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

heavy smokenishina

Nishina – Heavy Smoke [Official Video]

Nishina’s songs captivate listeners with a tender, fragile voice and addictive melodies.

The lyrics, filled with bittersweet affection for “you,” who smokes, have resonated with many.

Released digitally in March 2021, this is a passionately crafted track written and composed by Nishina herself.

The lyrics are striking for how they express loneliness and shifting emotions amid smoke filling a square room.

Because the unrequited love interest is a heavy smoker, the song deftly portrays the feelings conveyed through cigarettes and the accompanying heartache.

It’s a perfect recommendation for those who’ve fallen in love and can’t keep their emotions in check.

not enoughwacci

wacci 'Tarina i' Music Video

This is a heartbreak song overflowing with poignancy, capturing the emotional turmoil of trying to sever lingering feelings for an ex.

Featured on wacci’s 2019 album Empathy, the track stands out for its lyrics written from a woman’s perspective.

Though she still has feelings, the protagonist’s struggle to choose a clean break in order to move forward is deeply affecting.

Positioned as a side story to “Betsu no Hito no Kanojo ni Natta yo,” a one-take recording was also released in 2020.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s gone from mutual love to one-sided, or who wants to move on but can’t quite bring themselves to do it.

More than friends, less than loversAsa

ASA – More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers [Official Music Video]

“Listen to this when you’re tired of being in love.” With those warm words, ASA delivers this work, weaving the complex feelings of two people who are more than friends but not quite lovers with delicate language.

Even while saying “I don’t like you,” they can’t bear the thought of someone else taking them away.

As they grapple with that self-contradictory emotion, a portrait emerges of someone struggling with the distance between them and the other person.

Released in September 2022, the song received high acclaim on the J-pop charts and drew attention overseas, including in the Philippines, Taiwan, and the United States.

It’s a track that gently stays by the side of anyone whose heart wavers on the boundary between love and friendship.

tear(s)Marushii

Marcy – Tears (Official Music Video)

A love ballad that portrays the ache of heartbreak in stark contrast to the dazzling summer sun.

It’s a work released in August 2025 by the rock band Marcy, known for down-to-earth lyrics that resonate.

Memories of love told in the past tense and words detailing feelings that will never reach their destination shake the listener’s heart.

Skillful metaphors—like the pain of memories lingering as sensations in the body and a future that was never opened—reflect the protagonist’s earnest emotions and are sure to bring tears.

The song is slated to be included on their third original album, set for release in November 2025, which will also feature Aozora, the theme song for the film “Youth Gestalt Collapse.” It’s a track you’ll want to listen to quietly on nights when you want to immerse yourself in unforgettable memories of love.

So she’s not your girlfriend, huh?Ueno Yūka

Yuhka Ueno “I’m Not Your Girlfriend, Right?” Music Video

A poignant breakup ballad by Yuuka Ueno that portrays the final moments of a couple who have decided to part and arranged to meet one last time.

Crafted by Yohei Hashiguchi of wacci, this song is included on the mini-album “Konya Atashi ga Naite mo,” released in March 2020.

With great care, it traces the feelings of a woman who holds dear memories close to her heart as she tries to accept reality, conveying both the loneliness of no longer being able to be with the one she loved and her resolve to face forward even while lingering attachments remain.

Ueno’s gentle vocals and the warm melody quietly encourage those who, while confronting the pain of farewell, are ready to take a new step forward.

bookmarkkuriipuhaipe

CreepHyp - “Bookmark” (MUSIC VIDEO)

A Creephyp song that beautifully portrays farewells in the season when cherry blossoms fall.

While cherishing past memories, it sings of the courage to take a new step forward.

Included on the album “Nakitakunaru Hodo Ureshii Hibi ni,” released in September 2018, the track also gained attention as a campaign song for FM802 and TSUTAYA.

It’s a song for those who feel the pain of parting yet want to keep holding on to hope for the future.

Its emotional rock sound and distinctive lyrical world will resonate with listeners and give them the strength to face forward.

wrapTENSONG

TENSONG “Matoi (Wrapped In)” [Official Music Video]

“Even though I know it won’t be reciprocated…” A TENSONG track distinguished by its uniquely arranged, highly original sound and Takabō’s striking high-tone vocals.

The lyrics, which capture lingering attachment and love for someone you can’t forget after a breakup, resonate deeply with listeners.

It’s a powerful song that emphasizes the importance of being honest about your feelings when you’re in love and promotes understanding of gender diversity.

Released in July 2021, it gained traction on social media and became popular, reaching No.

2 on LINE MUSIC.

A masterpiece especially recommended for those in their late teens to twenties who are struggling with romance.