Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.
It seems that when you’re feeling down, listening to somber songs rather than forcing yourself to listen to upbeat ones is actually better for your heart.
This time, we’ve put together a collection of Japanese breakup songs to send to you, who are hurting from heartbreak.
Let yourself fully relate to the songs you connect with, and clear your mind.
- A breakup song with great lyrics. A beautiful message that lingers in the heart.
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Timeless masterpieces of aching breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks (21–30)
OrangeSMAP
It was released in 2000 as the coupling track to SMAP’s 32nd single, “Lion Heart.” Despite being a B-side, it has been widely embraced across generations as a classic heartbreak song and frequently ranks high on karaoke charts.
It’s a masterpiece where the orange hue of the sunset perfectly matches the poignancy of lost love.
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
This song was written as the theme for the drama “Eye Love You” starring Fumi Nikaido, and it’s performed by the piano rock band Omoinotake.
Its theme is steadfast love that never fades, no matter how far apart you are—even transcending time.
While the bright, exhilarating sound makes your heart dance, the lyrics portray a poignant longing for someone you may never meet again, and that contrast really hits home.
After its release in February 2024, the song captured so many hearts that it surpassed 100 million streams at the sixth-fastest pace in history.
When you can’t easily see someone important to you, this song is sure to gently stay by your side.
Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks (31–40)
rendezvousshaitoopu
The rock band Shytone, which rose to prominence after a viral hit on social media, released a signature track in April 2023 that sings of a man’s searing emotions after a breakup.
Unable to accept parting from someone he loved deeply, he longs for an impossible reunion; the loneliness of his lover’s traces fading from everyday life is expressed through vocalist So Sasaki’s superb word choices—so moving you might be brought to tears.
The song is also known for surpassing 100 million total streams in November 2023 and is included on the album “Hors d’œuvre.” Why not entrust your heart to its somehow comforting melody that stirs up those bittersweet feelings?
Please forget it.Yorushika
A song by Yorushika whose gentle melody and soul-soothing vocals evoke a sense of nostalgia.
The theme centers on self-sacrificial love, as the narrator wishes for their beloved to “forget” them for the sake of the beloved’s future.
Yet behind those words seems to lie a desperate, contradictory feeling of “I actually don’t want you to forget,” and that tension tightens the listener’s chest.
Released in July 2024 as the theme song for the drama “GO HOME: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department—Unidentified Persons Consultation Office,” this sentimental number quietly stays by your side on nights when you’re nursing heartbreak or immersing yourself in memories of someone dear.
Cold fireworksKami ga nokoshita yume o kuu.
This song is a heartbreaking breakup ballad that overlays the dazzling burst of fireworks with a love coming to an end.
Though they stand side by side, their hearts no longer connect.
That frustrating relationship is portrayed against the backdrop of a late summer night.
The emotional vocals convey the painfully raw feeling of wanting to cling to memories while knowing there’s no going back.
It resonates deeply with anyone carrying an unforgettable love.
You’re not here.SixTONES
A SixTONES track that candidly portrays the pain of heartbreak.
In the protagonist, who repeats the same ordinary mornings, you catch a glimpse of the emptiness that follows a breakup.
The earnest line, “If I had you, I wouldn’t need anything else,” really pierces the heart.
Included on the album THE VIBES, the song was released in January 2024.
The music video was created by animator Emumero and illustrator Pikata.
It’s a song that offers comfort to those whose heartbreak hasn’t healed and who feel the loneliness of losing someone precious.
JELLYNumber_i
A Number_i track that likens tender, fragile feelings of love to jelly.
Produced by member Yuta Jinguji, it delicately captures the wistfulness of late summer.
The lyrics ask, “What would the jelly filled with my feelings for you taste like?”—a question that conveys the fear that this love might one day melt away and disappear, tightening the listener’s chest.
Included on their debut album No.I, released in September 2024.