Tear-jerking unrequited love songs that will break your heart: timeless classics about unattainable love

Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri

Say goodbye to clinging love. / Matsuri (Good bye, toxic love) [Official Music Video]

This is a song by Matsuri that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman breaking free from a past dependence on love and trying to take a new step forward.

Released digitally in June 2022, it features striking lyrics about the struggle between telling herself she’s forgotten her former partner and the bittersweet memories that occasionally resurface.

The track gained popularity on TikTok and resonated with younger listeners, and a music video starring Yuu Miyazaki was also produced.

It’s a warm breakup song that offers comfort to those trying to face forward despite heartache and to those who still feel lingering attachment to past love.

sparklingmosao.

Kira Kira / Mosawo. [Music Video]

This is a love song that leaves a strong impression with Mosawo’s sweet vocals and lyrics that delicately express the feelings of being in love.

Released digitally in September 2020, the track gained major support among younger listeners, especially on social media.

The song expresses feelings for a crush as “sparkling,” portraying the beloved as someone who shines like a jewel—an image many listeners relate to.

It beautifully captures both the ache of not being able to honestly convey your feelings and the joy of being in love, making it a perfect song for high school students experiencing unrequited love.

Why not listen to it while thinking of the person you like?

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.

the depths of the heartrokudenashi

Rokudenashi “In the Depths of the Heart” / Rokudenashi – Deep Down [Official Music Video]

A bittersweet love ballad by Rokudenashi that resonates deeply.

It weaves delicate words about the loneliness that comes at dusk and the urgent feelings hidden behind a smile.

While yearning to be loved, the wavering heart that hesitates to face its true feelings seeps in along with gentle piano melodies.

Released in February 2025 as the lead track from the album “Sigh,” this song reaches out to those who, even while carrying wounded, unsettled hearts, try to look ahead with cherished memories held close.

waiting in vainrokudenashi

Rokudenashi “Left Waiting” / Rokudenashi – Stood Me Up [Official Music Video]

This is a work by Rokudenashi, who began activities in 2021, delicately depicting the emotions of unrequited love.

The subtle shifts of a heart that can’t quite face the other person’s kindness, and the loneliness of being able only to watch them talk with someone else, leave a strong impression.

The vocals woven by Ninjin carry a warmth that feels like it gently heats the heart on a quiet winter night.

Written and composed by Hifumi, the song was released as a single in October 2021.

It’s a track that stands beside those troubled by love, offering empathy and comfort.

For anyone who holds a painful feeling they can’t confess to anyone—their love for someone dear—this song is meant for you.

JealousyTomioka Ai

Ai Tomioka – Jealousy (Music Video)

Ami Tomioka’s song, which portrays a woman suffering from unrequited love, vividly reflects the feelings of people living in the age of social media.

Wrapped in a refreshing sound, the delicate emotions of lacking confidence despite having someone you like and comparing yourself to other women are rendered into a work that delivers empathy and comfort.

Released in July 2024, the track candidly expresses raw emotions in love—such as jealousy and inferiority—interwoven with her own experiences.

The protagonist’s heart, swaying between façade and true feelings, is sure to resonate deeply with anyone in unrequited love.

It’s a song that gently embraces the complex emotion we all know: “I want to know how they feel, but I don’t have the courage to find out.”

I want you to tell me you love me.Oku Hanako

Hanako Oku – I Want You to Say You Love Me (Live ’08)

This is a song by Hanako Oku, one of the queens of unrequited love songs from the Heisei era.

Precisely because it’s a single‑minded crush, the other person’s kindness feels painful, cruel, and agonizing.

It’s packed with the wish to stay by their side even if it means lying and just being friends, yet still wanting them to at least turn around and notice me a little.