[Bittersweet] A Special Feature on Anime Breakup Songs [Sad]

frecklesJUDY AND MARY

Freckles – JUDY AND MARY (Full)

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.

Mosaic FragmentSwish!

[Code Geass] Mosaic Kakera / SunSet Swish [LIVE] with Lyrics Subtitles

It’s the ending theme of the anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

The song is by Swish!, a three-piece band from Osaka Prefecture, released in 2007 as their sixth single.

It’s a medium-tempo, bittersweet rock number with a nostalgic charm that somehow brings back childhood memories.

Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics, which reflect on the “current self” shaped by the encounters and farewells we’ve experienced.

You are... not here.Minami Kuribayashi

School Days - You... Aren’t Here (original Japanese lyrics, Chinese adaptation)

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 wishMiho Komatsu

Detective Conan ED - Only One Wish - Miho Komatsu - Detective Conan Ending

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.

GarnetHanako Oku

Hanako Oku / Garnet (Solo Performance) [Music Video]

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…

Lost my musicHaruhi Suzumiya (Aya Hirano)

Lost my music

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.

Long kiss Good ByeHALCALI

Long Kiss Good Bye [LIVE] – HALCALI Sub español

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.