A heartbreak song known to those in the know. Hidden gems of Japanese music that resonate with the heart.

I want to forget.wacci

wacci “I Want to Forget” Music Video

This is a song by wacci that portrays the aching feeling of being unable to forget a former lover, even while wanting to sever lingering attachments.

It delicately captures the emotional turbulence of wishing to erase memories of an ex, yet having their shadow surface even amid new encounters.

Released digitally on July 17, 2024, this work is a highly relatable breakup song that offers comfort to those who want to move on to a new love but find themselves held back by past feelings, unable to take the next step.

Even if I forget somedayback number

back number - Even if I someday forget

It’s one of their early tracks and a staple among breakup songs.

Although it came out before they became famous, fans regard it as a masterpiece.

The lyrics are heartrending and draw you deeper and deeper into their world.

The straightforward way it expresses a boy’s heartbreak makes you want to root for him, even from a female perspective.

It’s popular with younger listeners, but it’s a recommended number for people of any age or gender!

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wedgeOku Hanako

wedge

Praised as “a melody so heartrending it makes your heart tremble” and “so moving it brings you to tears,” this song was released in July 2015 as Hanako Oku’s 10th-anniversary single.

Its lyrics delve deeply into lost love and the pain of parting, and when combined with Oku’s characteristically clear, translucent voice, they resonate profoundly with listeners.

Cherished since her indie days, this work stands as a symbol of her bond with fans.

Wrapped in the gentle tones of the piano, it conveys a wistful longing for days gone by.

For those burdened by heartbreak or who have experienced a farewell with someone dear, this is a song that will quietly stay by your side—why not give it a listen?

pinkshaitoopu

pink

This song could be considered a quintessential heart-wrenching breakup ballad.

The delicate vocals seep into your heart.

It carefully portrays the complex emotions of a woman who realizes her lover’s betrayal yet still can’t forget them.

The lyrics convey a longing to cling to happy memories of the past.

Released in February 2023, the track’s lyrics are also compelling for their sense of urban loneliness, with scenes like looking down over the city from a rooftop.

It’s a song that offers comfort to those bearing the pain of heartbreak or who have experienced losing someone dear.

It’s especially recommended for listening alone at night.

contact lens caseSaucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Contact Case” (from LIVE DVD & Blu-ray “YAON de WAOOON,” recorded at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on April 30, 2019)

Just as you cherish and tuck away mementos, you want to gently store the pain of heartbreak in your heart.

This Saucy Dog song resonates with that feeling.

The bittersweet ache of waiting, somewhere inside, for someone who will never return, softly echoes over a calm melody.

Included on the album Salad Days, this track has been soothing the hearts of those who’ve experienced heartbreak since its release in May 2018.

Each time you notice traces of memories etched into everyday things and feel the warmth of those days again, this is a song that quietly stays by your side.

From our joined handsback number

back number – From the Hands We Held

Switching gears from a wistful slow ballad, this is a pop number that sets a spineless man’s far-too-late regret to a light, breezy melody.

The tune is very bright with catchy phrases that stick in your head, but the lyrics are regret, regret, and more regret.

It’s said that most of back number’s lyrics are based on real-life episodes they actually experienced, giving us glimpses into various sad experiences.

You are freeCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] You are free / CHAGE and ASKA

Recut from the 16th album “RED HILL,” this is CHAGE and ASKA’s 33rd single, released in November 1993.

At the time, it was featured as the commercial song for Asahi Soft Drinks’ “J.O.,” and the music video starring Hong Kong star Michelle Reis left a strong impression.

Blending urban sounds with 90s R&B and emotive choral work by 14 Karat Soul, the track is truly moving.

The lyrics, which accept a breakup by acknowledging the other person’s righteousness—a quietly adult kind of sorrow—are sure to resonate.

Because it unfolds at a relaxed tempo, you’ll want to be careful not to lag behind the rhythm, but it’s a song to sink into on a night when you want to gently soothe the pain of heartbreak.