Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation

Heartbreak songs have always stirred our emotions with their bittersweet ache.

Even in today’s world, where young people are said to be drifting away from romance, the pain of a broken heart remains the same.

Here, we’ve picked out a selection of breakup songs from the J-POP scene that we especially recommend to the yutori generation.

From universally known stars to the new wave of artists, we’ve gathered a wide range of hit tracks—give them a listen!

Playlist

Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Happy Endingback number		back number's heartbreak songs
2	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		Higedan-dism's heartbreak ballad
3	MetronomeYonezu Kenshi		An emotional song by Kenshi Yonezu themed around heartbreak
4	366 daysHY		HY's representative heartbreak song
5	tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa		A song that portrays the pain of heartbreak and contradictory emotions
6	CharlesSuda Keina		A popular song that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak
7	Song of LoveKōda Kumi		Kumi Koda’s 37th single
8	HANABI 〜episode II〜Hamasaki Ayumi		The poignant ache of a fleeting love, like fireworks
9	DOLLSJanne Da Arc		Janne Da Arc’s heartbreak song
10	I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana		Kana Nishino’s heartbreak song
11	KanadeSukima Suichi		A breakup song that is one of Sukima Switch’s signature tracks
12	Love PhotosOtsuka Ai		Ai Otsuka’s heartbreak song chosen as a movie theme song
13	Blue BenchSasuke		Sasuke’s heartbreak song becomes an unusual hit through word of mouth
14	Bad personyangusukinii		An emotional song that depicts women's true feelings
15	asking for the moonKANA-BOON		KANA-BOON’s debut song that expresses heartbreak in a pop way
16	Fall in love with me againYUTORI-SEDAI		A heartfelt song that portrays lingering attachment and bittersweet feelings
17	Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā		A heartbreak song by Golden Bomber
18	The taste of loveneguse.		A heartwarming song that looks back on past love
19	LAST NOTEWashio Reina		A song of the heart that accepts the past and walks facing forward
20	one grainwacci		A poignant ballad depicting heartbreak, tears, and emotions
21	Counting YouBoA & Tohoshinki		A poignant love ballad by a Korean artist
22	Stars are falling.Senchimirimentaru		A heartbreaking winter ballad that sings of unrequited love
23	Final scene.eill		Overcoming the pain of parting, eill is richly expressive
24	Passing smiles, a goodbye kissA.B.C-Z		A poignant love song by LEGO BIG MORL
25	Even though she won’t be my girlfriend anymorewacci		Deep empathy and deep emotion with wacci’s breakup song
26	catDISH//		Aimyon “Hadaka no Kokoro” — moving and heartrending
27	Pink Strawberry Chocolate FridayNumber_i		Bittersweet memories and scenes of a past love
28	cream sodaoishikuru meronpan		Melon Pan 10th Anniversary, a song of bittersweet memories
29	It’s not a lie.Mrs. GREEN APPLE		A ballad that delicately portrays the inner turmoil of love
30	maybeYOASOBI		A song that portrays the complex emotions of a morning of parting
31	I don’t want to see you; I want to see you.Ueno Yūka		Express the bittersweet emotions of heartbreak through a piano ballad
32	JELLYNumber_i		A song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of love at the end of summer
33	tear(s)Marushii		Bittersweet memories of heartbreak at summer’s end
34	I saw you.≠ME		A bittersweet summer crush, a song that resonates in the heart of youth
35	casual speechpirafu seijin		Heart-touching breakup songs popular among Gen Z
36	Close your eyesHirai Ken		Depicting the sense of loss for a love that has been lost
37	GoodbyeNishino Kana		A bittersweet love song about choosing to break up after growing apart
38	Like the beginningRen		Singing of the end of a relationship and the bewilderment toward kindness
39	Ikebukuro SunshineWHITE JAM		A bittersweet love painted in Ikebukuro, a song of emotions that stir the heart
40	Sakura GirlNEWS		Expressing the bittersweetness of spring love through cherry blossoms
41	My love was overflowing.mosao.		Mosawo’s heartbreak song draws empathy on social media
42	You’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS		A ballad about the pain of heartbreak
43	planetariumOtsuka Ai		A ballad imbued with the bittersweetness of love under the starry sky
44	freesiaMarushii		Marcy’s heartbreak song, the pain of a breakup
45	Lovers AgainEXILE		EXILE’s mature romantic ballad
46	LonelyNulbarich		A heartrending love song that portrays loneliness and farewell
47	contact lens caseSaucy Dog		Gently tucking away the pain of heartbreak in my heart
48	Winter and Springback number		A song by back number about getting over a broken heart
49	Yorunagi feat. nishinaindigo la End		indigo la End’s new song expresses the silence of a winter night through sound
50	I want to forget.wacci		Wacci’s heartbreak song, a memory that won’t fade and lingers in the heart
51	springKaneyori Masaru		Delicately portraying the end of the seasons and of love
52	In that casemakaroni enpitsu		Macaroni Enpitsu’s heartbreak song
53	LiarUeto Aya		A song that delicately expresses the complex emotions after a heartbreak