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

BLUE TEARSJUDY AND MARY

Judy and Mary – Blue Tears

This song by JUDY AND MARY beautifully captures the cold winter night sky and the ache of unrequited love.

Released in November 1993, it conveys a world where distant memories and lingering feelings intersect, carried by delicate melodies.

収録アルバム『J・A・M』に含まれ、その後2006年の映画『シムソンズ』の主題歌に選ばれました。1996年からはフジテレビのバラエティ番組『めちゃ×2イケてるッ！』のエンディングテーマとしても使用されました。寒い夜をひとりで過ごすときも、胸に秘めた想いに向き合うときも、この曲はきっとあなたのそばにいてくれるでしょう。

ElegyHirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Elegy” MUSIC VIDEO

This is a masterpiece whose poignant love story, told from a woman’s perspective, resonates in the rich vocals of Ken Hirai.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a woman consumed by love, expressing the intense emotions of fixation on her partner and a fierce willingness to embrace even the pain of love.

Released in January 2007 as the theme song for Toho’s film Love’s Crucible, it was also included on the album FAKIN’ POP and performed at the 58th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

In 2021, it was covered by Fuyumi Sakamoto on her album Love Emotion, continuing to influence many artists.

It’s a song to listen to on nights after heartbreak or when you’re suffering from thoughts of someone you love.

dear personShio Reira

Leila Shio / Ito Shii Hito [Official Music Video]

This song focuses on the different readings of the kanji for “love,” portraying the misalignments in how love is expressed and received.

Released in August 2024 as the lead track of the 1st EP “No one,” it also drew attention for being featured as background music on ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Little Wolf-chan Won’t Deceive You.” If you’ve ever struggled with the weight of the word “love” or felt unsure about how to interpret someone’s feelings, you’ll find it impossible not to relate.

You can really feel the kindness of someone trying to accept their partner’s clumsy way of showing love.

flower fortune-tellingShimizu Miisa

MIISA Shimizu – Hanauarai (Flower Fortune-telling)

This unrequited-love song delicately portrays a fleeting crush with a clear, translucent vocal tone.

Released in April 2025 as the opening theme for the drama “Kiri-o Fan Club,” it features Miisha Shimizu’s expressively rich vocals in perfect harmony with the heartrending melody line.

The sound arrangement, infused with elements of funk music, is also striking.

It’s a song that stays close to the pains and anxieties of love, so give it a listen when you’re struggling with those feelings.

passing by each otherSoala

Soala – Passing Each Other [Official Music Video]

A heartrending love song by Soala that delicately portrays the clumsy emotions of falling in love.

It beautifully captures the fragile moment of parting born from the inability to be honest with the one you love.

Many will relate to the protagonist, who regrets their actions even as they recognize their excessive possessiveness and self-centered behavior.

Released in July 2023, the song drew attention with its airy vocals and comfortable R&B vibe, racking up 20 million streams in just six months.

The warm voice that seems to wrap around a troubled heart and the down-to-earth lyrics truly resonate.

It’s a recommended track for anyone who has ever caused distance by caring too much, or who is struggling with their relationship with a beloved partner.

impure loveDomura Riu

Riu Domura – Impure Love (NEOWN: THE GOLDEN Performance Video)

A gem of a love song by Riu Domura that powerfully conveys the pain and poignancy of a love you can’t tell anyone about.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a woman who, despite having been with the one she loves, ends up feeling even more alone.

Depicting the struggle of a woman who suffers in a convenient relationship yet cannot cut off her feelings for the other person, the track was released in January 2024, later included on the album “Irregular Diary,” and has become a fan favorite performed live.

It’s a song we especially recommend to those who have been hurt by love or are currently tormented by an unrequited relationship.

So she’s not your girlfriend, huh?Ueno Yūka

Yuhka Ueno “I’m Not Your Girlfriend, Right?” Music Video

A poignant breakup ballad by Yuuka Ueno that portrays the final moments of a couple who have decided to part and arranged to meet one last time.

Crafted by Yohei Hashiguchi of wacci, this song is included on the mini-album “Konya Atashi ga Naite mo,” released in March 2020.

With great care, it traces the feelings of a woman who holds dear memories close to her heart as she tries to accept reality, conveying both the loneliness of no longer being able to be with the one she loved and her resolve to face forward even while lingering attachments remain.

Ueno’s gentle vocals and the warm melody quietly encourage those who, while confronting the pain of farewell, are ready to take a new step forward.