Unrequited love songs of the Heisei era. Those nostalgic classic tunes.

NAOHY

SOLIDEMO / NAO（HY cover）

It’s a ballad that pierces the chest with the pain of unrequited love.

The song is included on HY’s 2006 album “Confidence,” by the Okinawa-born mix-genre band, and tells a story created by vocalist Izumi Nakasone based on a close friend’s real experience.

The piece vividly portrays the inner conflict of a woman who knows the person she likes has feelings for someone else and won’t return her affection, yet she just can’t give up.

The clear, airy vocals riding over the piano melody further highlight the sorrow of a love that won’t reach its destination.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who finds themselves empathizing with the urge to cling on, even as they sense the person they love slowly changing.

Never again…BENI

BENI – Never Again…

This is a ballad with an R&B-style melody, marked by a poignant blend of piano and strings.

The transparent, airy vocals delicately express emotions swaying between lingering feelings for a former lover and the reality that there’s no going back.

Released in December 2008, it’s BENI’s ninth single and was used as the ending theme for the music program “Hz.” Created as an answer song to Dōzi-T’s “Mou Ichido… (One More Time…),” it’s said that BENI herself shed tears during the music video shoot.

It’s a song that will gently stay by your side on nights when you want to wash away your sorrow with tears.

Hard To SayCrystal Kay

Hard To Say (MSG Version)

This track captures the frustration of that delicate “more than friends, less than lovers” distance, sung over a comfortable, groovy beat.

Released as a single in August 2002, it was used as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s JAPAN COUNTDOWN.

The lyrics portray the struggle of being afraid to take a step forward and risk breaking the current relationship, beautifully fused with a cool, urban R&B sound.

When you can’t be honest with the person you like, why not listen quietly while thinking of them?

I like you.Shimizu Shota

Shota Shimizu “I Love You” MV

A cell phone suddenly rings on a sleepless night.

Starting from that everyday moment, this is an unrequited love song that makes your chest ache.

The protagonist is afraid to take a step forward for fear of breaking the relationship, yet can’t suppress the overflowing feelings.

Shota Shimizu’s sweet, heartrending vocals gently cradle a lovestruck heart.

Released as a single in December 2009, it’s also included on the album Journey.

At the time, it topped mobile distribution charts, capturing the hearts of many young listeners.

It’s a song to play when your feelings for someone are about to spill over, or when you need a little courage.

LOVE LETTERMakihara Noriyuki

NORIYUKI MAKIHARA LOVE LETTER

Do you know the hidden gem by Noriyuki Makihara that portrays a faint, letter-bound first love? Centered around an undelivered love letter, it delicately captures the emotions of a protagonist seeing off someone dear who is leaving for a distant job.

The imagery—twilight at the station and scenes along the tracks—feels so vivid it tightens the listener’s chest with a poignant ache.

The song was included on the album UNDERWEAR, released in October 1996, and was later used as the theme for NTT East’s corporate commercial “Mother,” featuring Yui Aragaki.

This piece rekindles the unspoken kindness we couldn’t put into words and the bittersweet memories of youth.

It’s a song to savor, especially for those who’ve experienced a springtime parting or who carry unspoken feelings in their hearts.

In loveHY

HY - “In Love” (Theme song for the film ‘366 Days’) Music Video

Even if you weren’t the one they chose, the fact that you loved doesn’t change… A bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment runs through this touching HY ballad.

Written as the theme song for the film “366 Days,” released in January 2025, the track is positioned as an answer song to their 2008 classic “366 Days.” It beautifully portrays emotional growth—rising from the pain of heartbreak and embracing even that experience as a cherished memory—and is also included on the album “TIME.” Set across Okinawa and Tokyo, the film unfolds a pure love story spanning 20 years, and this song superbly captures its worldview.

For those who have reached the end of a romance, or who are about to take a new step forward, this is a song that will gently give you a push.

Peach-Colored Unrequited LoveMatsuura Aya

Aya Matsuura “♡Momoiro Kataomoi♡” Music Video

Released in February 2002 as Aya Matsuura’s fifth single, this song was featured in Shiseido’s “Tissera Mune-Kyun Peach” commercial, which also drew attention for Matsuura’s own appearance.

It peaked at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, sold over 220,000 copies, and was included on the album T.W.O.

The lyrics liken the flutter of unrequited love to a peach-pink hue, and the bouncy melody that kicks off with a shouted call is instantly memorable—just listening to it lifts your spirits.

It’s the perfect track for getting hyped at karaoke with friends after school or for those heart-pounding moments when you’re nursing a crush.