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

Have you ever had a night when your chest tightens with the weight of feelings that can’t reach the one you love? The power of bittersweet unrequited love songs is that they gently speak the words you can’t say.

The more you think about the person you like, the more the ache grows—and even knowing the love won’t come true, you still can’t stop your feelings.

Finding a song that stays close to such a wavering heart can quietly give you a push after the tears.

In this article, we’ll introduce a wealth of gems that portray the pain of unrequited love with unflinching honesty.

We hope you’ll find the one song that resonates perfectly with how you feel right now.

Playlist

Tear-jerking unrequited love songs that will break your heart: timeless classics about unattainable love
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA		A song about unconfessed feelings of love
2	Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number		Unrequited love song by back number
3	Because I fell in loveaimyon		Aimyon's ballads empathize with the pain of heartbreak
4	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		The earnest feelings of an unrequited love by Official HIGE DANDism
5	366 daysHY		A poignant ballad by HY that portrays a love that won’t fade even after a breakup
6	cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS		Introduce RADWIMPS' love songs
7	Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi		Kenshi Yonezu’s heartrending yet warm love song
8	Mikan HeartC&K		The wavering emotions of an unrequited love
9	A Naked Heartaimyon		Aimer’s romantic ballad song
10	two peopleaiko		The bittersweet pain of unrequited love in aiko’s classic song
11	One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi		Masayoshi Yamazaki’s bittersweet love song
12	SparkleIkuta Rira		A song about overcoming the pain of heartbreak and moving toward the future
13	NAOHY		A poignant song themed around HY’s unrequited love
14	The town where you liveShimizu Shota		A poignant song seeking the shadow of a lost love
15	A world without youto shiki		A poignant masterpiece that sings of feelings for a loved one
16	usmilet		The conflict between the courage to express one’s feelings and the anxiety that holds one back
17	Dried flowersYuuri		Yuuri’s signature song that portrays feelings for someone you’ve parted ways with
18	PrologueUru		A poignant ballad that portrays an unattainable love
19	I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci		A popular song that depicts complex romantic feelings
20	ContrastTOMOO		A love song that portrays the feelings of unrequited love
21	My name is Unrequited Loveindigo la End		A heart-stirring song about a bittersweet unrequited love for someone of the same sex.
22	MissingKubota Toshinobu		A classic song that sings of the heartache of unrequited love
23	Summer SkyFaulieu.		Expressing youthful love in a wistful rock style
24	Specter feat. HACHIMIMiNARI		A Chinese-style singing voice that envelops a girl's faint first love
25	I want to forget.wacci		A breakup song I want to forget became a smash hit
26	premonitionMy Hair is Bad		A bittersweet longing for someone who already has a partner
27	codependencyDomura Riu		A song that portrays the loneliness and anguish of an unhealthy love
28	raspberryMarushii		A heart-stirring song that portrays the struggle of unrequited love
29	I knew it—I love you.yashiki takajin		I love Takajin Yashiki — a Kansai hit
30	When I realized it, I was in unrequited love.Nogizaka 46		Nogizaka46’s mature charm and classic songs
31	Because I like you.Yuika		High school girl singer’s song “Because I Like You” becomes a huge hit across Asia
32	That line is the horizon.kururi		Quruli’s uniquely one-sided love song
33	The strong and fleeting onesCocco		A song about a heartrending love facing the betrayal of a beloved
34	I My MocoMinase Inori		Inori Minase 4th Single
35	Mutual loveaiko		Aiko’s heart-touching song that depicts the feelings of love
36	You said the moon is beautiful.berry meet		A song that portrays the winter night sky and the bittersweetness of love
37	swallowtail butterflyPorunogurafiti		Singing of the heartache of unrequited love and the yearning for love
38	YOU… feat. Izumi Nakasone (HY)Kato Miria		Hit ballads by Miliyah Kato and HY
39	wrapTENSONG		A gem-like love song that portrays a heartrending form of love between a man and a woman
40	SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA		CHAGE and ASKA's famous unrequited love song
41	Unrequited loveCrystal Kay		Crystal Kay's unrequited love song
42	Having someone you likeJY		A poignant masterpiece about unrequited love—listen for JY’s captivating vocals.
43	beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko		Aiko is a singer of women’s feelings and enjoys strong support.
