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

the red threadKobukuro

Akai Ito

A song that makes you feel like you’re reading a romance novel: “Akai Ito” (“Red Thread”).

Released by Kobukuro in 2008, this love song is also known for being covered by actress Yui Aragaki.

What’s great about the lyrics, I think, is how they convey what it truly means to “believe.” The bittersweet feelings of the male protagonist who keeps his distance from his girlfriend—who can’t forget her ex—and waits for her to choose him.

It’s enough to make you cry just listening, but there’s also the strength of a man who accepts even that pain and waits for the woman he loves.

No matter what happens, it’s a song that makes you want to believe in the person you love in just that way.

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sasashina

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I hate this love songchanmina

I hate this love song

This is a heartfelt love song by Chanmina that vividly captures the sweet-and-sour and complicated feelings of first love.

Written as the theme song for the film based on Yoru Sumino’s work, “Ka『』ku『』shi『』go『』to『」, it is set for release in May 2025.

With lyrics that convey the frustration of wanting to tell the truth but being unable to, and a delicate yet cute vocal tone, it leaves a strong impression.

The sound blends elements of hip-hop and R&B with the accessibility of pop.

Listening to it will likely bring back memories of your first love and tighten your chest with emotion.

In the course of this long journeySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog "In This Long Journey" Music Video

A love song known as one of Saucy Dog’s most popular tracks.

It sings of the time the couple spent together, the sights they saw, and the other person’s little gestures—memories so vivid that even the smallest things can’t be forgotten, and recalling them brings a painful ache.

Released in February 2024 as the theme song for the film “The 52-Hertz Whales,” the song ends its chorus with a spoken phrase, giving it a different feel from other tracks.

Rather than purely sad, it conveys a warm, poignant emotion.

Though a quiet ballad, it has striking power, evoking the intensity of an unforgettable love.

It’s a song to listen to alone on a late autumn night, with thoughts of someone dear held close.

Ingot of Pure Lovetuki.

tuki. “Ingot of Pure Love” Official Music Video

It’s an ambitious track that confronts the essence of love head-on and expresses the depth of romance.

Featured on tuki.’s album “15,” released in January 2025, the song makes a striking impression by likening the purity and weight of love to a refined block of metal.

It also marks their first attempt at a rap section, deftly portraying the interplay of chance and fate in relationships and the swell of emotion.

“15” is a bold project centered on songs written before turning fifteen, and it has drawn wide attention, including an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

This track is perfect for anyone who wants to feel the joy and poignancy of pure love, and for those who want to reflect on the true nature of romance.

LLLGen’in wa jibun ni aru.

LLL | The cause lies within myself. (GNJB)

A stylish love song that embraces the essence of funk music.

Created through a song contribution from Tsuyoshi Domoto, also known as .ENDRECHERI., this track moves the heart with its groovy rhythm and straightforward, love-themed message.

Released digitally in March 2025 and included on the album “Core-Initiated Innovation,” it’s a recommended listen when you want to feel the importance of love or warm your heart with music.

seesawtuki.

tuki. “Seesaw” Official Music Video

A delicate love song that projects the subtleties of romance and the heart’s fluctuations onto a seesaw.

Included on the album “15,” the track was released in January 2025, with the music video following in February.

With sharp sensitivity, tuki.

expresses the nuanced sense of distance between two people in love.

The frustration conveyed through the lyrics tightens your chest.

I imagine many teenagers can relate to these feelings.

front-facing camerawacci

wacci “In-Camera” Music Video

A heartwarming love song by wacci that gently captures the everyday life of two people in love.

It portrays someone looking back on memories with their partner while browsing photos taken with a smartphone.

Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics that say the real treasures aren’t the shots from scenic spots or fancy restaurants, but the selfies taken at home.

Included on the album “Dressing,” released in January 2025, the song was written and composed by vocalist Yohei Hashiguchi.

It’s a track that can prompt you to rediscover the importance of ordinary days and the happiness found within them.