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 (31–40)

I don’t want to see you; I want to see you.Ueno Yūka

Yuka Ueno “Don’t Want to See You, Want to See You” Music Video

I don’t want to see you; I want to see you.Ueno Yūka

A ballad by Yuuka Ueno that sets painfully bittersweet scenes of heartbreak—so vivid they make your chest ache just remembering—against a simple, piano-led melody.

Six months after the breakup, the protagonist’s heart is still tangled in conflicting emotions born from being unable to forget their former lover: aching to see them, yet not wanting to.

Included on the January 2019 album “Sukina Hito wa Anata datta” (“You Were the One I Loved”), this song is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has gone through a breakup and still hasn’t sorted out their feelings.

When they suddenly come to mind in a quiet moment, why not listen to this track and face your true feelings?

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two peopleaiko

aiko - “Futari” music video

two peopleaiko

I know we’ll never end up feeling the same way about each other, but this song captures that hazy, restless heart.

Aiko is known for her love songs from a woman’s perspective, but this one is on the darker side among them.

She isn’t all that deeply involved with the person she’s crushing on.

That’s precisely why she senses that if she falls any deeper, there’ll be no turning back—she won’t be able to give up.

Still, while keeping her feelings hidden, she feels uneasy watching him have a crush on another woman.

It beautifully portrays the complexities of love.

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After a broken heartCHIHIRO

CHIHIRO – After a Broken Heart (Official MV)

After a broken heartCHIHIRO

A song about the feelings right after a heartbreak.

Why did I have to be the one to get my heart broken? Even if I can’t accept it, I have to face reality.

But my head is still full of the person I love, and there’s no way I can forget them anytime soon.

It captures the sadness, the pain, and the exhaustion of unrequited love not coming true.

The straightforward, down-to-earth wording invites empathy.

With a 100% tear-jerking, heartrending atmosphere, just listening to it makes your chest feel tight.

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fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi

DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu 'Uchiage Hanabi' MUSIC VIDEO

fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi

A song that portrays the bittersweet love of teenagers from both a boy’s and a girl’s perspective.

At a fireworks festival, they try to confess to their crush, but it doesn’t go well.

They want to ask someone out during summer break, but can’t bring themselves to do it.

School-age romance is full of bittersweet memories.

The lyrics depict the fireworks beautifully, and anyone who had an unrequited love in their teens will feel a pang of longing.

Feelings for someone you used to like, along with the summer scenes of that time, are expressed in fresh, vivid language.

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I loved (it/you)erica

erica – “I Loved You” Full PV

I loved (it/you)erica

It’s a song about the day of a heartbreak—very sad, yet overflowing with love.

Parting with someone you truly loved can be so painful that you feel hopeless, as if you can’t go on.

But the protagonist in the lyrics doesn’t let their heart break; instead, they declare that they’ll wish the other person happiness and keep moving forward themselves.

It’s a song that will give you a gentle push when you’ve been heartbroken but want to stay positive!

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[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of heartrending love songs that pierce the hearts of those with unrequited love (41–50)

So it wasn’t me, huh.riria.

riria. / So it wasn’t me. [Music Video]

So it wasn’t me, huh.riria.

This is an unrequited-love song by singer-songwriter Riria, who rose to popularity with self-accompanied performance videos on TikTok and YouTube.

Its quiet sound, centered on piano and acoustic guitar, and vocals that feel like murmured expressions of sorrow leave a strong impression.

Said to be based on real experiences, the song straightforwardly conveys the pain of a broken heart, communicating a sense of emotional instability.

It portrays the anguish of having raw, unsettled feelings—anger, sadness, and more—that surge in the aftermath of a breakup hurled at you just as they are.

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You and the slopesSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “You and the Slopes”

You and the slopesSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO’s song “Kimi to Gelände.” Because it has a very pop sound, you might think, “Is this really a heartbreak song?” but listen closely.

It’s a painfully poignant breakup song that makes your chest ache—far more than the upbeat tune would suggest! It’s a group outing you’d been looking forward to with the person you like.

But while you’re having fun, you suddenly realize there’s another girl at the end of their gaze… Please give this pop yet tear-jerking heartbreak song a listen.

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