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)

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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Even if you went and became somebody’s damn girlfriendtensai bando

Genius Band / Even If You End Up Becoming Someone Else’s Girlfriend

Even if you went and became somebody’s damn girlfriendtensai bando

The Genius Band, which rose to prominence and made great strides with “Even If You End Up Someone Else’s Girlfriend,” is now resonating with a wide audience of fans.

It’s a perfect song for days when you’re thinking carefully about someone dear to you.

It portrays a delicate imagery of recalling happy days amid ‘painful longing’ and the ‘passage of time.’ The track is included on the album Ein to Stein.

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The end of lovemafumafu

It’s the End of Love / Mafumafu [Music Video (Drama ver.)]

The end of lovemafumafu

A song by Mafumafu, the popular vocalist and singer-songwriter also known from the music unit After the Rain.

It tells the story of a bittersweet love: going to a summer festival with someone you like but failing to confess your feelings for lack of courage.

Many of us have probably had a similar experience.

The lyrics are filled with delicate, realistic images that feel like memories of a fleeting school-days romance.

If you’ve ever given up on a crush at a festival, please give it a listen.

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

PrologueUru

[Official] Uru “Prologue” Premium Studio Live

PrologueUru

Sung by Uru, “Prologue” is a heartbreaking song about unknowingly searching for an unattainable love.

Released as a single in 2018, it was chosen as the theme song for TBS’s Tuesday drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Diary of a Middle School Student) and reached No.

1 on Billboard’s download chart.

The lyrics perfectly match the drama’s story, which portrays a forbidden romance between a teacher and a student.

It’s a song I’d love for students who’ve found themselves falling for a teacher—or teachers who’ve fallen for a student—to listen to.

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A love with you from nine steps apartSHIROSE from WHITE JAM

I turned the LINE message I sent to my lover directly into a song. “A Love With You, Nine Years Apart” SHIROSE from WHITE JAM [Live Video]

A love with you from nine steps apartSHIROSE from WHITE JAM

A true-story song whose lyrics came from a reply SHIROSE sent to his girlfriend, “A Love with You Nine Years Apart.” It says it’s to his girlfriend, but when you listen to the lyrics, it feels like they’re always out of sync—like unrequited love even though they’re together.

The course of their romance is very heartrending, yet it’s a song that can move you to tears with his warm affection.

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