Popular Heartbreak Song Rankings [2026]

I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki36rank/position

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “I Won’t Fall in Love Again” (Music Video) [5th Single] (1992) Noriyuki Makihara / Mou Koi Nante Shinai

This timeless song depicts the pain of heartbreak through everyday moments and has continued to comfort many listeners.

Written by Noriyuki Makihara, it was released in May 1992 as his fifth single and became a major hit as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “After the Children Are Asleep.” It was also included on the album “Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono,” released in June of the same year.

While it sings about the profound sense of absence felt in the shared room during fleeting moments, it ultimately holds a powerful resolve to move toward a new tomorrow.

It’s a song I recommend when you want to lift your head just a little from the depths of sorrow or take a next step while holding precious memories close—it gently gives you a push forward.

Dried flowersYuuri37rank/position

Yuri “Dry Flower” Official Music Video - Director’s Cut ver. -

A heartrending rock ballad that likens lingering feelings for an ex and emotions that don’t fade with time to flowers.

Released by singer-songwriter Yuuri in October 2020, it was later included on the album “Ichi.” Framed as a female-perspective after-story to the male-viewpoint song “Kakurenbo,” this track’s strong relatability is evident from its achievement of topping the Billboard JAPAN year-end overall chart in 2021.

From the conversational tone of the verses to the explosive power in the chorus, the shifting emotions are superbly expressed.

It will gently accompany those who are trying to move forward despite the pain of heartbreak, or on nights when you want to quietly bask in memories.

balladKetsumeishi38rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

This work by Ketsumeishi gently embraces listeners with a melody overflowing with songcraft, keeping the rapping to a minimum.

It’s their 24th single, released in January 2011, and it became widely familiar as the theme song for Nippon TV’s information program “Sukkiri!!”.

Sung over a quiet arrangement woven from piano and strings, the lyrics convey the pain of unrequited love and a yearning for a beloved that refuses to fade.

Even an adult man who usually keeps his emotions under wraps may find the long-suppressed ache welling up when he hears this song, perhaps even moved to tears.

It’s a touching adult love ballad that makes you want to listen alone, quietly, on a sleepless night.

GraduationMy Hair is Bad39rank/position

My Hair is Bad – Graduation (Official Video)

A track by My Hair is Bad that tells the story of two people sensing changes in their relationship amid the bustle of a station and the cityscape.

It was included on the EP “Jidai o Atsumete,” released in May 2016, and was produced as a kind of sequel to the previous song “Makka.” From the perspective of a timid, awkward young person, the song vividly portrays the growing distance between former lovers.

Its theme is a farewell as a rite of passage—putting a period on a relationship and moving on to the next stage.

Driven by a fast-paced 8-beat and dynamic arrangement, Tomomi Shiiki’s husky voice conveys the ebb and flow of emotion.

It’s a song that stays with you when you want to put an end to an ambiguous relationship with an ex and need the courage to face forward and start walking.

rendezvousshaitoopu40rank/position

Shytoop – Rendezvous (Official Music Video)

Shytope is a three-piece band formed at a university in Kyoto.

This track, included on the single they released in April 2023, spread across social media to a wide audience of all ages.

Written and composed by vocalist So Sasaki, it portrays a protagonist running through the rain while bearing the pain of heartbreak.

The lyrics, which chase lingering memories despite knowing the relationship can’t be restored, will deeply resonate with anyone who has faced a springtime parting.

By November 2023, it had become a record-breaking hit, surpassing 100 million total streams.

When you want to draw a line under the end of a romance, why not listen to this masterpiece that gently accompanies a sentimental mood?

tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa41rank/position

Koresawa “Tobacco” [Music Video]

A singer-songwriter beloved for relatable, down-to-earth lyrics, Koresawa delivers a piercing song of regret.

The protagonist is portrayed desperately trying to recover the warmth of lost days from the small personal items their partner left behind.

The depictions of miscommunication—“If only I’d paid more attention to them,” “If only they had cared more about me”—will resonate painfully with anyone who has parted ways with a long-time partner.

Released in March 2017, this work is marked by its acoustic sound.

For those who feel their own shortcomings led to the breakup, this song may quietly sit with you and allow you to shed your tears.

Rejected-Love GirlSayuri42rank/position

Sanketsu Shoujo Sayuri “Furaregai Girl” MV (Full ver) — Song provided and produced by RADWIMPS’ Yojiro Noda

Sung by singer-songwriter Sayuri, this work was released in December 2016 as her fourth single.

It is also widely known for having its lyrics, composition, and production handled by Yojiro Noda of RADWIMPS.

Told from a first-person perspective, it vividly conveys the turmoil after being suddenly left by a lover and the narrator’s intense feelings for them.

While steeped in sorrow, it carefully portrays the shifting heart that tries to face forward little by little while still carrying past pain, aligning beautifully with her trembling vocals.

Give it a listen when you want the courage to recover from the pain of heartbreak and take your next step.