[Love Songs] Must-Relate! A Selection of Japanese Love Songs with Great Lyrics

bouquetback number

back number – Bouquet (full)

Back number has sung countless love songs, but a lot of their tracks are actually about unrequited love or heartbreak.

Amid all that, this song portrays a happy couple who care for each other.

It opens with a memorable, conversational exchange between the two, giving the lyrics a laid-back vibe that conveys their calm, mutual trust.

Still, it’s not just easygoing—when the chorus reveals their straightforward, heartfelt love for one another, it struck a chord with many fans.

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Hane Keisuke

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My Dear EllieSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars “Itoshi no Ellie” by Kuwata Kenkyūkai Band

Southern All Stars’ “Itoshi no Ellie” is a staple of Japanese love songs.

These days, I hear covers by various artists more often than Mr.

Kuwata himself singing it.

It’s a very beautiful piece—both the melody and the lyrics are ones I hope will continue to be sung for a long time.

You’re My Only Shinin’ StarNagayama Miho

Miho Nakayama — You’re My Only Shinin’ Star

It would be a waste to leave it as just another trendy love song sung by an idol! This is a love song with truly beautiful lyrics that conjure up the image of two people under the moonlight.

Speaking of Miho Nakayama, “Sekai juu no Dare yori Kitto” is more famous, but this one is a hidden gem.

Just the two of usRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Futari-goto [Official Music Video]

Among RADWIMPS’ songs, there are many love songs, but this one is especially popular.

If you read the lyrics—well, you’ll see—they’re so quintessentially Yojiro Noda.

I think many people love these romantic lyrics that, alongside various episodes, describe the two people’s meeting as fate.

The more you read, the more there is to ponder about the lyrics, and interpretations will likely vary from listener to listener.

But that very open space for interpretation is one of the conditions that can make a song a classic, isn’t it?

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Hane Keisuke

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A bouquet of happinessMarushii

Marcy – Bouquet of Happiness (Official Music Video)

A love song that likens the precious memories shared by two people in love to a colorful bouquet of flowers.

Created by Marcy, a rock band known for relatable, down-to-earth music, it was released in October 2022.

The song carries a message that the ordinary moments of everyday life are, in fact, irreplaceable treasures.

It expresses a warm wish to cherish not only the happiness we receive from our partner but also the joy we give to them, conveyed through vocalist Ukyo Yoshida’s gentle, conversational singing.

The track was also chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s romance show “Koi no Dorama na Koi ga Shitai in NEW YORK.” Under the dazzling summer sun, listen to it with your partner, and it will undoubtedly make your time together even more dramatic!

Song of LoveKōda Kumi

Kumi Koda - 'Ai no Uta (album version)' ~ 20th Year Special Full Ver. ~

Released in September 2007 as her 37th single, this work is a deeply resonant ballad in which Kumi Koda sings from a new perspective she realized through giving love advice to friends and fans: “love is something you give.” She found inspiration while driving along the coast on a getaway to a hot spring inn, and wrote the lyrics immediately upon arrival.

They delicately portray a young woman’s aching heart as she senses a breakup approaching yet tries to convey unwavering love.

The song was featured in the MTI “music.jp” commercial and served as a support song for Fuji TV’s World Judo 2007.

Composed entirely of Kumi Koda’s vocals without any backing chorus, it centers on mid-to-low registers, making it easy to sing even for those who struggle with high notes, and it’s a track anyone who has experienced the end of a romance can relate to.

heart notesSuzuki Airi

Airi Suzuki “heart notes” (Music Video) Special Theatrical Version - Kaguya-sama: Love Is War –The First Kiss That Never Ends– Ending Theme

A heartrending ballad that captures the irreplaceable beauty of everyday life that seems to last forever.

Performed by Airi Suzuki, who has flourished as a solo artist after her time in Hello! Project, the song was released digitally in December 2022.

It was selected as the ending theme for the special theatrical edition Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -The First Kiss That Never Ends-, released on CD in March 2023, and later included on the album 28/29.

The evolving feelings of two people who can’t quite be honest with each other are traced like entries in a notebook, expressed through meg rock’s poetic lyrics and Katsuhiko Sugiyama’s beautiful string arrangement.

A perfect listen for when you want to reevaluate your relationship with someone important.