Breakup songs sung by male Japanese (J-pop) artists
There are so many words about love.Unrequited love, mutual love, breakups… There are lots of songs about these, too—perhaps it’s a national trait.Interestingly, in Japanese music, breakup songs seem especially common among them.Here, I’ve gathered 30 such heartbreak songs sung by male artists.May these masterpieces seep into and soothe your wounded heart.
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Breakup songs by male J-Pop artists (21–30)
A Lonely ToothbrushSakuraba Yuuichirou
“Message/Hitoribocchi no Haburashi” is TOKIO’s 22nd single, and it was released in 2001 as Yuichiro Sakuraba’s debut single as well.
Yuichiro Sakuraba is Tomoya Nagase’s solo alias, and the song was used as an insert song in the drama Mukodono! starring Tomoya Nagase.
The lyrics and composition were handled by Tsunku.
As the title “Hitoribocchi no Haburashi” (Lonely Toothbrush) suggests, it implies there used to be two, and you can feel the loneliness of both the narrator after the breakup and the toothbrush left behind.
Way of DifferenceGLAY
Released in 2002 as GLAY’s 25th single, it was chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s romance reality show “Ainori” and reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a love song that portrays a couple’s story from their first meeting to their breakup, capturing the heartbreaking feeling of longing to see someone but being unable to.
Can’t Say Anything… SummerTHE JAYWALK
It was released in 1991 as JAYWALK’s 18th single.
As one of JAYWALK’s signature songs, it became a hit and earned them their first appearance at the 44th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that year.
The lyrics express regret over not being kind to a wife or girlfriend who was always there as a matter of course.
The final kindness of choosing to part ways so as not to cause the other person pain is heartbreakingly poignant.
for a whilerikon densetsu
A ballad that gently nestles up to memories of lost love.
The music unit Divorce Densetsu released it in January 2025.
While lamenting a past that can never return, the song portrays the aching sway of trying to forget someone dear.
Vocalist Matsuda’s sweet, mellow voice rides atop a nostalgic sound reminiscent of ’80s New Music, soaking into the heart.
A healing track that wraps you in sentimental emotion.
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism
I can’t stop crying at this heartbreaking story of someone stepping back on their own.
This is the song that truly made Official HIGE DANDism a nationwide name.
It’s easy to be captivated by Satoshi Fujihara’s beautiful vocals, but the real charm lies in the lyrics that portray the protagonist’s emotions.
Realizing he won’t end up with the one he loves, the song conveys the feelings of a man who chooses to bow out.
He can no longer say “I love you”; all he can do is praise the other person’s beauty.
The world it paints—where dignity and lingering attachment intersect—tightens your chest, doesn’t it? Released as a single in May 2019, it became a massive hit as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP, spending 34 consecutive weeks at No.
1 on Billboard Japan’s streaming chart.
On nights when you’re tormented by unrequited love, it’s sure to gently stay by your side.
fireworksSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
It’s a song included on the third generation J Soul Brothers’ seventh single, “0 ~ZERO~,” released in 2012.
The track conveys how a fleeting love, like fireworks, carries both poignancy and sadness.
The lyrics, which speak as if addressing someone in a letter, are also striking.
The performers’ dance by the third generation J Soul Brothers is a must-see.
The Summer When You Were ThereNEWS
A bittersweet end-of-summer love song sung by NEWS.
Despite its refreshing melody that conjures up glittering scenes, the lyrics depict memories of a love that will never return.
The more you remember those happy days, the tighter your chest feels—many of us know that sensation well.
This track was included on the single “ONE – for the win-,” released in June 2014.
When you want to immerse yourself in an unforgettable summer romance, it will quietly stay by your side.