[Carefully Selected] Popular Love Songs: Recommended Romance Tracks

Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Unrequited Love” MV

SUPER BEAVER’s in-show song for NHK’s late-night drama “Vanilla na Mainichi” delivers a powerful rendition of aching, unrequited love that truly stirs the heart.

It’s a gem of a ballad where a melody that gently cradles a faint yearning blends beautifully with subtly warm lyrics.

First released digitally on March 7, 2025, and included on the single “Kataomoi / Namida no Shoutai,” out March 12, the track enriches the drama’s world alongside its main theme, “Namida no Shoutai.” With tender, emotional soundscapes and the band’s signature straightforward message, this heartwarming song keeps you company in those quiet moments when you secretly think of someone you love.

somedaySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

A straightforward, honest love song that brings the ache and poignancy of heartbreak right to your chest.

Through real-life scenes—like the deserted park at Tawarayama and the sloping road where you can see the starry sky—the memories woven together vividly portray feelings for a precious person you can never meet again.

Released in May 2017 as a track on the album “Country Road,” this piece gently embraces an unforgettable love with warm lyrics that blend in the local Shimane dialect.

Its softly resonant melody offers quiet comfort to those who want to hold their one-sided love close, and to those who can’t quite put an end to a past romance.

Blue amberback number

back number – Blue Amber [Theme song for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.m. drama 'From the Day I Took You']

This work gracefully depicts profound sorrow and loneliness, accompanied by a wistful, resonant melody.

It conveys the emotional turmoil between grief over losing a loved one and the vengeful feelings born from that loss, expressed through delicate vocals and a beautiful melody.

Created by back number, the song was produced as the theme for the Kansai Television/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.m.

drama “From the Day You Took You Away,” which begins airing in April 2025.

Produced by Koichi Tsutaya, it is wrapped in gentle tones centered on piano and strings, and has also drawn words of empathy from lead actress Keiko Kitagawa.

It is a song that quietly stays close to the hearts of those who strive to move forward while carrying their sorrow.

Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

A poignant ballad that likens a breakup with a live-in lover to the children’s game of hide-and-seek.

Through images of a tumbler left behind and a messy room, it vividly portrays a man’s heart steeped in emptiness and loneliness.

Yuuri’s delicate vocals, paired with a simple, guitar-centered arrangement, superbly convey the pain of heartbreak.

Released in December 2019, the recording was supervised by Hiro of MY FIRST STORY.

The music video, directed by Elizabeth Miyaji and featuring actress Yuu Kinoyama, further deepens the work’s world.

It is a gem of a love song that closely resonates with those who have just experienced a breakup or who still harbor longing for someone dear.

dearestFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Beloved (Full ver.)

Produced in October 2008 as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X,” this gem of a ballad portrays deep affection and the ache of parting.

While anticipating farewell to a dreamlike presence, it sings of the fragility and beauty of continuing to love.

The pure love that Tetsuya Ishigami, a character in the story, holds for Yasuko Hanaoka is expressed through the delicate words crafted by Masaharu Fukuyama, and the song was also used in Toshiba’s LCD TV “REGZA” commercial.

As the unit KOH+ with Kou Shibasaki, it reached No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Fukuyama later included his own version on the album “Zankyo.” It is a supreme masterpiece that accompanies adult romance—perfect for quietly savoring a drink in a night lounge.

In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – In the Useless (Official Video)

A heartwarming song that gently portrays the love hidden in everyday, ordinary moments.

Its lyrics express love through the five senses, and a pleasant melody infused with jazz elements blends seamlessly to create a tender world that anyone can relate to.

Described by Gen Hoshino as “the first love song I wrote head-on,” the track was released as a single in March 2011 and is also included on the album Episode.

It reached No.

17 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for 24 weeks, gaining widespread popularity.

Singing softly about the subtleties of human relationships—exchanges between lovers and reconciliation after hurting one another—this is a recommended song for anyone who wants to cherish time with someone special.

Because of YouJUJU

Theme song of the Japanese-dubbed version of the movie “Passengers,” ‘Because of You’ (Movie Version)

A heartwarming masterpiece of a love ballad that gently embraces the deep bond between two people.

It delicately portrays how life changes through a fateful encounter and carefully weaves feelings for a loved one.

Released by JUJU in March 2017, this song was written as the theme for the Japanese-dubbed version of the film “Passengers.” In February 2017, it also collaborated with a wedding information website, creating a lyric video that featured memorable photos submitted by fans—an initiative that touched many hearts.

It’s also recommended as BGM to color special moments, such as anniversaries and weddings.