[J-Pop] A Collection of Unrequited Love Songs That Stay Close to Your Heart

Unrequited lovemiwa

miwa 'Unrequited Love'

With a relaxed tempo, this unrequited love song conveys an overwhelming sense of sorrow, singing of the pain and sadness of harboring feelings for someone whose love will never be returned.

Though love is supposed to be free, it expresses the doubt of whether one is even allowed to fall for that person.

I’m really sorry.≠ME

≠ME (Not Equal Me) / 9th Single c/w “Gomen, Majide” [MV full]

This song beautifully captures the ache of unrequited love.

The lyrics convey the struggle of staying just friends while being unable to confess your feelings.

Even knowing they’re drawn to someone else, you can’t hold back your own emotions—the complexity of that inner turmoil hits close to home.

Included on ≠ME’s ninth single, “Because Summer Has Come,” this track feels like peeking into a lovestruck girl’s diary.

It’s perfect for anyone stuck between friends and lovers or gathering the courage to confess.

Give it a listen—and take the leap to tell them how you feel!

Love is hard.riria.

riria. / Love Is Difficult. feat. Aru. from Miteinohanashi [Music Video]

This song gently accompanies the start of love, portraying the bittersweet feelings within.

It interweaves the perspective of a girl who struggles because she can’t read the other person’s feelings and a boy who can’t quite express his own, vividly capturing the miscommunications of romance.

Riria’s clear, translucent voice and Aru.’s gentle vocals match exquisitely, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released digitally in November 2023, it sparked a big response, especially on social media.

It’s a must-listen for high school students wrestling with love.

If you listen while thinking of someone you like, you’re sure to find moments you can relate to.

MissingKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – Missing [Official Video]

It’s a heartrending love song that expresses the painful feelings of a man with unrequited love.

Kubota’s overwhelming vocal ability and his gentle, sweet voice make the longing even more poignant.

Listening to this song can make you feel sad, yet it also makes you really want to cheer him on.

And if you’re in the middle of a one-sided love yourself, it ultimately becomes a song that can encourage you.

It makes you wonder why love doesn’t go the way we want, and why it can’t be this person.

No matter how many times I listen, it resonates in my heart—an all-time masterpiece among masterpieces.

profile (side view of a face)Ohnuki Taeko

Taeko Onuki / Profile (live 2009)

Taeko Onuki’s song, which portrays the quiet feelings of a teenage girl who secretly nurses a crush on a classmate so ordinary she can’t even remember his name, has something universal that could make it a standard.

Just breathing the same air is enough to make you happy—that’s love, too, isn’t it?

Unrequited loveOku Hanako

Oku Hanako – Unrequited Love

A smash-hit ballad by Okudaka Hana, an artist whose warm, unforgettable vocals and distinctive musical worldview are loved across generations.

This classic beautifully captures the bittersweet feelings unique to unrequited love—the simple longing to be with the person you adore.

Love StoryAmuro Namie

Love Story – Namie Amuro (Full)

This is a song by Namie Amuro that was the theme for a Monday 9 p.m.

drama.

For people who watched the show, the lyrics link with the drama’s worldview, so it really brings the scenes back to life.

The story in the song is painful: walking a different path from the one you love means you can’t be together, and even though you’ve managed to get what you wanted, the one thing you can’t have is “you.” I think many career-driven or ambitious women have faced the choice between love and their dreams, so it’s very relatable.

It’s a great song to listen to when you’ve fallen for someone who feels out of your league, or when you love each other but still can’t be together.