back number Heartbreak Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
Back number, whose realistic, tear-jerking lyrics and catchy melodies have earned them the nickname “The King of Heartbreak Songs,” are widely loved.
Their poignant songs tug at the heartstrings and resonate with listeners of all ages.
Here’s a ranking of back number’s signature breakup songs.
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back number Heartbreak Songs – Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
The Rain and Meback number11rank/position
A breakup song by back number, the band that has captivated many with their love songs.
It laments a love that has just ended, unbearably sad and beyond saving.
It’s a heartbreaking love song that captures the pain of sorrow, hardship, and blaming one’s own helplessness.
The track is included on their sixth album, MAGIC, released in March 2019.
Even as the years pass, the aching feelings for a former lover you can’t forget make your chest tighten.
If, like the song’s protagonist, there’s someone you can never forget, this is a must-listen recommendation.
Winter and Springback number12rank/position
Back number’s stirring melodies and delicate vocals beautifully capture the emotions of moving on from heartbreak amid the transition from winter to spring.
Produced in January 2024, the piece was helmed by Masanori Shimada, who also produced “Suiheisen,” and the music video marks Iyori Shimizu’s first attempt at directing.
The use of snow-covered asphalt on the jacket symbolically expresses both the change of seasons and the transformation of the heart.
It’s a song that resonates with the pain of heartbreak—an experience shared by all—and the journey of recovery that follows, making it a track you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.
yellowback number13rank/position
This song portrays the ache of unrequited love.
Released in September 2021 as the theme song for an ABEMA dating reality show, it reached No.
2 in downloads on Billboard Japan.
Unreturned affection, quiet watchfulness, tangled emotions…
It expresses the bittersweet feeling of wishing happiness for someone you love deeply, while secretly hoping for something you know can’t come true.
Listening at summer’s end makes the pain of heartbreak sink in even more.
Recommended for those troubled by love or those who want to linger in memories of the past.
Let back number’s vocals soothe you as you sort through your feelings.
Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number14rank/position
This signature number from back number is guaranteed to get everyone hyped during summer drives and karaoke—surely a staple summer song that resonates with many.
The track stands out for expressing the bittersweet feelings of an unrequited crush—yearning for someone who won’t look your way—set to a refreshing, fast-paced sound.
While the lyrics portray the woman he admires as someone out of reach, the charm lies in the protagonist’s comical side, drifting into fanciful daydreams and then snapping back to reality.
It captures the perfect interplay between the liberating feel of summer and the frustration of a distance that just won’t close.
Released as a single in June 2013, it was later included on the album “Love Story.” In 2019, it drew fresh attention when vocalist Iyori Shimizu performed a stripped-down version for Kirin Brewery’s Tanrei Green Label TV commercial.
If you want to relive the sweet-and-sour pangs of a one-sided crush, or you’re on your way to a summer event, this song will instantly lift your spirits.
And if you sing it with friends at karaoke, you’re guaranteed to get the whole room going in shared excitement!
cotton candyback number15rank/position
Released by back number in 2012, this song became explosively popular, especially among junior high and high school students.
It features the band’s hallmark and charm: realistic, concrete scene descriptions and the feelings of a somewhat shy male protagonist.
Listening to this track makes you want to go to a summer festival! And am I the only one who finds myself rooting for the guy in the song with those emotions? After listening, why not invite the person you’re interested in to a summer festival?
Old-fashionedback number16rank/position
A song by back number that became a hot topic as the theme song for the drama “The Biggest Love: With You Who Will Forget Me.” It’s not a breakup song, but it’s a love song I really want you to listen to when you’ve just gone through a breakup.
Right after a breakup, you probably still have feelings for that person.
Just because you were dumped doesn’t mean you can suddenly stop liking them, right…? This is a song I recommend for you in that situation.
Sing of springback number17rank/position
A gem-like ballad that depicts a heartrending farewell against a springtime backdrop.
Its delicate imagery intertwines beautifully with the protagonist’s emotions, unable to fully accept the parting.
Featured on back number’s February 2009 mini-album “Nogashita Sakana,” the song’s simple, acoustic guitar–driven arrangement and poignant melody sink deep into the heart.
It’s a track meant to be heard as a gentle anthem of encouragement for those who, while carrying the pain and loneliness of heartbreak, still try to look forward.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number18rank/position
From the title you might think “A birthday song?”, but this track is back number’s “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” Released in 2019 as back number’s 20th single, it also served as the theme song for the drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love.” It’s a quintessential back number piece: a bittersweet, heart-wrenching love song that captures the sorrow of a painful romance—one that’s likely to bring you to tears when you listen.
If you’re looking for a tear-jerking breakup song from a male perspective, this might be the one.
Endingback number19rank/position
A wistful ballad that gently bids farewell, like the ending of a film.
Featured on the album “blues,” this song uses a simple arrangement centered on acoustic guitar, yet it presses on the heart with the regret of not noticing the true feelings hidden behind a familiar lover’s smile.
Included on the November 2012 release “blues” and later on the best-of album “Encore” released in December 2016, the track has become a live staple and a fan favorite.
In karaoke, it enjoys enduring popularity as a song you can sing with quiet feeling, making it recommended for those who want to deliver a ballad with deep emotion.
Blue amberback number20rank/position
This back number song gives you such an indescribable feeling, doesn’t it? I think Iyori Shimizu is a genius at creating a sense of heartbreak.
The harmonies in this track are mostly in the chorus.
It’s basically an upper harmony, but the way the ends of phrases drop an octave and other clever choices in the harmonizing really amplify the bittersweet vibe.
In the final chorus, there’s a key change and the pitch goes up, so I think it’s good to sing a bit louder in falsetto so you don’t get overshadowed by the lead vocal.
A lot of people sing back number, so be sure to add these harmonies to your repertoire!