44	1 2 3 ~Love Begins~ikimonogakari		Introducing popular songs by Ikimono-gakari
45	More than friends, less than loversmatsumura kanau		A song by Kanau Matsumura that expresses the feelings of unrequited love
46	Orange NotebookMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto		A live favorite performed a cappella all the way through
47	truekuriipuhaipe		An unrequited love song enchanted by the sweet singing voice of CreepHyp
48	Unrequited LoveUehara Rena		Rearranging the game’s theme song for the anime adaptation
49	100 Centimeters to YouUeda Yūji		Saotome Yoshio sings of his love for a woman
50	Witch HazelMakihara Noriyuki		A song themed around a summer romance
51	Just by you being herekome kome CLUB		Kome Kome Club’s unrequited love song becomes a big hit
52	love letterEvery Little Thing		A poignant song about unrequited love by ELT
53	I’ve fallen in love.YUTORI-SEDAI		A bittersweet rock song that portrays an unstoppable love
54	You’re unfair, you know.riria.		A winter song that poignantly sings of unrequited love
55	Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai		A delicate song that sings of Ai Tomioka’s pure feelings of love
56	to cry innocently; to weep with a childlike airAKASAKI		A song that resonates with unwavering love and aching sorrow
57	BLUE TEARSJUDY AND MARY		A poignant winter love song by JUDY AND MARY
58	ElegyHirai Ken		A masterpiece that expresses a woman's romantic feelings through Ken Hirai's singing voice
59	dear personShio Reira		Depicting a mismatch in how love is expressed
60	flower fortune-tellingShimizu Miisa		A song that delicately portrays unrequited love with a translucent, clear singing voice
61	passing by each otherSoala		A love song that delicately portrays the clumsiness of love
62	impure loveDomura Riu		A gem of a love song that sings of the pain of love
63	So she’s not your girlfriend, huh?Ueno Yūka		A heartbreak ballad portraying the final moments of lovers who have decided to part ways
64	Your happinessUru		A song that depicts Uru’s story of unrequited love
65	You let me do as I please, and yet…arekunn		Are-kun’s bittersweet love song
66	Act like an adult.suisou gurashi		Portraying the complex romantic feelings of a woman met on the last train
67	just a littleIgarashi Haru		A song that delicately weaves a fated love
68	single bedSha ran Q		A song about realizing regret and the importance of love after a breakup
69	AitaiKato Miria		A song about the pain of unrequited love
70	More than friends, less than loversAsa		The emotions ASA’s song paints at the border between love and friendship
71	youHY		A moving song that conveys HY’s bittersweet feelings of love
72	You look like an idiot.Saucy Dog		A poignant song that portrays the conflicts of love
73	Kasane AiSoala		Soala’s transparent vocals express emotion
74	Unrequited lovemiwa		A ballad that portrays the bittersweetness of unrequited love
75	seesawtuki.		A bittersweet love song expressed with a seesaw
76	I’m really sorry.≠ME		A heartrending love song that portrays the turmoil of unrequited love
77	That’s not fair…arekunn		I relate to Are-kun’s heartrending feelings of love.
78	Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri		The feelings of a woman trying to move forward and break free from the pain of heartbreak
79	sparklingmosao.		A song about Ms. Mosao’s aching love
80	Love is hard.riria.		A classic song that poignantly portrays lovers missing each other
81	the depths of the heartrokudenashi		A heartbreaking love ballad by a good-for-nothing
82	waiting in vainrokudenashi		A Useless Unrequited Love Depiction Song
83	JealousyTomioka Ai		A song that portrays the anguish of unrequited love and the landscape of the heart
84	I want you to tell me you love me.Oku Hanako		A Song of Unrequited Love’s Pain and Wish
85	P.S.Ikuta Rira		Lila Ikuta expresses unrequited love in the movie tie-in song “P.S.”
86	I wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu pan		A heartfelt cry capturing the pain of unrequited love
87	Oh, early summer rainSakurazaka46		A bittersweet love song with an early-summer rain motif takes first place
88	aloeFunatsu Mahiro		A song that gently embraces the feelings of an ambiguous love
89	Feeling in loveNishino Kana		Kana Nishino’s unrequited love song
90	a good personReina		A poignant love song of vulnerability and kindness
91	romantic feelingsB’z		B'z's unrequited love song 'Koisin'
92	confessionFUNKY MONKEY BABYS		Recommended unrequited love songs from a man's perspective
93	Future Tense AnswerTRUSTRICK		TRUSTRICK's first mini album, anime theme song
94	I want to be lovedYumcha		A song that expresses unrequited feelings with a pop sound
95	fireworksaiko		A song that likens Aiko’s feelings of love to fireworks
