[To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard

to cry innocently; to weep with a childlike airAKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Adokenaku / Innocently Crying (Lyric Video)

This song resonates with the heart through its tenderness that tries to embrace a pure soul holding back tears, and the bittersweet ache of feelings that aren’t returned.

AKASAKI’s delicate portrayal of emotion and straightforward expression of love are deeply moving.

Released as a single in January 2025, it became a hot topic after being selected as Kiss FM KOBE’s recommended Japanese track for the month.

The intertwining of the desire to protect someone and the loneliness of unfulfilled devotion evokes empathy as an emotion many have experienced.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone striving to move forward while carrying feelings for someone dear.

More than friends, less than loversAsa

ASA – More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers [Official Music Video]

This is a song by ASA that delicately portrays honest feelings and inner conflict.

The emotions swaying on the boundary between friendship and love are so relatable that they may feel like your own experience.

Released digitally in September 2022, the track is marked by a warm, gently enveloping vocal and an emotionally rich melody line.

Because you care so much about the other person, you can’t take that step forward—this tender, aching feeling slowly seeps into your heart.

You don’t want to lose either love or friendship.

That’s why the wish to protect the relationship as it is resonates deeply with listeners.

It’s a song I especially recommend to those struggling with their feelings for someone they like, or those who’ve realized how much a close friend means to them.

I like you, please.FRUITS ZIPPER

[MV] FRUITS ZIPPER “Suki, Onegai”

A heartwarming love song that captures the pure feelings of a girl who dreams of an ideal romance, like the heroine of a drama.

It delicately portrays the shift in her emotions—from sweet bedtime fantasies each night to a love that becomes real—set to a tender melody.

Released by FRUITS ZIPPER in February 2025, the song was written as the opening theme for ABEMA’s popular dating reality show “Koisuru ♥ Shuumatsu Homestay 2025 Winter.” It’s a track that gently supports the heart of a girl swaying between ideal and reality, wishing to nurture love one step at a time.

Perfect for anyone who keeps feelings for someone they haven’t confessed to yet, or who dreams of a wonderful, drama-like romance.

Song for…HY

Song for…

Born from keyboardist and vocalist Izumi Nakasone’s real-life experience, this memorable piece wrestles with the meaning of chance encounters and the intense, conflicted feelings for another.

Included on the album “TRUNK,” its earnest vocals, delivered alongside the piano’s beautiful timbre, resonate deeply.

A self-cover version appears on the album “STORY ~HY BEST~,” radiating a timeless charm that hasn’t faded with the years.

It’s a gentle ballad that invites empathy from those who can’t express their feelings, or who must seal them away due to circumstances such as each other’s situations or an age difference.

youHY

you

A song by HY that paints a picture of aching, unrequited love.

Entrusting feelings for a beloved person to a song, yet being too awkward to express them honestly—that vulnerability is deeply moving.

Featured on the album “Street Story,” this track has been cherished by fans for years, and its raw lyrics, combined with Izumi Nakasone’s powerful yet delicate vocals, resonate with many listeners.

It’s perfect for anyone caught in the swirl of one-sided love, where joy and pain intertwine.

Highly recommended for those feeling heartache or looking for the courage to confess their feelings.

In loveHY

HY - “In Love” (Theme song for the film ‘366 Days’) Music Video

Even if you weren’t the one they chose, the fact that you loved doesn’t change… A bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment runs through this touching HY ballad.

Written as the theme song for the film “366 Days,” released in January 2025, the track is positioned as an answer song to their 2008 classic “366 Days.” It beautifully portrays emotional growth—rising from the pain of heartbreak and embracing even that experience as a cherished memory—and is also included on the album “TIME.” Set across Okinawa and Tokyo, the film unfolds a pure love story spanning 20 years, and this song superbly captures its worldview.

For those who have reached the end of a romance, or who are about to take a new step forward, this is a song that will gently give you a push.

Thinking of youKEISUKE

KEISUKE – Thinking of You (Music Video)

Set to a bittersweet yet refreshing melody, this acoustic track by KEISUKE delicately portrays the emotional swings of unrequited love.

The gentle yet powerful vocals bring to life the many feelings unique to one-sided love: quietly watching over someone while hiding your affection, the ache of being unable to confess, and the complex emotions you feel toward yourself for falling in love.

Released in November 2019, it has surpassed 5 million views on YouTube.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone caught in the midst of a tender, aching romance—overflowing with feelings yet unable to take that crucial step forward.