Japanese breakup songs sung by female artists

Time Goes ByEvery Little Thing

「Time goes by」MUSIC VIDEO / Every Little Thing

A million-selling hit from 1998.

If you’re Japanese, there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know it, right? The lyrics start off drenched in lingering attachment, but by the end they end with a smile and a wish to meet again.

Let’s hope that time will heal everything.

Stop this nightJUJU

JUJU “Stop This Night for Me”

Only those who have actually experienced it can truly understand the pain of being separated from a lover.

I think many people end up shouldering those feelings alone.

For you, I recommend listening to JUJU’s “Kono Yoru o Tomete yo,” which is also famous as a TV drama theme song.

I think you’ll relate to its message.

I miss you so much and want to see you.Nishino Kana

Kana Nishino 'I Miss You, I Miss You (short ver.)'

A song by Kana Nishino that vividly portrays the poignant pain of heartbreak.

The unwavering feelings for a loved one are captured in the striking phrase “I tremble because I miss you.” Its lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever suffered the agony of a broken heart.

Released in June 2010 and featured in a commercial for a jewelry brand, the track garnered strong support, especially among young listeners.

It can be called a representative breakup song that fully embodies the appeal of Kana Nishino, often referred to as the “diva of the mobile phone generation.” This is a song that stays close to those in the midst of a painful breakup and sheds tears alongside them.

I Believeayaka

Ayaka – I believe

Ayaka’s memorable debut single, released in 2006.

Lots of people still sing it at karaoke, right? If you’re in your twenties or older, it must feel really nostalgic.

When you’re heartbroken and fed up with everything, remind yourself that the only person you can trust is yourself.

Final scene.eill

eill | Last Scene. (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter eill, known for her translucent vocals and versatile musicality, continues to draw attention.

Chosen as the theme song for Amazon Prime Video’s reality dating show “Love Transit Season 3,” this track was released for streaming in October 2025.

Set to a classic R&B groove, it delicately portrays the emotions of a woman striving to move forward while holding onto feelings for someone she’s parted ways with.

It’s moving in its depiction of the aching loneliness of having no one left to keep her warm, alongside the complex desire to cherish that love in her heart forever.

Give it a listen when you feel like looking back on a past romance.

Unfit to be a loverKoresawa

Koresawa “Unqualified as a Lover” [Music Video]

A breakup ballad from a male perspective that portrays the anguish and regret of the one who said goodbye.

It’s a self-cover sung from the viewpoint of the man who leaves the room in Koresawa’s signature song “Tabako.” Released as a digital single in June 2019, it was later included on the concept mini-album “Heartbreak Scrap” in January 2020.

Originally written for Miyuhan, the track drew attention with its music video featuring Ryusei Yokohama.

The song movingly captures the conflict of a man who ends the relationship precisely because he loves her, blaming not her but his own shortcomings.

Listening to it alongside “Tabako” deepens your understanding of the couple’s emotional misalignment.

Highly recommended for anyone who’s experienced the end of a cherished relationship or carries guilt over having hurt someone they love.

spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota

Tsumugu / Tota

Singer-songwriter Tota, known for a sound that incorporates indie rock and synth-pop, has been drawing attention.

Released in February 2023 and included on the debut album “oidaki,” this digital single features a voice that leaves a deep impression as it speaks to the heart.

When a short version was posted on social media in June 2021, it spread rapidly, and the performance on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE also became a major topic.

This work is a love song that depicts parting with someone dear, and a prayer for the future that continues despite it.

The lyrics, which evoke scenes of sending one’s feelings on the sky’s tears and the wind’s song, may leave you with a bittersweet ache just by listening.

It’s sure to gently stay by the side of a heart sunk in the sorrow of farewell.