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