A rainy heartbreak song. A collection of bittersweet love songs set against the backdrop of rain.
When you hear the phrase “breakup song,” what kind of track comes to mind?
For example, there are plenty of songs set in specific scenes—like the room where two people spent time together or the park where they often took walks.
When these songs overlap with your own experiences, your sense of empathy suddenly deepens, and you find yourself wanting to listen to them over and over.
Among the scenes often depicted in breakup songs, isn’t rain one of the classics?
Rain is frequently used in imagery to express negative emotions, and it suits that gloomy feeling after a breakup very well.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of songs themed around rain and heartbreak.
See if you can find one that resonates with you.
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A rainy heartbreak song. A collection of bittersweet love songs set against the rain (11–20)
RainYUI
A refreshing breakup song from the era when she performed under the name YUI.
Many of you may already know this, but she now goes by yui and is active as the guitarist and vocalist of FLOWER FLOWER.
With that in mind, even though “Rain” is a breakup song, it has a cool, rock-inspired vibe.
The lyrics don’t get sentimental about a broken heart—“You get dumped, you’re drenched in the rain, it’s the Christmas season, and yet this breakup will be the start of something”—which is rock to the core.
Highly recommended for anyone feeling down after a breakup!
Heart Rainindigo la End
Kawatani Enon’s rock band indigo la End released the single “Shin’u” in 2016.
It was also included on the album Aiiro Music released the same year and was used as the commercial song for GREE’s smartphone game Shoumetsu Toshi.
The lyrics, which tell a heartrending, fragile story of two people whose feelings have drifted apart and are heading toward a breakup, are painful to listen to.
In 2020, to commemorate the band’s 10th anniversary, the music video for “Shin’u” was released on YouTube.
Whimsical Drizzlemaruri to ryūga
Kimagure na Shigure is the memorable first song marking the major-label debut of MaruritoRyuga, a male-female twin-vocal duo consisting of MaRuRi and Ryuga.
Climbing high on the LINE MUSIC and iTunes charts, its popularity drew reactions like “They’re far from your typical newcomers!” The back-and-forth vocals by MaRuRi and Ryuga carry a distinctly modern, colloquial feel, as if real words between a man and a woman naturally ride the melody.
It’s a track that makes you want to side with the heartbroken male perspective—how did it sound to you?
rainHata Motohiro
Singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata, beloved for his naturally soothing voice and endearing personality, has won widespread popularity.
His cover of Senri Oe’s “Rain” is included on his 15th single, “Kotonoha,” and was used as the ending theme for the animated film The Garden of Words.
The delicate ensemble, featuring the tones of acoustic guitar, creates that slightly weighty atmosphere unique to rainy days.
It’s a sentimental number that many listeners will likely relate to for its story of a heartrending farewell.
December RainArai Yumi
Singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya has released numerous hit tunes over the years, from her original songs to tracks she’s written for others.
Her fourth single under the name Yumi Arai, “December’s Rain,” is also known for featuring Sugar Babe’s Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki on backing vocals.
The lyrics evoke the sound of rain heard in a winter room, and the light yet urban arrangement conveys a sense of positivity amid the melancholy.
It’s a cool yet lyrical number that you’ll want to keep listening to on rainy days.
cold rainhaifaisetto
Even after disbanding in 1994, the group still enjoys enduring popularity—there must be plenty of longtime fans who say, “I still have all their records!” Here’s Hi-Fi Set’s poignant breakup song, “Tsumetai Ame” (“Cold Rain”).
The lyrics and music were written by Yumi Arai—Yuumin before she was married.
The dramatic arc—“two people who suddenly break up, so abruptly that they don’t even know the reason…”—has a quality that connects to the Yuumin of today.
With its beautiful falsetto in the chorus, it’s a breakup song I highly recommend to anyone who hasn’t heard it yet.
By the way, the group’s name, Hi-Fi Set, was given to them by none other than Haruomi Hosono.
A rainy heartbreak song. A roundup of bittersweet love songs set in the rain (21–30)
Rain and CappuccinoYorushika
A gem of a ballad perfect for the rainy season, imbued with the sound of rain and the aroma of a café.
Included on the album “Elma,” released in August 2019, it strikingly portrays the fictional character Elma as she lives on, carrying the pain of losing her beloved while holding precious memories close to her heart.
It’s a key track that established the world of Yorushika’s album “Elma,” and it beautifully depicts the scenery of Visby, Sweden, which Elma visits in the story.
Highly recommended for those who want to empathize with the feeling of cherishing someone dear, or for anyone who wants to enjoy music gently on a rainy day.