96	I tried falling in love with you.chay		Introduction to CHAY’s unrequited love songs
97	I acted tough.aimyon		The courage to overcome the pain of heartbreak and to challenge love once again
98	underground mallyuzu		Yuzu’s indie song
99	SunKobukuro		An up-tempo song that expresses feelings for a transfer student
100	The world calls it love.Sambomasutā		Sambomaster’s bittersweet unrequited love song
101	ONE DAYZa Rūzudoggusu		Loose Dogs love song
102	Tokimeki Part 1supittsu		Spitz’s love songs, the sorrow of unrequited love
103	“Kyun”Kanae		Kanae's single, the anime ending theme
104	Time after time ~In the town where flowers dance~Kuraki Mai		Mai Kuraki's Detective Conan theme songs
105	My nostalgiaNasu Asako		Asako Nasu’s major-label debut song
106	cherry (sweet cherry; cherry fruit)Otsuka Ai		Cherry-Pop Hits Full of Energy
107	La La LaDaikoku Maki		Maki Ohguro, a female rock singer from the 1990s
108	Baby Sweet Berry LoveOgura Yui		A love song for a girl who’s doing her best
109	Falling in LoveKobayashi Akiko		Akiko Kobayashi’s signature song “Fall in Love”
110	even ifHirai Ken		Ken Hirai’s 11th single, 360,000 copies shipped
111	Fortune Cookie in LoveHirai Ken		Ken Hirai covers an AKB48 song
112	In the Middle of a DreamKisugi Takao		A love song Takao Kisugi wrote for Hiroko Yakushimaru
113	The Same FeelingTokyo Joshi Ryu		Hanakappa Ending, Maiden’s Love Song
114	Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takako		Takako Matsu’s captivating singing and beautiful tones
115	A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu		Chiharu Matsuyama’s unrequited love song
116	http://www.co.jpHayashibara Megumi		Megumi Hayashibara love ballad song
117	Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze		A bittersweet unrequited love song by Shonan no Kaze
118	5 seconds before I fall seriously in loveTakeuchi Mariya		Mariya Takeuchi self-covers “Maji de Koi Suru 5-Byo Mae.”
119	lovesicknessMisaki Shinobu		Ending theme of the PC game “Comic Party”
120	If…～I wish～Misato Aki		A poignant, tearful song as a game’s theme song
121	I want to be your lover.Abe Mao		Abe Mao’s heartrending unrequited love song
122	Courage in the Palm of the Handtokimeki aidoringu!!!		Theme song of a PSP game, written and composed by Ai Kawashima
123	Lace cardiganSakagami Kaori		Kaori Sakaue Debut Single Song
124	Romantic connectionokazaki ritsuko		Ritsuko Okazaki’s heartrending, tear-jerking songs
125	First loveMurashita Kōzō		Kozo Murashita’s famous song, a heartbreaking tale of unrequited love.
126	A person I mustn’t fall in love withCHIHIRO		The pain and optimism of a love I can’t confess
127	Someone who isn’t you ~Tejina~DEEP		A tearful song that likens unrequited love to a magic trick. This crush is abou…
128	Thinking of youKEISUKE		A relatable masterpiece that portrays the struggles of unrequited love
129	Karada no KankeiYUTORI-SEDAI		Depicting the poignant feelings of unrequited love
130	I like you, but it seems like you don’t really like me.back number		A poignant song that expresses the heartbreak of unrequited love.
131	A triangular lovesaji		Saji’s aching vocals and feelings of love resonate in the heart.
132	wishsumika		A bittersweet love where I step back, a heart that gives up on its feelings
133	short-sleevedImai Miki		An unrequited love, thoughts of family, and anguish
134	loveOku Hanako		An emotional song that sings of the pain and lingering attachment of a one-sided love.
135	unrequited loveOku Hanako		An unrequited love song about wanting to convey my feelings to the person I like
136	Unrequited loveHamada Shogo		Shogo Hamada’s “Unrequited Love” was an unattainab...
137	Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai		A heart-touching song that sings of bittersweet heartbreak
138	esperanzaNishino Kana		The bittersweet pain of unrequited love and the regret over the timing of our meeting
139	Time-Limited Unrequited LoveNogizaka 46		A Nogizaka song that sings about the bittersweet unrequited love of youth
140	LiarUeto Aya		Aya Ueto expresses the bittersweet feelings after a broken heart.
141	Why not me?Misaka Saki		An unrequited love song about realizing your romantic feelings for a friend
142	Read the skyDREAMS COME TRUE		Compare the coupling song “Koigokoro” by DREAMS COME TRUE to the sky
143	fragileEvery Little Thing		A bittersweet unrequited love song
144	I like you.Little Glee Monster		Little Glee Monster's lively unrequited love song
145	A Little Love SongMONGOL800		A small love song that resonates in the heart.
146	DESTINYMy Little Lover		The famous song “DESTINY” by My Little Lover
147	GuaranaSukima Suichi		Sukima Switch's bittersweet love song
148	Peach-Colored Unrequited LoveMatsuura Aya		Aya Matsuura’s lively debut song
149	HELLOFukuyama Masaharu		About Masaharu Fukuyama’s hit song HELLO