[Bittersweet] A Special Feature on Anime Breakup Songs [Sad]
Breakups are part and parcel of romance.
Heartbreak can really take a toll on you.
Sure, some breakups leave you feeling refreshed, but far more often, that’s not the case.
There’s that sudden moment when you realize the person who was always by your side is gone… Just thinking about it makes your chest ache.
In this article, I’ve put together a collection of anime heartbreak songs.
They’re all gems that will soothe the wounds in your heart.
Letting a song lead you to watch the anime it’s from might be a nice change of pace, too—give it a try.
- Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Heart-wrenching] Vocaloid breakup songs. Classic love tracks that make your chest ache
- Touching Anime Ballads That Make You Cry [Moving & Heart-Wrenching]
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- Anime Love Song Special [Heart-Fluttering & Tearjerkers]
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- [Heartbreak Songs] A selection of poignant love songs that pierce the heart of those with unrequited love
- [Today’s Heartbreak Song] A poignant love song that gently wraps your wounded heart
- [Tear-Jerking Breakup Songs] A curated selection of love songs that gently comfort a wounded heart!
- Breakup songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular hits.
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- A breakup song with great lyrics. A beautiful message that lingers in the heart.
[Bittersweet] A Collection of Anime Breakup Songs [Sad] (1–10)
frecklesJUDY AND MARY
It’s a slightly bittersweet yet catchy anime song about how, no matter what, you just can’t remember the face of someone who should have been important.
It’s one of the signature tracks by JUDY AND MARY, the rock band that led Japan’s music scene in the late ’90s, released as their ninth single in 1996.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, it became a big hit.
YUKI’s buoyant vocals are truly wonderful, aren’t they? It’s still a classic that ranks high on karaoke charts today.
HeyFujita Maiko
It’s the opening theme of the anime “Hiiro no Kakera.” The song is by Maiko Fujita, a singer-songwriter from Aichi Prefecture, and it was released in 2012 as her seventh single.
The ethereal sound pairs beautifully with her delicate vocals, and that alone makes your heart tighten.
The lyrics express overflowing feelings for someone you can’t meet no matter how much you think of them, which really hits home.
It’s recommended both as a heartbreak song and as a song for unrequited love.
Lost my musicsuzumiya haruhi (hirano aya)
A presence that meant more than anything has vanished.
This breakup song channels that sense of loss into a powerful sound, leaving you feeling positive by the time it ends.
It was used as an insert song in the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and is sung by Aya Hirano, who played the lead role.
Perhaps because of its high-energy style, you can really feel the desire to deliver these feelings to you.
It’s a great pick not only as an anime song, but also for fans of classic rock.
[Heartbreaking] A Collection of Anime Breakup Songs [Sad] (11–20)
You are… not here.Kuribayashi Minami
It’s a sad unrequited love song about liking someone who likes someone else—not me.
The track was used as the ending theme for the anime based on the game “School Days,” and it’s sung by Minami Kuribayashi, who is also active as a voice actress.
It’s included on her second album, “passage,” released in 2006.
Her heartrending vocals, so fragile they seem like they might fade away, really tug at your heartstrings.
It’s painful when your feelings don’t reach the person you care about, isn’t it? Give it a listen when you want to have a good cry.
Just one wishKomatsu Miho
Because we fell in love, the breakup hurts all the more.
This is a heartrending breakup song that gives voice to emotions that well up uncontrollably.
It’s a track by Miho Komatsu, a singer-songwriter from Hyogo Prefecture, released in 1998 as her third single.
Chosen as an ending theme for the anime Detective Conan, it became a hit.
Many of you might feel a wave of nostalgia when you listen to it.
Perhaps it’s the arrangement and the overall tone, but somehow… the image of a setting sun drifts across my mind.
GarnetOku Hanako
It’s a very famous song as the theme for the animated feature film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
It’s a moving piece loved by a wide audience.
Released in 2006 as Hanako Oku’s fourth single.
Hanako Oku’s voice is so captivating that just listening to it can bring tears to your eyes…
Long kiss Good ByeHALCALI
Everyone has honest feelings they want to say but can’t, right? This is a song by the female duo HALCALI, released in 2008 as their 12th single.
It was used as an ending theme for the anime Naruto Shippuden.
The lyrics are light yet bittersweet, reflecting emotions that young listeners will surely relate to, giving it a real sense of authenticity.
You don’t want to be apart no matter what, yet for some reason you can’t find the courage to ask them to stay… The more you listen closely, the more it becomes an anime song that makes your heart ache.