From bittersweet tracks to heart-wrenching tunes! Heisei-era unrequited love songs
Even when we say “unrequited love songs” in a single phrase, there are so many different situations, aren’t there?
From sweet and bittersweet tracks that evoke school days to heartrending songs that conjure images of adult romance, there are countless unrequited love songs in the world.
In every era, songs that stay close to our experiences of love have resonated with listeners.
So this time, we’re introducing unrequited love songs that were hits in the Heisei era!
Whether you’re in love right now or hoping to fall in love soon, be sure to find the tracks that suit you!
- [To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard
- Just listening makes you feel happy! Heisei-era mutual love songs
- Unrequited love songs of the Heisei era. Those nostalgic classic tunes.
- Classic and popular songs about unrequited love
- Tear-jerking unrequited love songs that will break your heart: timeless classics about unattainable love
- [Heisei Love Songs] A carefully selected collection of gem-like love songs that continue to be cherished even in the Reiwa era!
- [A Song That Makes Love Come True] Carefully selected love songs perfect for those who want to make their unrequited love come true!
- Unrequited love songs recommended for teenage girls: classic and popular Japanese hits
- [Unrequited Love Songs] Recommended for women! Classic tracks that boost your motivation for love
- [From a woman's perspective] Cute unrequited love song
- [Unrequited Love Songs] Lyrics that hit home! A collection of unforgettable, gem-like love songs
- Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the ’90s to the 2010s
- Unrequited love songs from the Showa era. Those nostalgic classics.
From bittersweet tracks to heart-wrenching tunes! Heisei era unrequited love songs (11–20)
I like you.Little Glee Monster
A song that powerfully expresses the wavering emotions of youth, this is Little Glee Monster’s fourth single.
Chosen as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Omotesando High School Chorus Club!” it was released in September 2015.
Featuring fresh, vibrant melodies and robust harmonies, the track is a coming-of-age song centered on young love.
Showcasing Little Glee Monster’s signature powerhouse vocal performance, its lyrics portray bittersweet feelings and inner conflict that resonated with many listeners.
It’s a recommended track not only for those troubled by love, but also for anyone feeling nostalgic about their youth.
THE OVERUVERworld
A song that portrays a bittersweet love and a desire for self-transcendence captures listeners’ hearts and won’t let go.
UVERworld’s 22nd single blends rock and ballad elements, with TAKUYA∞’s powerful vocals resonating deeply.
Released in August 2012, it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Kuro no Onna Kyōshi” (The Black Teacher).
It debuted at No.
2 on the Oricon chart and sold over 80,000 copies.
The track depicts overcoming personal weaknesses and complexes, making it a source of support for those struggling in life.
It’s recommended not only for those troubled by love, but also for anyone who wants to face themselves.
No way to sayHamasaki Ayumi
Ayu Hamasaki’s 31st single, by an artist who epitomized the Heisei-era music scene and garnered immense support as a fashion icon.
Released in November 2003, the song was featured as the theme for the TBS variety show “Koisuru Hanikami!” and is also known for helping her achieve an unprecedented third consecutive win at the 45th Japan Record Awards.
The lyrics, which portray the frustration of being unable to honestly express your feelings to someone important, intertwine with the winter chill to evoke a heart-wrenching sense of poignancy.
This grand ballad, resounding with beautiful strings, is sure to bring back memories from that time.
A Lonely ToothbrushSakuraba Yuuichirou
A song released under the name Yuichiro Sakuraba, the character played by Tomoya Nagase in a TV drama.
Produced by Tsunku♂, this track overlays the singer’s loneliness onto a single toothbrush left by the sink, weaving a heartrending number about the lingering attachment to a lover who has left.
It was included on TOKIO’s single “Message / Hitoribocchi no Haburashi,” released in May 2001, and became a major hit as an in-show song for the drama Muko Dono.
Even if he acts tough, he’s crying inside—the painful vulnerability of a man comes through all too clearly.
Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number
With their realistic psychological portrayals, back number captures the hearts of many fans.
Their eighth single, released in June 2013, truly feels like “a song packed full of one-sided-love imaginings.” You can’t help but nod along at the poignant sense of distance—being nothing more than “a friend of a friend” to the person you like—and at the way you get depressed by imagining the kind of partner they’d want and deciding you don’t measure up.
In contrast to those lyrics, the brisk, refreshing sound gently propels that frustrating, unrequited longing forward.
The track is also included on the album “Love Story,” and it was used in a commercial in 2019.
Wishing to be loved yet unable to take that final step—this is a one-sided love song that will surely resonate and stay close to your heart.