A heartbreak song known to those in the know. Hidden gems of Japanese music that resonate with the heart.
When you go through a heartbreak, it can feel like there’s a gaping hole in your heart.
You want to cry but no tears come, you want to talk to someone but can’t find the words.
In moments like these, isn’t it music that gently stays by your side? In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of hidden gems in Japanese breakup songs—from those from a male perspective to those from a female perspective.
Their poignant lyrics and melodies are sure to speak for how you’re feeling right now.
We hope you can immerse yourself as much as you need, and that it becomes a small step toward looking forward again.
- [Songs About Loving Yet Parting] Love songs for those who want to overcome heartbreak
- Popular Heartbreak Song Rankings [2026]
- [Heartbreak Songs] A selection of poignant love songs that pierce the heart of those with unrequited love
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- Masterpiece! Tear-jerking breakup songs by Japanese bands
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Breakup songs by female artists recommended for the yutori generation
- [Tear-Jerking Breakup Songs] A curated selection of love songs that gently comfort a wounded heart!
- [Female Heartbreak Song] A soul-stirring song dedicated to you, who loved with all your heart.
A hidden heartbreak song known to those in the know: Underrated Japanese gems that touch the heart (21–30)
KanadeSukima Suichi
This is a hit song by Sukima Switch, a popular music duo.
It drew attention after being featured in the film “Rough.” The song centers on parting with someone precious and is told particularly from a male perspective, making it a recommended breakup song for men.
Wake you upieiri reo
It’s a song included on Leo Ieiri’s fourth single, “Message,” released in 2013.
Although it’s a breakup song, it’s an uplifting track that conveys that choosing to part ways with him didn’t make the time spent together meaningless, that it doesn’t mean she came to hate him, and that it feels like a step leading to an important person she will meet someday.
A heartbreak song known to those in the know. Hidden gems of touching Japanese music (31–40)
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
A signature song by Masayoshi Yamazaki that sings of wandering the city while bearing the pain of heartbreak.
Along with a heartrending melody, it conveys an earnest wish to reunite with a lost lover.
Released in January 1997, the track was used as the theme song for the film ‘The Moon and a Cabbage,’ in which Yamazaki starred, and it enjoyed long-lasting popularity.
In 2007, it was also selected as the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s animated film ‘5 Centimeters per Second,’ drawing renewed attention.
Portraying someone who cannot forget an ex and keeps searching through the city, the song offers solace to those suffering from the pain of a broken heart.
carpaimyon
Koi is a heartbreak song themed around the proverb “the one that got away.” It was included on singer-songwriter Aimyon’s 2019 single Harunohi, a release that cemented her nationwide popularity.
Set to a lively ska-style beat, its acoustic guitar and synth tones ring out.
The lyrics portray the sorrow of not ending up with the one you love, depicting someone facing an unbearable reality alone.
With its rhythmic band arrangement contrasted by her emotional vocals, it’s a hidden gem.
the first strong spring wind21 seiki, aijō busoku
A 21st-century, affection-starved song themed around the strong winds that herald the arrival of spring, it portrays both the anticipation of a new season and the bittersweet passage of time.
Released on March 1, 2023, it was also chosen as the song for radiko’s new commercial, “Sound connects the past and the future.” Marked by Nishina’s profound vocals and the timbre of acoustic guitar, this work offers encouragement to those overcoming the season of farewells and stepping into a new life.
It’s a heartwarming track that stays close to listeners who, while carrying the pain of heartbreak, are determined to look ahead.
Highly recommended for listening while taking in the scent of spring.
A lie in the mirror smiles.T-BOLAN
This is the track included as the B-side to the million-selling single “Bye For Now,” released in November 1992.
It portrays the frustration and self-loathing in romance that make you act contrary to your true feelings.
Many listeners will feel a tightening in their chest at the scene where the self in the mirror smiles as if mocking one’s own lies.
The word choices—unusual for the time—also leave a strong impression.
The irresistible charm lies in the gap between the breezy pop-rock sound and the heartrending lyrics.
Moritomo Arashi’s soaring high notes in the chorus feel like the protagonist’s inner scream, stirring the listener’s emotions.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear on nights when you’re hiding your true feelings.
lingering loveKitatani Ruki
Ryuki Kitaya, who also drew attention for the 2023 Pocari Sweat commercial song “Ao ga Mau,” is a singer-songwriter born in 2003 from Takayama, Gifu Prefecture.
His song “Koinokori” is one I especially want heartbroken men to hear.
The lyrics, like a treasure box of memories, mention places like the convenience store the couple often visited and the path where they went on dates.
Amid the lingering attachment, you can feel the love he still has for her.
It’s a tearjerker for anyone who can’t switch their feelings over right away—an absolute must-listen.