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

Until the day I can no longer rememberback number

back number – Until the Day It Becomes Unrememberable (full)

A poignant ballad by back number that quietly sings of lingering feelings and a sense of loss for a former lover.

Released in October 2011 as their third single, the song is also included on the album “Superstar,” which came out the same month.

The lyrics portray the emptiness of days that keep going even after losing the most important person in the world, and the deep bond in which the two formed halves of each other.

Fear of memories of the other fading intertwines with the resignation that they will eventually be forgotten, and the realization that the time spent with the person was part of oneself wells up with aching tenderness.

A song that offers comfort to anyone who has lost someone dear.

First love is cryingaimyon

Aimyon – First Love Is Crying [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A song by the female singer-songwriter Aimyon, who captivates a wide range of listeners with lyrics packed with unique imagery and wordplay, set to music that carries a certain nostalgic tone.

Released in June 2022 as her 13th single, it was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “What’s Wrong with Being Serious About Love?”.

The lyrics, which personify the bittersweet memories of a first love, are likely to resonate with many people.

It’s a refreshing yet wistful love song that can evoke nostalgia even for older listeners.

PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Pretender [Official Video]

A second single by the four-piece piano pop band Official HIGE DANDism, whose poignant lyrics and memorable melody strike straight to the heart.

Released in May 2019 as the theme song for The Confidence Man JP: The Movie, it brought a fresh breeze to the J-pop scene.

The protagonist, who strives to move forward while grappling with complex emotions, is sure to resonate with many people troubled by love.

It’s a perfect track for a drive, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Also recommended when you’re feeling the pain of heartbreak, this is a new-era classic.

tear(s)Marushii

Marcy – Tears (Official Music Video)

A love ballad that portrays the ache of heartbreak in stark contrast to the dazzling summer sun.

It’s a work released in August 2025 by the rock band Marcy, known for down-to-earth lyrics that resonate.

Memories of love told in the past tense and words detailing feelings that will never reach their destination shake the listener’s heart.

Skillful metaphors—like the pain of memories lingering as sensations in the body and a future that was never opened—reflect the protagonist’s earnest emotions and are sure to bring tears.

The song is slated to be included on their third original album, set for release in November 2025, which will also feature Aozora, the theme song for the film “Youth Gestalt Collapse.” It’s a track you’ll want to listen to quietly on nights when you want to immerse yourself in unforgettable memories of love.

The taste of loveneguse.

The taste of love

A digital-only single released in November 2025.

In contrast to the lively pop-rock they excel at, this one is crafted as a mid-tempo slow number.

The lyrics look back on a relationship that has already ended, poignantly blending the regret of wishing they’d been more honest about their feelings at the time with the certainty that they were truly happy.

It’s a track that makes you want to revisit past loves—perfect for the chill of the season.

Unfit to be a loverKoresawa

Koresawa “Unqualified as a Lover” [Music Video]

A breakup ballad from a male perspective that portrays the anguish and regret of the one who said goodbye.

It’s a self-cover sung from the viewpoint of the man who leaves the room in Koresawa’s signature song “Tabako.” Released as a digital single in June 2019, it was later included on the concept mini-album “Heartbreak Scrap” in January 2020.

Originally written for Miyuhan, the track drew attention with its music video featuring Ryusei Yokohama.

The song movingly captures the conflict of a man who ends the relationship precisely because he loves her, blaming not her but his own shortcomings.

Listening to it alongside “Tabako” deepens your understanding of the couple’s emotional misalignment.

Highly recommended for anyone who’s experienced the end of a cherished relationship or carries guilt over having hurt someone they love.

Maplesupittsu

Spitz / Kaede

A ballad that sings of the resolve to live on with the pain of parting.

Those warm days when even casual exchanges with a loved one—and the ache in your heart—were all wrapped in their smile.

Yet even as the protagonist accepts a daily life that will never return, the way they move forward as if embracing a voice is deeply moving.

After being included on the album “Fake Fur,” it was released in July 1998 as a double A-side single with “Spica.” It has been used in numerous dramas, including as an insert song for Fuji TV’s “Over Time” and in NTV’s “Zambi.” It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone who can’t stop dwelling on a lost love or who can’t forget someone dear.

Masamune Kusano’s clear, translucent vocals deliver a ray of hope within the sorrow.