A masterpiece that sings of loneliness. Recommended popular songs.

tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa

Koresawa “Tobacco” [Music Video]

This is the masterpiece ballad that propelled a singer-songwriter from Settsu, Osaka, to nationwide recognition.

It’s a breakup song that captures the regret, sorrow, and bitterness of a girl left alone in the room she once shared with her partner.

The lyrics are marked by stark, unflinching expressions of the regret felt at the most painful moment—24 hours after being dumped—so raw it feels like the wound is being torn open.

The imagery surrounding the cigarettes left at home is especially exquisite: their brand, appearance, and scent evoke him and further agitate the heart of the one left behind.

It’s a work that vividly portrays the remnants of their days together, scattered in every corner of the room.

I wish you were hereLEGO BIG MORL

LEGO BIG MORL “I Wish You Were Here” Music Video

This is a signature song by LEGO BIG MORL, an artist beloved by music fans for their beautiful, captivating vocals and delicate high tones.

It’s a ballad that expresses the heart-wrenching feeling of never being able to see someone you love again.

PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Pretender [Official Video]

This song became a smash hit that defined the music scene of 2019 and served as the catalyst for making the band Official Hige Dandism known throughout Japan.

Centered on lyrics that express a man’s feelings for an ex-girlfriend he just can’t forget—feelings that he knows will never reach her—it gained overwhelming support, especially among younger listeners.

Although fictional, many listeners projected themselves onto its vividly realistic lyrical world, making it a track that resonates with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.

The backing band’s arrangement is also tailored to convey a sense of aching sadness, resulting in a production that fully captures the poignancy of emotions that can never be delivered.

Stand by UTōhōshinki

TVXQ / Stand by U

A massive hit by TVXQ that has gained popularity for its beautiful harmonies and heartrending love song that captivates you without even realizing it.

It’s a track that conveys the feelings of someone who continues to think single-mindedly about a lover they’ve been separated from.

All of the YouthFujifaburikku

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

A masterpiece ballad that enjoys unrivaled popularity in the Japanese rock scene, built around three key points: the end of summer, fireworks, and unrequited love.

Its defining feature is the lyrics, which weave together the uncertainty of a love that may never reach its destination, the last fireworks watched together with the object of one’s affection, and the restless yet wistful atmosphere that the end of summer brings—creating a unique sense of heartache found nowhere else.

Beyond the exquisitely bittersweet lyrics, the arrangement and sound design amplify the melancholy, and the guitar solo—perfectly capturing the subtle air of late summer—is especially captivating.

Even after the 2009 passing of Masahiko Shimura, who at the time handled guitar, vocals, lyrics, and composition, the song has continued to be cherished.

For university students in light music clubs and circles, it may well be considered the anthem of summer training camp.

Moon CryingKōda Kumi

Koda Kumi / “Moon Crying” (from the new album “WINTER of LOVE”)

A huge hit by Kumi Koda, renowned for love songs that showcase her powerful, overwhelming vocals and emotive vibrato.

The melancholic lyrics, which express her feelings for a beloved partner she can never return to, have resonated with many people.

Maplesupittsu

Spitz / Kaede

A huge hit by Pitts that has earned overwhelming support across generations for its clear, beautiful vocals and instantly hummable, approachable melody.

The song expresses a resolve to tuck away a lover’s parting words in one’s heart and move forward with one’s own life from here on.