A classic, bittersweet youth song. Recommended popular tracks.

I like you, but it seems you don’t really like me.back number

Bokuwa Kiminokotoga Sukidakedo Kimiwa Bokuo Betsuni Sukijyanaimitai

A quintessential back number love song that distills the pain of unrequited love right into its title.

It’s a track from the album “Chandelier,” released in December 2015.

With plain, direct lyrics, it draws the gap between a wholehearted devotion to someone and the reality that those feelings don’t reach them.

Even while realizing that your world revolves around that person, you’re not someone special to them—that frustrating ache hits hard.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear if you’re in a one-sided love or struggling because the person you like won’t look your way.

blue budsoraru

[MV] Blue Bud / Soraru

It’s a heartrending coming-of-age song that stirs the heart.

Like an unopened, blue bud, the delicate and unstable feelings of youth are portrayed over a gentle melody.

The lyrics capture inexpressible emotions and the subtle distance between two people, resonating deeply with listeners.

Soraru’s clear, transparent vocals further elevate the song’s world.

Released in April 2023, it struck a chord with many listeners.

It’s perfect for those who want to reflect on the sweet-and-sour memories of their youth, as well as those in the midst of it right now.

It’s a track that lets you bask in the past while feeling hope for the future.

Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki

Hideaki Tokunaga – The Broken Radio

Hideto Tokunaga is a singer-songwriter who has been active since 1986.

He has a distinctive voice that is husky yet somewhat androgynous, and this work was released as a single in 1990 and became a hit.

At the time, Tokunaga was struggling to produce hit songs, but he recalled how, in his mid-teens, he purely loved and enjoyed music, and he wrote this song with that memory in mind.

Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN 'Song of the Wheels'

It’s a very heartbreaking song where the light, refreshing sound contrasts with the bittersweet lyrics.

The ride for two on the way to the station, and the road from the station, are depicted throughout the entire track.

Motoo Fujiwara’s voice heightens the sense of longing, making it feel like your heart is being tightly gripped.

I don’t want to say goodbye, but I do kind of yearn for a two-up ride, just the two of us, in the first light of morning in the city.

tear(s)Marushii

Marcy – Tears (Official Music Video)

A love ballad that portrays the ache of heartbreak in stark contrast to the dazzling summer sun.

It’s a work released in August 2025 by the rock band Marcy, known for down-to-earth lyrics that resonate.

Memories of love told in the past tense and words detailing feelings that will never reach their destination shake the listener’s heart.

Skillful metaphors—like the pain of memories lingering as sensations in the body and a future that was never opened—reflect the protagonist’s earnest emotions and are sure to bring tears.

The song is slated to be included on their third original album, set for release in November 2025, which will also feature Aozora, the theme song for the film “Youth Gestalt Collapse.” It’s a track you’ll want to listen to quietly on nights when you want to immerse yourself in unforgettable memories of love.

March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9th (Music Video Short ver.)

This work is a single released by Remioromen in 2004.

It was originally written to celebrate a friend’s wedding, but it has since become a graduation staple and is frequently listened to during that season.

In the music video, Maki Horikita gives a strong performance as a girl who experiences both her high school graduation and her sister’s wedding on the same day, delivering a fresh and moving portrayal that captures the song’s image well.

Swallowtail Butterfly ~Song of Love~YEN TOWN BAND

Swallowtail Butterfly -Aino Uta- (Remastered 2015)

Yen Town Band is a fictional, stateless band that appears in the 1996 Japanese film Swallowtail.

The band’s vocalist is portrayed by the singer Chara.

At the time, the film earned overwhelming support from young audiences for its distinctive worldview.

It remains widely loved today, with numerous cover versions in existence.