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 heart of the lovelorn (21–30)

SparkleIkuta Rira

Rira Ikuta “Sparkle” Official Music Video

SparkleIkuta Rira

Ikrta Lira’s “Sparkle” portrays a protagonist who grows through an unrequited love.

Released in 2022 as a digital-only single, it was chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s original romance show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita” (Today, I Fell in Love), Mikan arc.

Its lyrics—about using heartbreak as a springboard to move forward—combined with Ikuta’s gentle vocals, are achingly poignant.

She also performed “Sparkle” on the hugely popular YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE, where the video surpassed 9.5 million views in less than six months after its release.

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Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai

Ai Tomioka – Goodbye Bye (Music Video)

Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai

A delicate song by Ai Tomioka that sings of a love so pure it almost hurts.

The transparent vocals capture the frustrating feeling of almost closing the distance with someone, yet never quite getting there.

Even while knowing the other person has someone special, the complicated emotions of being unable to let go resonate deeply.

Released in September 2023, it captured many hearts, reaching the Top 10 on Spotify’s Viral charts in six Asian countries.

The song is memorable for its blend of English and Japanese lyrics and its catchy melodic line.

It’s a track that comforts anyone holding onto unspoken feelings for someone they love, or struggling with a love that may never come true.

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[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of bittersweet love songs that pierce the hearts of the lovelorn (31–40)

breakup songOkazaki Taiiku

Okazaki Taiiku “Heartbreak Song” Music Video

breakup songOkazaki Taiiku

This song, which portrays the pain of heartbreak and the journey back from it, gives voice to the feelings of a protagonist who has gone through a breakup as grand as a fireworks display.

It poignantly lists places filled with memories of a lover—movie theaters, amusement parks, aquariums—then depicts how they “burn down” over time.

Yet the lyrics also blend humor with a sense of strength, encouraging oneself to stop brooding and face forward.

By staying close to the listener’s heart, this track offers the courage to overcome heartbreak.

It’s a unique breakup song that never gives you time to wallow, showcasing Okazaki Taiiku’s keen eye for detail and distinctive sensibility.

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Someone who isn’t you ~Tejina~DEEP

DEEP / Anyone Who Isn’t DEEP BEST-kun ~Tejina~ (Long Ver.)

Someone who isn’t you ~Tejina~DEEP

A tearful song that compares unrequited love to a magic trick.

There’s no chance this crush will ever come true, yet once it starts, it pulls you in deeper like a trick you can’t look away from.

From a male perspective, the tight-chested imagery and emotive vocals bring tears to your eyes.

Why magic? you might wonder—but when you try doing magic, it’s surprisingly fun and addictive, isn’t it? It’s the same here: without any logic, he finds himself drawn to her.

For those who know it won’t be returned, yet can’t help but fall in love anyway.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number

back number – HAPPY BIRTHDAY (full)

HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number

From the title you might think “A birthday song?”, but this track is back number’s “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” Released in 2019 as back number’s 20th single, it also served as the theme song for the drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love.” It’s a quintessential back number piece: a bittersweet, heart-wrenching love song that captures the sorrow of a painful romance—one that’s likely to bring you to tears when you listen.

If you’re looking for a tear-jerking breakup song from a male perspective, this might be the one.

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Happinessback number

Happiness / back number (cover)

Happinessback number

The band name back number means “outdated.” It’s said to come from an episode where his girlfriend left him for a bandman, making him feel like he was the outdated one in her eyes.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder their heartbreak song Shiawase (“Happiness”) hits so hard.

Lyrics in the vein of “continuing to wish happiness for the man I broke up with” may seem cool on the surface, but they’re actually full of deep affection.

Someone’s happiness inevitably loops around to become someone else’s unhappiness—that bittersweet truth makes this a slightly aching song.

For anyone heartbroken, I hope you listen to this track, cry as much as you need, and begin to heal.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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makeupMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Makeup

makeupMy Hair is Bad

A three-piece rock band, My Hair is Bad, released the heartrending ballad “Keshō” in 2019.

Sometimes you fall in love, only to find the person you like is in love with someone else, leaving you unable to confess and ending in heartbreak.

This song is exactly about unrequited feelings—but it also suggests there may have been a physical relationship.

Being accepted only halfway like that and never becoming the most important person in the end… that’s really painful, isn’t it? For anyone who’s had a similar experience, this is a breakup song that will tighten your chest.

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