Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.

Love? (As if.)Hitsuji Bungaku

Love? (As if.)

“Koi Nante” by Hitsujibungaku vividly captures the pain that lingers in everyday life after a romance ends, as well as the lingering attachment to a former lover.

It’s the closing track on their EP “Zawameki,” released in February 2020, and has continued to be cherished by fans as a hidden gem.

The steady, understated beat instead highlights emotional instability, tightening the listener’s chest.

As vocalist Moeka Shiotsuka has said, she set out to write a love song, and the lyrics delicately portray those contradictory feelings—trying to accept a breakup while still harboring a faint hope.

On a night when you want to quietly reflect on the end of a love, why not listen to it alone and take it in?

Mikan HeartC&K

C&K – Mikan Heart

There’s nothing more painful than knowing your feelings won’t reach the person you love.

This is a song by the male music duo C&K, made up of CLIEVY and KEEN, released in October 2013 as their 10th single.

It’s a ballad marked by a poignant piano and deeply emotive vocals.

Centered on the theme of an “unfinished heart,” the lyrics portray longing and hurt for someone special, leaving a deep impression on listeners.

Many of us have probably had moments—on the way home from work or alone at night—when a sudden memory of someone brought us to tears.

CLIEVY’s high tone layered with KEEN’s warm voice amplifies the heartache.

The music video, featuring Haruma Miura and Naoko Watanabe, also drew attention for its dramatic depiction of the song’s worldview.

Included on the album “CK AND MORE…,” it remains a beloved classic.

It’s a must-listen for adult men who can’t cut off lingering feelings—when your head says you shouldn’t fall in love, but your heart can’t keep up.

Stay by my sideAbe Mao

Mao Abe – Stay by My Side [Official Music Video]

It was released in 2011 as Mao Abe’s seventh single.

The song was written and composed by Mao Abe, and she wrote it in her senior year of high school.

Although the romance has already ended, it’s a heartbreaking breakup song that many will relate to, with a desperate cry of “Please stay by my side…”

Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku

Kinoko Teikoku — Night of the Osmanthus

On an autumn night when the season’s presence deepens, have you ever found yourself stirred by a faint sweet scent that awakens old memories? Many people may have experienced a gentle recollection surfacing when they catch the fragrance of fragrant olive on a street corner.

This song by Kinoko Teikoku is a track from their album “Time Lapse,” released in September 2018.

The transparent vocals woven by Chiaki Sato and the nostalgic, emotional melody sink deeply into the heart.

On a quiet night spent alone, why not immerse yourself completely as you reminisce about a past love?

You are freeCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] You are free / CHAGE and ASKA

Recut from the 16th album “RED HILL,” this is CHAGE and ASKA’s 33rd single, released in November 1993.

At the time, it was featured as the commercial song for Asahi Soft Drinks’ “J.O.,” and the music video starring Hong Kong star Michelle Reis left a strong impression.

Blending urban sounds with 90s R&B and emotive choral work by 14 Karat Soul, the track is truly moving.

The lyrics, which accept a breakup by acknowledging the other person’s righteousness—a quietly adult kind of sorrow—are sure to resonate.

Because it unfolds at a relaxed tempo, you’ll want to be careful not to lag behind the rhythm, but it’s a song to sink into on a night when you want to gently soothe the pain of heartbreak.

Sentimental KissShio Reira

Reira Shio - Sentimental Kiss [Official Music Video]

This work depicts an unbreakable lingering attachment—the kind where you can’t cut off an ambiguous relationship with a former lover.

It’s a song by Rei La Ushio, released in May 2022 as her third digital single.

Chosen as background music for ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Wolf-chan Are Not to Be Deceived,” it topped Spotify’s Viral Chart and has surpassed 50 million streams worldwide.

Its gentle sound, centered on acoustic guitar and piano, embraces the complex emotions that arise as the distance between hearts and bodies grows inversely proportional.

Many listeners may find themselves relating to the experience of being unable to fully end a relationship and letting it drag on.

TIMEB’z

The rock ballad “TIME,” which is very popular among fans and often performed live, really strikes a chord with the feelings of heartbreak through its sentimental atmosphere.

In particular, the tone of the guitar in the interlude seems to paint a range of emotions and resonates deeply in the chest.

People often say that time will make you forget, but it’s not easy to switch your feelings right away, is it…? I don’t think you need to force yourself.

Sometimes it’s okay to visit places filled with memories.

It’s a song that, even as you’re gently overcome by the desire to go back, seems to reveal a new light ahead.

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