A breakup song sung by an idol. A collection of bittersweet love songs.

BiryaniNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 “Biryani” Music Video

Nogizaka46 is a beloved national idol group created under the production of Yasushi Akimoto.

Their 40th single, released on November 26, 2025, is an uptempo dance track that portrays the freshness of first love.

This release marks the first time 6th-gen members Shizuki Setoguchi and Moeka Yada have been selected as centers, and the lyrics—comparing the rising feelings of love to the aroma of layered spices—leave a strong impression.

The music video, directed by Yichuan Wang, depicts a mysterious, almost magical world, making it a visual treat as well.

It’s recommended for those who want to savor the sweet-and-sour thrill of unrequited love or those looking for the courage to take a step forward.

With its upbeat, spicy sound that feels so good, it’s a pop tune that lifts your spirits the moment you press play.

Because I like you.AKB48

[MV full] Because I Love You / AKB48 [Official]

This piece could be called a hidden gem by AKB48, a song about pure love that asks for nothing in return.

Riding on a driving, fast-paced band sound, it delivers a heartfelt message in classic idol-pop fashion.

Originally included as a B-side to the single “RIVER,” released in October 2009, it gained such passionate support from fans that it proudly took 2nd place at the following year’s Request Hour.

It was also used as the theme for the Wii game Tōmajiden commercials, so some listeners may already find it familiar.

The bright vocals from the Under Girls, including Aki Takajo, give listeners a powerful push forward.

If you listen when you’re feeling down or when you want to cheer someone on with all your might, you’re sure to get a dose of positive energy.

Mermaid in FebruaryAKB48

2gatsuno Mermaid

This AKB48 song paints a romantic scene that makes you want to head to the chilly seaside in lingering-February cold.

It’s memorable for lyrics that liken carefree frolicking by the winter ocean to a mermaid, turning even the cold spray of the waves into shared memories.

Performed as a unit song with Azuki Yagi on vocals at a theater show in December 2024, it was later included on the album “AKB48 ~studio recordings collection~ AKB48 18th Stage ‘Koko Kara da,’” released in December 2025.

This work is a bittersweet love song that captures feelings of affection so strong they make even selfish behavior seem adorable.

It’s the perfect track for gazing out at the quiet winter sea and sinking into a sentimental mood.

Specially, do it.＝LOVE

=LOVE (Equal Love) / 18th Single “Tokubechu, Shite” [MV full]

A sweet, bittersweet love song has arrived from =LOVE.

It’s infused with a passion so strong it can’t be captured by a simple “like” or “I love you,” filled with a girl’s possessiveness and pure feelings.

The melody is a pop tune brimming with cuteness, blending adorable charm and earnest emotion in perfect balance.

Set for release as their 18th single on February 26, 2025, the song features lyrics by Rino Sashihara and Maika Sasaki as center.

The music video has already sparked a major reaction, surpassing 5 million views just nine days after its February 2 premiere.

Highly recommended for those who want to empathize with a lovestruck girl’s feelings or revel in the sweet-and-sour memories of young love.

Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie

Harunanoni

A bittersweet yet beautiful song about feelings for someone you’ll no longer be able to see after graduation.

Released in January 1983 as Yoshie Kashiwabara’s 14th single, it is one of her signature tracks, written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima.

It peaked at No.

6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and won the Gold Award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.

The song also led to her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its worldview—where the brightness of spring cruelly intersects with the pain of parting—strikes straight to the heart.

Rather than going for flashy drama, the piece is memorable for its steady progression, where the melody calmly unfolds and the emotional shadows gradually deepen.

Revisited every graduation season, it continues to be loved across generations.

It’s recommended for moments when, on the cusp of a new beginning, you want to pause and gather your thoughts.

A Lonely Graduation CeremonyAsaka Yui

Hitoribocchi No Sotsugyoshiki (2015 Remaster)

On the morning of graduation, feelings that end without ever being spoken—here’s a song that Yui Asaka renders with delicate nuance.

Included on the album “Star Lights,” released in February 1987, the record marked a major leap in her career, peaking at No.

8 on the Oricon charts.

This track is a gently paced ballad that carefully sketches scenes of school life—classroom seats, yearbook messages—while quietly tracing the emotions of someone who couldn’t confess their love.

Though not showy, its structure beautifully conveys the spring atmosphere and the subtle flutter in one’s chest.

It’s a number that gently stands beside anyone facing graduation, and anyone carrying feelings they couldn’t put into words.

Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB48

Unrequited Love Graduation (Team K Ver.)

Let me introduce an AKB48 number that marks the passage of time at graduation and portrays an unspoken one-sided love.

Released in March 2007 as part of Team K’s 3rd Stage “Nounai Paradise,” it’s a song that has been passed down in theater performances.

You can laugh within your circle of friends, yet say nothing in front of the person you like as graduation day draws near.

Those bittersweet feelings are carefully spun over a gentle, mid-tempo melody.

Rather than flashy production, the arrangement treasures the afterglow of the words, quietly seeping into the listener’s heart.

This work captures a moment of youth swaying between the fear that love might end unfulfilled and the desire to express your feelings anyway.

It’s a number we recommend not only to those about to graduate, but also to anyone who wants to remember who they were back then.