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

to cry innocently; to weep with a childlike airAKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Adokenaku / Innocently Crying (Lyric Video)

This song resonates with the heart through its tenderness that tries to embrace a pure soul holding back tears, and the bittersweet ache of feelings that aren’t returned.

AKASAKI’s delicate portrayal of emotion and straightforward expression of love are deeply moving.

Released as a single in January 2025, it became a hot topic after being selected as Kiss FM KOBE’s recommended Japanese track for the month.

The intertwining of the desire to protect someone and the loneliness of unfulfilled devotion evokes empathy as an emotion many have experienced.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone striving to move forward while carrying feelings for someone dear.

I want to forget.wacci

wacci “I Want to Forget” Music Video

A delicate breakup song by wacci that begins with the scent of cigarettes triggering the way once-happy times dissipate like smoke.

Despite the overwhelming desire to “forget,” the voice of the other person and the memory of their kiss refuse to fade, lingering in the heart—expressed through a heartrending, beautiful melody.

Released in July 2024 as the third installment of wacci’s three-part love song project, the track was distributed digitally and became a smash hit.

It’s a highly relatable work that resonates with those who still have lingering feelings about past relationships or struggle to let go of an ex.

So she’s not your girlfriend, huh?Ueno Yūka

Yuhka Ueno “I’m Not Your Girlfriend, Right?” Music Video

A poignant breakup ballad by Yuuka Ueno that portrays the final moments of a couple who have decided to part and arranged to meet one last time.

Crafted by Yohei Hashiguchi of wacci, this song is included on the mini-album “Konya Atashi ga Naite mo,” released in March 2020.

With great care, it traces the feelings of a woman who holds dear memories close to her heart as she tries to accept reality, conveying both the loneliness of no longer being able to be with the one she loved and her resolve to face forward even while lingering attachments remain.

Ueno’s gentle vocals and the warm melody quietly encourage those who, while confronting the pain of farewell, are ready to take a new step forward.

Passing smiles, a goodbye kissA.B.C-Z

A.B.C-Z / Passing Smiles, a Goodbye Kiss (Music Video)

Released in September 2025 as the second installment of a three-month consecutive release, this track is a mid-tempo number written and composed by the rock band LEGO BIG MORL.

It’s a bittersweet love song that echoes the lineage of the group’s past works, marked by a nostalgic melody and emotive vocals.

The lyrics delicately depict hearts growing apart despite their physical closeness, foreshadowing the end of a romance and evoking a poignant ache.

Dramatic and romantic J-pop.

contact lens caseSaucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Contact Case” (from LIVE DVD & Blu-ray “YAON de WAOOON,” recorded at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on April 30, 2019)

Just as you cherish and tuck away mementos, you want to gently store the pain of heartbreak in your heart.

This Saucy Dog song resonates with that feeling.

The bittersweet ache of waiting, somewhere inside, for someone who will never return, softly echoes over a calm melody.

Included on the album Salad Days, this track has been soothing the hearts of those who’ve experienced heartbreak since its release in May 2018.

Each time you notice traces of memories etched into everyday things and feel the warmth of those days again, this is a song that quietly stays by your side.

Aprilmol-74

mol-74 – April [MV]

A signature song by mol-74, woven from translucent vocals and delicate sound.

Centered on April—the symbol of spring’s arrival—it beautifully portrays the emotions of looking back on a past romance.

The resolve to stay true to oneself, even while struggling with the gap between ideals and reality, is striking.

It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone who’s faced a parting with someone dear at the start of a new season.

You’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS "You’re Not Here Anymore"

This is a gem of a ballad that sings of the sweet, aching pain of heartbreak.

The farewell scene on the station platform and the memories the two shared are delicately portrayed and delivered with a melody that pierces the heart.

Among FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ works, it stands out for its rich emotional expression.

Released in October 2007, it reached No.

8 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Otona no Shikaku,” earning broad support across generations.

The song is also included on the album “FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 2,” and has been covered by Mariko Takahashi.

It’s a heartwarming track that stays by your side when you sense the end of a romance or go through a farewell with someone dear.