[2026] Recommended for Men in Their 40s! A Collection of Classic Japanese Breakup Songs
When you go through a heartbreak, it can feel like there’s a gaping hole in your heart.
Little moments can bring those memories rushing back, leaving you with a pang of sadness.
In this article, we’ve gathered Japanese breakup songs released from the 1990s to the mid-2000s—the soundtrack to the youth of those who are now in their 40s.
The nostalgic melodies you used to listen to back then and the lyrics that resonate in your chest may hit even deeper now.
As you look back on past loves, why not find a small push to move forward, together with these timeless songs that stay close to your heart?
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[2026] Recommended for men in their 40s! A roundup of classic Japanese heartbreak songs (21–30)
After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke
Released in 1994 as Keisuke Kuwata’s fifth single.
It was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Shizukanaru Don” and as the song for the Kirin “JIVE” commercial in which Kuwata himself appeared.
Many listeners can relate to the lyrics, which candidly portray a heartbroken man becoming self-destructive or crying alone in his dreams—showing his helpless state just as it is.
Don’t forget.DREAMS COME TRUE
This is the 10th single by DREAMS COME TRUE, released in October 1991.
It was also included on the album MILLION KISSES, released the following month, which became a huge hit and was certified 2× Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
The lyrics dwell on lingering feelings for a former lover, and the heartfelt plea—“Even if you hate me, please don’t forget me”—is deeply moving.
It’s a ballad that gently wraps the pain of parting.
[2026] Recommended for Men in Their 40s! A Collection of Classic Japanese Breakup Songs (31–40)
Way of DifferenceGLAY
Released in 2002 as GLAY’s 25th single.
The song was used as the theme for Fuji TV’s romance reality show “Ainori,” and is a love song that depicts a man and woman’s story from their first meeting to their breakup.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and is their best-selling single released in the 21st century.
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki
It was released in 1986 as Hideaki Tokunaga’s debut single.
As one of his signature songs, it’s highly popular and has been covered by many artists.
The sadness and loneliness of a broken heart overlap with the image of “rain,” deepening the sense of poignancy.
Tokunaga’s sweet, husky voice resonates deeply in this song.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
When I wake up in the morning, I can feel the empty shell of the person I once loved lying beside me.
This song by Ken Hirai portrays that sudden sense of loss that visits in ordinary, fleeting moments.
Close your eyes and memories of happier days return in vivid detail, but open them and there’s no one there.
That inescapable reality pierces your heart, doesn’t it? The longer you spent together, the more indelible the memories become—how painfully ironic.
Released in April 2004, the song topped the Oricon Yearly Chart as the theme for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” For those who have gone through the profound parting of divorce and now simply want to dwell in their sorrow, this is a song that quietly stays by your side.
A lie in the mirror smiles.T-BOLAN
This is the track included as the B-side to the million-selling single “Bye For Now,” released in November 1992.
It portrays the frustration and self-loathing in romance that make you act contrary to your true feelings.
Many listeners will feel a tightening in their chest at the scene where the self in the mirror smiles as if mocking one’s own lies.
The word choices—unusual for the time—also leave a strong impression.
The irresistible charm lies in the gap between the breezy pop-rock sound and the heartrending lyrics.
Moritomo Arashi’s soaring high notes in the chorus feel like the protagonist’s inner scream, stirring the listener’s emotions.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear on nights when you’re hiding your true feelings.
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
It was released in 1991 as Yutaka Ozaki’s 11th single.
The song originally appeared on Ozaki’s debut album, Seventeen’s Map, released in 1983, and was issued as a single eight years later.
He performed it at nearly every live show during his lifetime, and after his death it has been covered and kept alive by many artists.