Recommended love songs for men in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese tracks.

SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

A signature song by Masaharu Fukuyama that candidly sings about raw, unfiltered feelings.

Released in April 2000, this track was used as the theme song for TBS’s variety show “Uunnan no Hontoko!” segment “Mirai Nikki V,” and became a massive hit.

In its first week, it sold 751,000 copies, setting the all-time record for first-week single sales by a male solo artist.

With the arrival of spring, it portrays the poignant emotions of looking back on a lost love.

The lyrics, said to be based on real experiences, resonated with many people.

It’s also great to listen to while driving.

If you play it during cherry blossom season, it will feel even more moving.

IT’S ONLY LOVEFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – IT’S ONLY LOVE (Full ver.)

This is one of Masaharu Fukuyama’s signature numbers, which became widely known in living rooms across Japan as the commercial song for DyDo Drinco’s “DyDo Blend Coffee,” and marked his first million-selling hit.

Released in March 1994, it also achieved the remarkable feat of topping the Oricon Weekly Chart for four consecutive weeks.

Despite its refreshingly rock-flavored sound, the lyrics reveal lingering attachment and a sense of loss toward a former lover, making it a heartbreak song where the more bravado you show, the more the sadness wells up.

Arranged by Makoto Saito to sit in a comfortable vocal range, it’s also appealing in how easy it is to sing with feeling.

It’s a classic I recommend when you want to look forward while reflecting on a past love, or when you want to belt it out at karaoke and feel refreshed.

Banzai ~ So glad I loved you ~Urufuruzu

Ulfuls – Banzai ~I'm Glad I Fell in Love~

A popular song by Ulfuls sings of gratitude and joy for a loved one.

Released in February 1996, the track was also included on the album “Banzai.” For a Fujicco commercial, a version sung by Tomoko Ikeda (formerly of Shiggy Jr.) was used, and in the film “UDON,” Tortoise Matsumoto and Yusuke Santamaria perform it as a duet.

The chorus, which bursts in with a soaring vocal, is guaranteed to fire up any karaoke session! Feel the bond with someone special and be sure to sing or listen to it.

I wanted to kiss you again.B’z

I wanted to kiss you again.

This is a classic B’z ballad that portrays a heartrending love story between a man and a woman, set against the changing seasons from a summer meeting to a winter parting.

The lingering melancholy and Takahiro Matsumoto’s weeping guitar further deepen the sense of lingering regret and attachment.

Included on the album “IN THE LIFE,” released in November 1991, the song was initially a candidate to be released as a single, but was ultimately passed over because “ALONE,” which had a tie-in, was prioritized.

Even so, it remains extremely popular among fans, ranking 4th in the vote that determined the tracks for the best-of album “B’z The Best ‘Treasure’.” It’s the perfect song to sit with on a night when a fleeting moment brings back memories of a past love and tightens your chest.

You are freeCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] You are free / CHAGE and ASKA

Recut from the 16th album “RED HILL,” this is CHAGE and ASKA’s 33rd single, released in November 1993.

At the time, it was featured as the commercial song for Asahi Soft Drinks’ “J.O.,” and the music video starring Hong Kong star Michelle Reis left a strong impression.

Blending urban sounds with 90s R&B and emotive choral work by 14 Karat Soul, the track is truly moving.

The lyrics, which accept a breakup by acknowledging the other person’s righteousness—a quietly adult kind of sorrow—are sure to resonate.

Because it unfolds at a relaxed tempo, you’ll want to be careful not to lag behind the rhythm, but it’s a song to sink into on a night when you want to gently soothe the pain of heartbreak.

Last SongGACKT

GACKT「Last Song」MUSIC VIDEO

Starting from a silence like freshly fallen snow and gradually building into passion, this dramatic progression makes it one of GACKT’s most memorable ballads.

The poignant theme of a “last song” dedicated to a loved one resonates deeply with listeners.

Released as a single in November 2003, it also plays a crucial role in the narrative of the album Crescent and continues to be cherished by fans today.

It was performed at the 54th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a widely known episode where its overwhelming expressiveness deeply moved audiences at home.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to quietly accept a love that has ended, or on nights when you look back on the past alone and try to face forward.

Close your eyesHirai Ken

Ken Hirai 'Close Your Eyes' MUSIC VIDEO

The moment that poignant piano intro begins, many of you may feel your memories from that time come rushing back.

This is the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, who continues to captivate countless fans with his overwhelming vocal prowess and expressive artistry.

Written as the theme song for the 2004 film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” it became a historic hit, topping the year-end charts.

The lyrics, which portray the sorrow of mourning a lost lover and the resolve to go on loving them in memory, never fail to bring listeners to tears.

Also included on the album “SENTIMENTALovers,” this ballad gently accompanies the heart of a man living on while carrying an unforgettable love.

On a night when you want to quietly lose yourself in memories alone, give it a listen.