A wonderful heartbreak song

[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of poignant love songs that pierce the heart of those with unrequited love

Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

A bittersweet crush that makes your chest tighten.

But have you ever had a moment when you suddenly realized that your feelings would never come true?

Like when the person you like asks you for love advice and your heartbreak is sealed, or when you and a friend fall for the same person and you can’t bring yourself to confess—things like that.

Unrequited love can end for many reasons besides confessing and being rejected.

In this article, we’ve gathered “unrequited love heartbreak songs” for those who can’t forget the one they love and feel pangs of regret whenever they remember.

May you find a song that gently stays by your aching heart.

[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of bittersweet love songs that pierce the hearts of the lovelorn (81–90)

First loveTowa

[Drum Cover] First Love / TOWA – Tried Drumming by Hiro [HILO]

First loveTowa

This is a bittersweet love song written and composed by DIA, who works as a creator.

It portrays someone gently tucking away a past love in their heart as they remember the time spent with the person they cared for and try to move forward.

Towa’s tender, soothing vocals wrap around you, offering comfort to anyone who’s been through a similar experience.

It’s a perfect song for when you’ve just gone through a breakup and need a good cry, or when you don’t want to forget but are ready to turn that love into a memory.

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dear personShio Reira

Leila Shio / Ito Shii Hito [Official Music Video]

dear personShio Reira

This song focuses on the different readings of the kanji for “love,” portraying the misalignments in how love is expressed and received.

Released in August 2024 as the lead track of the 1st EP “No one,” it also drew attention for being featured as background music on ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Little Wolf-chan Won’t Deceive You.” If you’ve ever struggled with the weight of the word “love” or felt unsure about how to interpret someone’s feelings, you’ll find it impossible not to relate.

You can really feel the kindness of someone trying to accept their partner’s clumsy way of showing love.

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Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai

God Does Not Play Dice “Yoru-Naga Uta” [Official Lyric Video]

Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai

‘Yona Uta’ is a song that portrays the aching feeling of shedding tears whenever you recall an unforgettable love.

The melody alone can move you to tears, but the lyrics—expressing the longing to touch the person you love once more—are truly painful and heartrending.

There are many ways to interpret how the lovers part, so it will likely resonate with many people currently experiencing unrequited love.

Although it’s a heartbreak song because it suggests you can no longer meet the one you love, it’s also a track I recommend to anyone who can’t give up on their feelings.

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First loveNakajima Mika

Mika Nakashima “First Love” Music Video

First loveNakajima Mika

It’s a love song by Mika Nakashima with a calm atmosphere.

It was also used as the theme song for the film “Love for Beginners.” Starting with a gentle, piano-centered feel, the arrangement unfolds and, with the addition of strings, seems to express a swell of emotion.

While it depicts feelings that never came true, it also conveys a positive resolve to move forward into the future with those feelings in one’s heart.

It’s an uplifting breakup song that suggests how painful experiences can become the strength to keep going.

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catDISH//

DISH// – Cat [Official Live Video 2019]

catDISH//

A poignant, ephemeral farewell captured in DISH//’s gem of a medium-tempo ballad.

It overlays the unexpected loss of a lover with the image of a “cat,” expressing lingering attachment to a love that’s gone and a wish to meet again.

The yearning for a lover who vanished as suddenly as a whimsical, free-spirited cat, and the heartfelt desire to reunite in any form, strikes a chord.

In March 2020, vocalist Takumi Kitamura’s one-take acoustic performance sparked major buzz, and the song was later chosen as a TV drama theme the same year.

Crafted by singer-songwriter Aimyon, the melodic track gently supports those facing the pain of parting while trying to look ahead, delivering a warm light to the heart.

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I wonder if I’d still say it’s too late.Saucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Would I Say It’s Too Late Now?” Music Video <4th Mini Album “Take Me” Released on 2020.9.2>

I wonder if I’d still say it’s too late.Saucy Dog

This song by the three-piece band Saucy Dog can be heard either as a man’s heartbreak after being dumped or as lingering regrets after doing the dumping.

The feelings of noticing how an ex changes, wondering about the person they’re dating now, and secretly hoping you might get back together are emotions anyone who’s experienced heartbreak has probably felt.

If trying your hardest to forget only makes your mind even more consumed by that person, then, like in this song, maybe letting yourself fully soak in those lingering feelings could be what helps you finally take the next step.

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[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of bittersweet love songs that pierce the heart of the unrequited (91–100)

Unrequited loveOku Hanako

Oku Hanako – Unrequited Love

Unrequited loveOku Hanako

Even if the other person’s feelings aren’t directed toward me, I’m happy just to be by their side.

That emotion comes through in Hanako Oku’s “Kataomoi” (“Unrequited Love”).

The song is included on the album “vol.best,” released in 2005 during her indie days.

Sung with self-accompaniment on a digital-sounding piano, Oku’s voice carries a tender yet heartrending atmosphere, and the lyrics—devotedly thinking of someone despite an unattainable love—evoke the image of a strong woman.

It’s a song I especially want those currently in unrequited love to hear.

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