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.

Playlist

Breakup songs sung by male Japanese (J-pop) artists
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Dried flowersYuuri		A heartrending rock ballad that likens lingering feelings for a lover to a flower
2	Mikan HeartC&K		C&K's heartrending love ballad
3	Even if you wait for a miracleSaucy Dog		Saucy Dog's earnest rock ballad
4	Snow WhiteMarushii		A bittersweet winter love ballad from a Fukuoka-born band
5	me me sheRADWIMPS		A masterpiece by RADWIMPS, a timeless song that gently embraces the pain of the heart.
6	Don’t Leave MeB’z		A poignantly urgent blues of farewell
7	You are freeCHAGE and ASKA		CHAGE and ASKA, a masterpiece that sings of the pain of heartbreak
8	I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki		The male psychology of feeling lonely in her absence
9	freesiaMarushii		A rock ballad that portrays Marsi’s heartrending feelings of love.
10	KanadeSukima Suichi		A song by Sukima Switch themed around parting
11	SaudadePorunogurafiti		A poignant song imbued with feelings of nostalgia
12	Lovers AgainEXILE		A bittersweet love song released by EXILE in 2007
13	Blue BenchSasuke		Sasuke’s debut single reached No. 8 on the Oricon chart
14	Romance and LoveSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu		A poignant ballad that depicts the resolve to part ways
15	Before you become a memorysupittsu		Spitz’s first time on the charts, the sorrow of parting
16	Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā		Expressing the feeling of being depressed after losing a woman
17	catDISH//		Aimyon “Hadaka no Kokoro” — moving and heartrending
18	Someday Merry ChristmasB’z		A Christmas song, the aching sorrow of thinking about someone you’ve lost
19	Goodbye, my beloved.Shunsuke Kiyokiba		Shunsuke Kiyokiba sings about the feelings of a lost love
20	I love you. ~100 Regrets~Sonar Pocket		Sonar Pocket, Pure Love Song.
21	Rain MelodyKinKi Kids		KinKi Kids achieve No.1 with double A-side single
22	A Lonely ToothbrushSakuraba Yuuichirou		TOKIO’s 22nd single, released in 2001
23	Way of DifferenceGLAY		GLAY's 2002 single
24	Can’t Say Anything… SummerTHE JAYWALK		JAYWALK, Regret Toward a Loved One
25	for a whilerikon densetsu		A poignant heart song that sings of lost love
26	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		Depicting the poignant feelings of a man who gives up on love
27	fireworksSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu		The bittersweetness of a fleeting love, like fireworks
28	The Summer When You Were ThereNEWS		A bittersweet memory of a summer’s-end romance
29	Sad feelingsKuwata Keisuke		Keisuke Kuwata’s solo songs: a sense of loneliness hidden within bright tones
30	A lie in the mirror smiles.T-BOLAN		A masterpiece that sings of the frustrations of love and self-loathing
31	I don’t want to let go.T-BOLAN		Popular song from T-BOLAN's second single
32	The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi		Yasushi Nakanishi's biggest hit song, released in 1992
33	I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN		DEEN’s debut single, a smash-hit love song
34	OrangeSMAP		B-side track of SMAP’s 32nd single
35	Surely somewhereTUBE		TUBE 28th single: Meeting and Parting
36	Close your eyesHirai Ken		Depicting the sense of loss for a love that has been lost
37	NEW YEAR’S EVEHamada Shogo		A gentle parting of two people who have been together for many years
38	emptyyuzu		Yuzu’s third single expresses loneliness with a harmonica
39	River of Ten Thousand MilesCHAGE and ASKA		Chage and Aska's first Top 10 hit
40	single bedSha ran Q		Sharam Q’s first million-selling song
41	Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki		A song of lingering attachment chasing a finished love
42	Hold my soulHimuro Kyosuke		Kyosuke Himuro's love songs
43	somedaySaucy Dog		A love song that portrays heartbreak and memories
44	Goodbyeofukōsu		Off Course’s pure love ballad, poignantly expressing the end of a romance
45	Rainy Amusement ParkSasuke		A ballad depicting memories of an amusement park date and a breakup
46	Hide-and-seekYuuri		A ballad that likens a breakup with a live-in partner to a game of hide-and-seek
47	lovernavy&ivory		A signature heartbreak song by navy&ivory
48	Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji		A masterpiece that depicts the premonition of parting and a man's pride
49	In that casemakaroni enpitsu		Macaroni Enpitsu’s heartbreak song
50	ELEGYShunsuke Kiyokiba		A ballad that beautifully sings of the pain of heartbreak
51	MissingKubota Toshinobu		Singing the heartache of Toshinobu Kubota’s unrequited love
52	Parting CitySuzuki Masayuki		Masayuki Suzuki’s finest ballads
53	taxiKEN MIYAKE		A poignant love song about parting at a taxi stand
54	hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake		Unchanging feelings for a loved one far away
55	Tu-tu-luSixTONES		A bittersweet love ballad by SixTONES
56	You’re not here.SixTONES		SixTONES’ heartbreak song, the pain of losing the one you love
57	Useless crossjo0ji		Jo0ji releases a heartbreak-themed song
58	the absolute worstMarushii		Marcy’s heartbreak song expresses complex emotions
59	lingering loveKitatani Ruki		Introduction to love songs for heartbroken men
60	breakup songOkazaki Taiiku		Okazaki Taiiku’s song that gives you the courage to move forward and recover from heartbreak
61	Phone NumberIwatatakanori		A bittersweet love song by Takanori Iwata
62	JōkyōYuuma		A song depicting regret and lingering feelings for a lover parted with upon moving to Tokyo
63	After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke		A timid man’s song about cherishing women
64	GLASSKawamura Ryuuichi		Ryuichi Kawamura’s first million-selling song
65	Self and others are alikesawada sorari		Release of Kuamir Sawada’s new heartbreak song
66	MetronomeYonezu Kenshi		A bittersweet love song expressed through a metronome by Kenshi Yonezu
67	deep redMy Hair is Bad		A rock song that portrays the pain and joy of love
68	Baby don’t crySandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu		A ballad portraying the end of a heartrending love
69	I won’t forget who you are now.Naoto Intiraymi		Naoto Inti Raymi love breakup gratitude
70	You’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS		FUNKY MONKEY BABYS Heartbreak Love Ballad
71	OverMr.Children		Mr.Children lingering-regret breakup song
72	loverFukuyama Masaharu		A song by Masaharu Fukuyama about the regret of a breakup