[Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks

Happinessback number

Happiness / back number (cover)

Back number is a rock band beloved by listeners for their love songs told from every perspective.

Among their tracks, “Shiawase” portrays a heartrending unrequited love.

It was included on the 2011 single “Hanabira.” The song is a grand ballad, its poignant yet warm piano sound resonating throughout.

The lyrics express the feelings of loving someone even while knowing they can never be your partner.

Many will relate to the words, which speak directly with a pure sentiment.

It’s a song that deeply moves the heart with its wish for the other person’s happiness, even without being rewarded.

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and/then/by/with/hand (te-form particle; meaning depends on context)Ueno Daiki

Daiki Ueno – Te

A song whose lyrics, written with unguarded sincerity, seep into the heart.

Even knowing the love won’t come true, the protagonist’s struggle to suppress their feelings is expressed in delicate words.

The more they meet, the deeper the feelings grow, yet the ache of being unable to voice them remains.

A warm, gentle melody that seems to embrace the listener is especially memorable.

Released by Daiki Ueno in December 2020, the track gained support primarily among younger listeners on subscription services.

It’s a highly relatable song that resonates with those troubled by unrequited love or those who continue to carry their feelings.

passing by each otherSoala

Soala – Passing Each Other [Official Music Video]

Soala’s music is characterized by a poignant voice and lyrics that resonate deeply.

It delicately portrays the emotional disconnects in romance and the pain and regret caused by self-centered actions.

The songs depict the ironic situation where deep affection for a partner ends up worsening the relationship, as well as the powerlessness of being unable to accept a breakup—themes that many listeners relate to.

Released in July 2023, this track was written and composed by Soala herself.

If you’ve experienced heartbreak or unrequited love, listening to this piece may help you sort out your feelings and heal your heart.

You, him, me, and herBreathe

You, him, me, and her

An R&B ballad in which BREATHE delicately sings about those wavering feelings of “I thought we were just friends, but I fell for you.” Set within a love square where both parties already have partners, it portrays the conflict between newfound feelings and moral hesitation through scenes like late-summer rain and sharing a single umbrella.

Released in May 2014 as the B-side to the single “Tomorrows,” it was also used as an ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime FAIRY TAIL.

The lyrics were written by Kiyoshi Matsuo, and the harmonies of Satoshi Miyata and Kazuya Tada bring the nuances of emotion to life.

It’s a song that will resonate with anyone torn between friendship and romance or carrying feelings they can’t put into words.

Romance and LoveSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu

Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe / Koi to Ai

A gem of a ballad by Sandaime J SOUL Brothers from EXILE TRIBE, told from a male perspective about the resolve to part ways.

Included on the album “FUTURE,” released in June 2018, the song was also used as the theme for Nippon TV’s “Sukkiri” and in commercials for the job site Baitoru NEXT.

It portrays the adult, heartrending choice of parting ways because of the difficulty in moving from infatuation to true love, and the feeling that one cannot make the other person happy.

Even though his feelings haven’t faded—in fact, precisely because he cares—he chooses to leave, and his emotions resonate deeply.

A beautiful piano- and strings-driven melody is layered with the heartfelt vocals of Ryuji Imaichi and Hiroomi Tosaka, moving listeners to tears.

It’s a piece that offers comfort to anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear.

First loveUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – First Love

A signature ballad by Hikaru Utada that conveys endless feelings for a parted lover through gentle piano and a crystal-clear vocal.

From the faint bitterness felt in a goodbye kiss flows the protagonist’s emotions—filled with the sadness and resignation of the one left behind.

Yet it’s not mere lingering attachment; there’s a realization that they learned “how to love” from the person they broke up with, and a quiet strength in accepting that this romance will forever hold a special place in their heart.

Released as a single from the March 1999 album First Love, it was used as the theme song for the TV drama Majo no Jōken (Forbidden Love).

It’s a song that gently embraces anyone who has someone they’ll never forget, or who keeps thinking of a former lover even after parting.

Cinderellasaidāgāru

Cider Girl “Cinderella” Music Video

Cidergirl’s songs express the feelings of bittersweet unrequited love carried by refreshing melodies.

This work conveys a heartwarming message about cherishing the small joys of everyday life and sings about the importance of having a partner to share them with.

It was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime “Komi Can’t Communicate” in October 2021 and was included on the album “SODA POP FANCLUB 4” in December of the same year.

The exhilarating, quintessential Cidergirl sound and the delicate lyrics create a world that gently accompanies those troubled by love and gives them courage.