[2026] Japanese songs about a final love: a recommended J‑Pop roundup

I want to be your boyfriend.Cody Rī (Ri)

Cody・Lee (Li) – I Want to Be Your Boyfriend (Music Video)

Here’s a pop number that sings of sweet young love.

It’s a track by Cody・Lee (Li), released in November 2024.

Positioned as the concluding chapter to the album “Last First Love,” this song features catchy melodies and a breezy rhythm, with lyrics that reflect unwavering devotion.

Blending elements of indie pop and rock while retaining the accessibility of J‑POP, it’s a polished piece that’s sure to lift your romantic mood.

Be sure to give it a listen.

If I were to fall in love once moreHiguchi Ai

Ai Higuchi / If I Were to Fall in Love Again [Official Music Video] | Ai Higuchi ‘If I Were to Fall in Love Again’

This is a song by Ai Higuchi that captures emotions wavering between ideals and reality.

Released in September 2024 as the theme song for ABEMA’s popular show “Sayonara Proposal via Greece,” it’s perfect for those struggling with love or couples considering marriage.

The warm, acoustic guitar-centered arrangement enhances the lyrical world even further.

It makes you yearn for a romance that makes you think, “I want this to be my last love,” doesn’t it? Ai Higuchi’s clear, translucent voice makes this a track that resonates deeply with listeners.

I like indigo.NEW!indigo la End

indigo la End – Love for Indigo

This song portrays the frustration of being stuck in an ambiguous relationship, unable to get closer or farther apart.

The nocturnal atmosphere that seems to conjure vivid scenes—crafted by Enon Kawatani—and the supple band ensemble beautifully color the aching feelings of love.

Released digitally in advance in May 2016 and included the following month as the opening track of indigo la End’s album “Aiiro Music,” it expresses not a dramatic confession or ending, but those inexplicable emotions that linger right beside everyday life.

It may resonate with those harboring a secret love they can’t tell anyone about, or those troubled by an unattainable romance.

lingering scentNEW!indoor cats.

lingering scent

Though the romance should be over, even when I swear to forget, the memories left behind keep holding me back.

This song captures the aching feeling of a presence that should be gone and the heart-clenching emotions that linger in the room like a scent.

indoor cats., a band rooted in R&B, weave a jazzy sound centered on piano and organ that quietly seeps into unresolved memories and the aftertaste of a forbidden love.

The track appears on their first album, “Hodokenai Blue,” released in March 2024.

It’s sure to gently accompany those who are struggling with a love they just can’t cut off, and those who, late at night, hold feelings they can’t tell anyone.

I’ll take it to the grave.NEW!Arukosaito

AlcoSite “I’ll Take It to the Grave” Music Video

A heartbreaking rock ballad about the end of a secret love that can’t be told to anyone, and the resolve to bury those memories deep within and keep living.

Vivid, lifelike scenes—evoking the air of everyday life and platforms of Kansai train stations—heighten the reality of an unattainable love and tighten the chest.

This song is a signature work by Arcosite, included on the album “Until It Becomes a Memory,” released in March 2022.

It later resonated widely on social media, becoming a major topic in 2023 as its annual streams surged.

Blending quiet sorrow with the unique intensity of a band, this piece will surely stay close on nights when you struggle with an unrequited relationship and want to weep alone in silence.

Head over heelsraisan

Praise – Head over heels

Comedian duo Laland’s Saaya performs vocals under the name CLR for the band Raisan, a supergroup featuring skilled musicians including Enon Kawatani.

“Horeta Hareta,” included on the mini-album “Killer Pass” released digitally in February 2026, is a track that had already been performed at live shows and festivals in 2025 and was generating buzz.

It features a sound reminiscent of ’80s disco kayō (Japanese pop) and lyrics that affirm the exhilaration of love.

It’s a groovy pop tune that makes you want to hit the town in step with the rhythm.

Once moreAteen

Ateen – Once Again (Lyric Video)

This is a poignant track by Ateen that overflows with unresolved feelings for a former lover.

The regret and inner conflict of wishing to go back to those days come through painfully in the lyrics, which the artist penned themselves.

The unadorned emotions written straight into the words are sure to pierce listeners’ hearts.

Released in July 2023, this work was only the second in Ateen’s early career, yet it resonated widely, even landing on Spotify’s viral charts.

It blends the accessibility of J-pop with elements of hip-hop in a pleasing way, and it’s sure to gently encourage anyone hoping for reconciliation.