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

You don’t listen to rock.aimyon

Aimyon – You Don’t Listen to Rock [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A signature song by Aimyon that blends the sweet tang and faint bitterness of youth, gripping listeners’ hearts and never letting go.

Released in August 2017 as her third single, this track portrays a clumsy crush: trying to convey one’s feelings to someone who isn’t into rock through a beloved record.

Many will likely see their younger selves in the earnest “I,” wishing to close even a little of the distance.

Upon release, it earned power-play rotation at 42 radio stations nationwide, catapulting her recognition.

When you’re wrestling with the frustration of unrequited love, why not listen to this song for a dose of courage?

Vanillakyanai

Kyannai – Vanilla [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Singer-songwriter Kyanai, who gained attention through street performances and social media posts.

Released in March 2022, this piece is a captivating track featuring a lingering piano melody and a sweet singing voice.

At first glance it seems like a happy love song, but in fact it carries feelings for a lover they can no longer meet.

That deep narrative quality captured the hearts of many listeners, earning it the top spot on Billboard JAPAN’s 2022 “Heatseekers Songs.” The delicate world depicted in the music video further enhances the song’s poignancy.

It’s a companion not only for joyful moments spent with someone dear, but also for quiet nights when you want to think of someone alone.

PrologueUru

"Prologue" FULL ver.

A poignant ballad that portrays a love so strong it slips beyond one’s control—leaving you wondering how you could ever fall this hard.

Even knowing it’s hopeless, your eyes still follow the one you love; those wavering emotions surge through your chest alongside Uru’s crystal-clear voice.

Released as a single in December 2018, the song was chosen as the theme for the drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Middle Schooler’s Diary), starring Kasumi Arimura.

It resonates with the story’s depiction of a forbidden relationship between teacher and student, and many likely found themselves in tears whenever it played at the drama’s climactic moments.

It was later included on the acclaimed album “Orion Blue.” For anyone spending nights on the verge of breaking, burdened by feelings that defy reason, this song will quietly stay by your side.

Last Love Lettermoon drop

moon drop [Last Love Letter] Music Video

From an intro that bursts with the sweet tang of youth and sets your heart dancing, this is the quintessential popular number by moon drop.

Many listeners are sure to feel their chests tighten at the lyrics’ worldview, where the frustration of unrequited love and unspoken feelings intersect.

The track is included on their first full-length album, “Kono Tenohira ga Mada Kimi o Oboete Iru,” released in January 2022.

It was also used as a CM song for Honda Cars, broadcast across seven prefectures in the Chubu region, including Aichi and Mie, so plenty of people have likely heard its refreshing melody on TV.

This song sets indecisive feelings toward someone you love and a premonition of love’s end to an easygoing beat.

It’s perfect not only for students swaying with tender crushes, but also for anyone who wants to bask in bittersweet memories from the past.

Heroineback number

back number “Heroine” Music Video

Back Number, hugely popular among young people for their relatable lyrics.

This is one of their many unrequited love songs.

Since it was also used in a commercial, some of you may have heard it.

A love song where the slightly timid “I,” while feeling restless, thinks of you with unwavering sincerity.

Faint fragrancePerfume

[Official Music Video] Perfume “A Faint Scent”

It’s a cute song that captures the fluttery feeling of a one-sided crush.

Their music is charming for its pure, transparent vocals, and this track brings out the best of the trio’s appeal, packing in the joy and beauty of unrequited love by likening romance to a fragrance.

A world without youto shiki

A world without you

This is a work by Toshiki, a singer-songwriter from Hyogo Prefecture, singing about overflowing feelings for someone precious who has disappeared from right before your eyes.

Released in August 2022, the song spread on social media after a post sparked buzz as a “heart-wrenchingly divine track,” inspiring over 4,000 fan-made videos.

It depicts the painful realization, only after losing them, that the ordinary days spent with someone you can no longer meet were the true happiness.

Perhaps everyone has experienced the torment of secretly holding on to love—still being in love even after a breakup.

A masterful ballad sung from a male perspective that gently embraces such sentimental feelings.

Please take your time and listen closely to his warm yet heartrending voice.