My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z

the absolute worstMarushii

Marcy – The Worst of the Worst (Official Music Video)

This is Marcy’s breakup song that sets the pain of betrayal to an exhilarating sound.

The anger and hatred that surge at the moment of parting—and the lingering tenderness that won’t fade.

These intricately tangled emotions are sung as if drawn from personal experience.

Released in March 2022, this work resonates with the contrast between its up-tempo arrangement and bittersweet lyrics, gaining support especially among Gen Z.

It’s a song we’d love you to hear if you can’t forget someone you loved, are still carrying the pain of heartbreak, yet are trying to look forward.

Why not me?Misaka Saki

Saki Misaka – Isn’t It Fine If It’s Me (Full ver.)

This song by Saki Misaka portrays the bittersweet feelings of gradually falling in love, even though you thought you were content just staying close as a friend.

With a clear, gentle voice, she expresses the conflict of wishing for the other person’s happiness while not wanting to see them with someone else.

Released digitally in February 2021, the track was also chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s romantic reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.” It’s sure to resonate with those who, despite knowing what would bring happiness, can’t let go, and who sense the other person’s feelings yet can’t bring themselves to speak up.

Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai

Ai Tomioka – Goodbye Bye (Music Video)

A delicate song by Ai Tomioka that sings of a love so pure it almost hurts.

The transparent vocals capture the frustrating feeling of almost closing the distance with someone, yet never quite getting there.

Even while knowing the other person has someone special, the complicated emotions of being unable to let go resonate deeply.

Released in September 2023, it captured many hearts, reaching the Top 10 on Spotify’s Viral charts in six Asian countries.

The song is memorable for its blend of English and Japanese lyrics and its catchy melodic line.

It’s a track that comforts anyone holding onto unspoken feelings for someone they love, or struggling with a love that may never come true.

Bad personsenritsu kannano

Kano Kanaru “Bad Person” M/V

A gem of a love song that beautifully captures the complex emotions of a woman torn by a forbidden love, with a heartrending vocal and delicate lyrics.

Kayayu from Young Skinny—a favorite among Gen Z—wrote the song, and Kanano Senritsu delivers a fragile, poignant performance.

Since its release in September 2024, it has resonated on social media, delicately depicting the turmoil of a woman who forgives even as she recognizes her partner’s lies, and the ache of memories that resurface with the changing seasons.

Its universal lyrics invite anyone struggling in love to see themselves in the story.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of those overwhelmed by complicated feelings for someone who can’t exactly be called a good person.

Tokyo Double SuicideAzusagawa

Tokyo Shinju / Azusagawa [Official Music Video]

A track that grips the heart with the cries of souls seeking salvation in a dark, cold metropolis.

While seething with fierce anger and nihilism toward modern society, the protagonist’s hunger for true love is woven with powerful lyricism.

Released as a digital single in September 2024, this work was carefully crafted over the course of more than a year through the collaboration of Ms.

Azusagawa and Mr.

Yoshihisa Hirata, with whom she has long been acquainted.

Set against the backdrop of a ruined Tokyo night, this love story will quietly and deeply resonate with those who feel loneliness and emptiness in the city.

Don’t appear.rikon densetsu

Divorce Densetsu – Don’t Appear (Official Music Video)

While lingering memories of sweet kisses and hugs remain, this song by Rikon Densetsu delicately portrays the complex emotions of a woman unsettled by her partner’s ambiguous behavior.

The lyrics, which wish “let’s never meet again” even as she still yearns for them, convey a poignant mix of lingering attachment and resolve.

The nostalgic, mellow sound and Ayumu Matsuda’s clear, translucent vocals further heighten the sense of wistfulness.

Released digitally in January 2024, the track was also performed at their solo show at Zepp Shinjuku, captivating the audience.

It’s a song that empathizes with those trying to put an end to a past romance and gives them the courage to take a new step forward.

Why feat. Emimi NodaTakase Tōya

Takuya Takase / Why feat. Emi Noda (Official Music Video)

A heartbreak ballad distinguished by a beautiful, soul-stirring melody.

Toya Takase’s emotional vocals and Emi Noda’s clear voice brilliantly capture the bittersweet feelings after a breakup.

Released digitally in January 2022 and included on the album “13-gatsu 1-nichi” (The First Day of the 13th Month), this song resonated with many listeners who relate to the joys of love and the pain of parting, drawing attention on charts across Asia.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels the loneliness that deepens at night or the emptiness of losing someone dear.