Breakup songs sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
In the history of J-pop, countless heartbreak songs have been born.
Japanese listeners in particular tend to favor music that evokes melancholy and poignancy, so songs with heart-wrenching lyrics paired with arrangements that heighten those emotions are cherished as timeless classics across eras.
With that in mind, here we’ll introduce breakup songs sung by male artists, released roughly between 2011 and 2024—the years that likely defined Gen Z’s youth.
We’ve compiled a wide-ranging list that includes songs from a male perspective, those written from a female point of view, and even darker, more macabre takes—so don’t miss it!
Breakup songs sung by male artists that I'd recommend to Gen Z (1–10)
levitationNEW!Kitanitatsuya
There are times when you lose something precious and no longer know where to put your heart.
This song sung by Tatsuya Kitani is a poignant piece that gently accompanies that directionless sense of loss.
Released in April 2026, it was written as the ending theme for the TV anime “NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE.” The work portrays a keen desire to float just slightly above reality and escape.
It’s perfect for those who want to quietly shed tears on a lonely night, away from the flood of information and the surrounding clamor, in a place where no one can see.
For you who are trapped by memories of the past and the warmth you’ve lost, feeling an unbearable loneliness, it will softly lighten your heart.
IFNEW!Novelbright
Introducing a song that gently embraces the complex feelings of a man who has experienced parting with someone precious and, while watching their figure fade into the distance, tries to move forward.
It’s the final, 13th track on Novelbright’s album “PYRAMID,” released in April 2026.
The lyrics were written by guitarist Kaito Yamada, who overlaid the band members’ own steps and changes, while vocalist Yudai Takenaka and others composed the music.
It holds a warm gaze that stays close to loneliness and anxiety.
The lyrical melody, with deliberate space, and the crystal-clear vocals resonate deep in the heart.
It’s pop-rock that gently gives you a push when you want to believe in the future even as you carry the sadness of parting.
Goodbye to an angelNEW!shaitoopu
Shaityope is a three-piece band that shot from a social media–born viral hit to the major scene.
Released digitally in January 2024, this work offers the lyrical texture of J-ROCK and serves as a mid-tempo ballad that colors the closing stretch of their subsequently released first full-length album, “Hors d’Oeuvre.” Written as fiction by songwriter-composer So Sasaki, it later eerily overlapped with his own reality and struck him deeply—a curious anecdote attached to the song.
Set against delicate production that even conveys the cold, dry air of winter, it depicts the resolve to keep walking one’s own path despite the pain of loss.
It’s a tear-jerking number that stands beside you on nights when lingering feelings for someone make your chest ache and you need the courage to face forward.
tear(s)NEW!Marushii
Don’t you ever find your chest tightening out of the blue as dazzling summer memories come flooding back? This piece by Marcy is a bittersweet love ballad where sparkling romance intersects with the sorrow of parting.
The more vividly the fun times return, the more sharply the pain of loss stands out.
From vocalist Ukyo Yoshida’s emotive performance, you can feel the relentless regret and sense of loss pouring through.
Released in August 2025, the song was later included on the album “Flavors.” It’s a track that gently stays close to those who find themselves looking back on happier days and carrying an aching heart.
On nights when you can’t help searching for the one you can’t forget, this is a song you should definitely listen to.
dead endNEW!Hoshino Gen
This song, whose poignant yearning to reclaim lost time resonates deeply, is a work by Gen Hoshino.
It was written as the theme song for the film “Hiraba no Tsuki,” released in November 2025.
Created after the landmark album “Gen,” this piece is characterized by an extremely simple arrangement of just piano and voice, exquisitely depicting an adult living on while carrying regret for a once‑beloved person and emotions with no place to go.
Standing at the end of a love that can never return, the clumsy determination of a man who still tries to look forward will surely bring you to tears.
It’s a number I hope those who wish to spend a quiet night alone, gently holding the pain of a finished love, will listen to.
Cinderella BoySaucy Dog
Saucy Dog is a three-piece rock band that captivates fans with lyrics depicting real, down-to-earth stories and a slightly husky high-tone voice.
The songs on their fifth major mini-album, “Lazy Sunday,” feature lyrics written from a woman’s perspective that really tug at the heartstrings.
Even amid complicated relationships, the lyrics paint scenes where feelings can’t be resisted—if you’ve been through something similar, you may find them overlapping with your own memories.
It’s a nostalgic rock tune whose dramatic arrangement accelerates its sentimental storyline.
wishsumika
A sumika song that paints a bittersweet love against a winter backdrop.
Using snow and cold as symbols, it delicately expresses the anguish and hopes of an unfulfilled love.
Released in December 2019 as part of a double A-side single, it was also chosen as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.” Its pop-rock foundation is layered with warm vocals, resulting in a moving, memorable track.
It’s a number that embodies sumika’s characteristic warmth, offering comfort to those who, while burdened by the pain of heartbreak, are trying to look forward.