Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the ’90s to the 2010s
From around the 1990s through the 2010s, countless timeless songs were released in the Heisei music scene.
Among them were many heartbreak songs, and I’m sure many of you have been listening to them ever since they first came out.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of those Heisei-era heartbreak songs all at once.
We’ve chosen tracks that carry a nostalgic feel—ones that will bring back memories from those days when you listen.
If you lived through that era, please enjoy them while reminiscing.
And if you’re from a younger generation and didn’t experience that time, we encourage you to take your time listening while reading the lyrics.
- Breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- Emotional songs from the Heisei era. Nostalgic tracks that really hit you.
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- Breakup songs sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Heisei Love Songs] A carefully selected collection of gem-like love songs that continue to be cherished even in the Reiwa era!
- [Female Heartbreak Song] A soul-stirring song dedicated to you, who loved with all your heart.
- [Heisei Songs] Classic hits from the Heisei era that are popular on Instagram Reels
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Recommended breakup songs by male artists for the Yutori generation
Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the 1990s to the 2010s (1–10)
Blue BenchSasuke
For those who spent their youth around the mid-Heisei era, many can probably still sing Sasuke’s “Aoi Bench” without looking at the lyrics.
Hearing the humble accompaniment of harmonica and acoustic guitar, along with the gentle, refreshing vocals layered over it, surely brings back nostalgic memories for many.
The lyrics are set on the day of a class reunion held long after graduation, and express lingering feelings for a former partner from student days.
I think many people can relate to the regret of not being able to convey their feelings properly.
Maplesupittsu
Spitz’s “Kaede” is a song about turning all the memories with a lover into the strength to live for tomorrow.
Released in 1998 as a double A-side single together with “Supika,” the song gained cross-generational popularity, helped in part by its use in a 2017 Kirin Afternoon Tea commercial.
Parting from a lover is extremely painful, and at times you may feel so down that everyday life becomes difficult.
Even so, to keep living, you have to find closure within yourself.
This song offers hints on how to do that—how to face forward.
It portrays the moment of switching your mindset to look ahead, not because there’s no lingering attachment, but in spite of it.
First LoveUtada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru’s “First Love” is a heartfelt song about an unforgettable, beloved lover.
Released in 1999, it first appeared as a track on an album of the same name and was later released as a single.
It experienced a resurgence after the 2022 drama “First Love” was streamed, a series inspired by this song and by “Hatsukoi.” Your ex might slip back into everyday life right away, but I still can’t contain my sadness… It’s a breakup song that resonates with many who’ve endured a painful farewell to someone they loved.
I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana
A sad love song by Kana Nishino that conveys, painfully and directly, the feelings of a girl plunged into the depths of despair by heartbreak.
The way you can practically picture a girl lowering her head and quietly crying in a dark room feels so real, likely because Nishino’s own experiences are reflected in the lyrics.
For anyone who’s been through a breakup, it’s a song that squeezes your heart, but it might also be the spark that makes you think, “I’m not the only one suffering.”
NAOHY
“It’s clear you’ll never love me, but I still can’t let go…” This is a heartbreak song by HY that resonates with many women who’ve experienced painful unrequited love or breakups.
When you’re in love, even knowing you’ll never have them, you still go to see them, crave their gentle smile, and end up choosing paths that only make you suffer.
No matter how much you cry, those feelings you can’t give up on may be something you can only wait for time to heal.