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.
- Ranking of Popular Breakup Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026]
- For men in their 30s: Heart-touching breakup songs—masterpieces that can move grown men to tears
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 1980s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
- Breakup songs sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Remembering the Pain of Love…] Breakup Songs Recommended for People in Their 60s
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- Recommended breakup songs by male artists for the Yutori generation
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- Popular Heartbreak Song Rankings [2026]
- Breakup songs by Japanese bands: recommended classics and popular tracks
- [Tear-Jerking Breakup Songs] A curated selection of love songs that gently comfort a wounded heart!
Breakup songs sung by male Japanese artists (41–50)
somedaySaucy Dog
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.
Goodbyeofukōsu
This is a pure love ballad that poignantly portrays the end of a romance, released as an Off Course single in December 1979.
With Kazumasa Oda’s warm yet translucent vocals and a heart-stirring melody, the song richly conveys the sorrow of parting.
Its gentle, relatable lyrics—about a first heartbreak or a bittersweet farewell to someone dear—have made it a beloved classic that quietly resonates with listeners.
It was also featured as an insert song in the first season of the TBS drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B” and later included on the album “SELECTION 1978-81.” As a song that stands by you through the poignant end of love that comes with winter’s chill, it’s especially recommended for those facing a farewell with someone important.
Rainy Amusement ParkSasuke
This is a ballad that poignantly depicts memories of a couple’s date at an amusement park and their bittersweet parting.
It weaves together contrasting scenes: a past moment of riding a carousel in the rain, and the present, where the narrator catches sight of a former lover with shorter hair, looking happy.
The lingering attachment the protagonist still feels, along with a quiet resolve to face forward and live on, gently presses on the heart.
A warm sound centered on acoustic guitar and piano highlights the story-rich lyrics.
Included on Sasuke’s album “Smile,” the piece was released in October 2004, reached No.
3 on the Oricon charts, sold over 450,000 copies, and was certified Platinum.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on a rainy day, especially when you’re trying to heal the pain of a broken heart.
Hide-and-seekYuuri
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.
lovernavy&ivory
A classic song that captures the ache of regret and lingering feelings after a bittersweet love, and a signature work by navy&ivory.
Mizuki Aigo’s graceful piano melodies blend beautifully with Masaaki Shimoji’s warm vocals, richly expressing the pain of heartbreak and the longing for a loved one.
Released in September 2007, it was selected as the ending theme for the Nippon TV information program “Sukkiri!!” for that month, and was also included on the album “Hiiragi.” It’s a perfect song for autumn’s long nights leading into wedding season, for those who want to look back on a memorable romance.
This heartwarming piece, filled with memories of someone special, gently encourages you to step forward into tomorrow with a calm and hopeful heart.
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
A love song that strikingly portrays a man trying to keep his pride even as he’s tormented by the premonition of a breakup.
The scene of a lover packing up and leaving in the middle of the night is exquisitely rendered through Yu Aku’s delicate words and Katsuo Ono’s wistful melody.
The conflicting emotions—lingering attachment to the other and a man’s stubborn pride—intertwine, and Kenji Sawada’s sultry vocals shake the soul.
Released in May 1977, the song claimed the No.
1 spot on the Oricon weekly chart for a total of five weeks.
It went on to achieve the remarkable feat of sweeping numerous music awards that year, including the Japan Record Award.
A gem of a masterpiece that resonates deeply with those who have experienced parting with someone precious or who stand at a crossroads in life.
In that casemakaroni enpitsu
A narrative masterpiece by Macaroni Enpitsu that wraps a bittersweet longing for love in the refreshing tones of guitar and synthesizer.
While gently embracing the pain of heartbreak, the unshaken desire to believe in the other person’s dreams stirs the heart.
The melodic lines and Hattori’s emotionally rich vocals beautifully capture the warmth and ache of youth.
Released in January 2025 as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Blue Box, it weaves unattainable love and a growing inner world together with the anime’s atmosphere.
A gem of a song that stands with everyone who knows the joy of love and the pain of heartbreak, soothing the soul.