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.
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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.
The Mole’s SongEXPRESS
I’m captivated by the poem’s coolness and passion.
I want people to listen to this when their heart is broken or when they’ve lost love.
It’s not about offering comfort—it’s about firing yourself up.
If I slack off, no one’s going to save me, and even when I’m down after being rejected, this is the song that makes me rouse myself.
A heartbreak song known to those in the know. Hidden gems of touching Japanese music (31–40)
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.
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.
youHY
It’s a heartbreak song.
I couldn’t be honest and I regret that, but it’s a song about how I truly loved from the bottom of my heart.
It’s my favorite song.
I really relate to it.
When I listen to it, I remember the relationship I had back then.
The lyrics, entrusted to the singer, are so relatable.
They express exactly how I feel.
I think many women feel the same.
I believe it’s a song many women can relate to.
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.
GoodbyeNishino Kana
Even though they didn’t grow to hate each other, they end up choosing to part ways due to drifting apart.
This is a poignant medium-tempo ballad by Kana Nishino that tightens the heart with the complexity of such an ending to love.
The way the protagonist tries to seal away the memories without truly accepting what happened feels strikingly real, likely because of the lyrics’ masterful grasp of the subtleties of romance.
Released in October 2013, the song is also known as the theme for the NHK serial drama “Glass no Ie” and is included on the album “with LOVE.” For those who have lost a love that couldn’t be saved by feelings alone and can’t yet move on, this song will gently whisper, “It’s okay—you don’t have to force yourself to forget.”