” Since it was composed by Tetsuya Komuro, you can feel that distinctive Komuro sound throughout the track.
For men in their 40s, it likely stands out as the theme song for the legendary game Street Fighter.
The song features expansive, soaring vocals, but the overall range—mid2B to hiD—isn’t particularly wide, so it’s surprisingly easy to sing.
There’s no use of falsetto, and the melody is fairly simple, so as long as you set the key appropriately, you should be able to sing it without issue.
Let’s count your kissesKoyanagi Yuki
It was released in 1999 as Yuki Koyanagi’s debut single.
Chosen as the theme song for the WOWOW-broadcast anime “Reign: The Conqueror,” it became a long-running hit, selling a total of 736,000 copies.
Many people were astonished by her extraordinary vocal ability—unusual for a Japanese singer—and by how she delivered this song at such a young age, while still in high school.
It’s a song notable for its poignant lyrics.
EverlastingBoA
Released in 2006 as BoA’s 19th single.
It was the first single for which BoA co-wrote the lyrics with Natsumi Watanabe, and it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
This heartbreaking breakup song portrays the sorrow of two people who choose to part ways to pursue their dreams, as well as the complex emotions of trying to accept that decision.
wailing in griefKudō Shizuka
Among Shizuka Kudo’s discography, which has produced numerous hit songs since her solo debut in the late 1980s, the best-selling is Dokoku, released in 1993.
It’s a masterpiece with lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima and music by Tsugutoshi Goto, and many women in their 40s today likely have this song in their karaoke repertoire.
The song is set in a relatively low key for a female vocal, making it a great choice for women with lower voices who struggle with high notes.
Kudo’s characteristic, sultry vibrato is applied naturally, yet the difficulty level is modest, with a very memorable and easy-to-sing melody line.
It’s also recommended for those aiming for high scores at karaoke.