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Popular Unrequited Love Songs: Japanese Music/J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
To help calm those heart-fluttering feelings of unrequited love, we’ve put together a ranking that shines a spotlight on songs about one-sided love.We’re sure you’ll find Japanese artists you know on the list.
Popular unrequited love songs: Japanese music and J‑POP artist rankings [2026] (1–10)
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number1rank/position
A three-piece rock band whose heartrending lyrics and moving melodies resonate with many, back number’s 20th single.
Released in February 2019, the music video—featuring a performance in an empty restaurant that conveys loneliness—also leaves a strong impression.
It deftly portrays the bittersweetness of unrequited love, and with Iyori Shimizu’s sharp guitar work and Takeshi Kobayashi’s production, it pierces deeply into listeners’ hearts.
It’s a highly recommended track for anyone experiencing unrequited love right now.
365 daysMr.Children2rank/position
Mr.Children’s “365 Days” is loved by people of all ages.
The song is well known from commercials, and despite never being released as a single, it remains hugely popular among fans.
For those who feel things like “I know it myself, but there’s nothing I can do” or “Waves of love keep rushing over me,” it’s a track you can’t help but relate to.
If you’re worried that graduation might separate you from someone you like before you can confess your feelings, this song is sure to strike a chord.
PrologueUru3rank/position
Sung by Uru, “Prologue” is a heartbreaking song about unknowingly searching for an unattainable love.
Released as a single in 2018, it was chosen as the theme song for TBS’s Tuesday drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Diary of a Middle School Student) and reached No.
1 on Billboard’s download chart.
The lyrics perfectly match the drama’s story, which portrays a forbidden romance between a teacher and a student.
It’s a song I’d love for students who’ve found themselves falling for a teacher—or teachers who’ve fallen for a student—to listen to.
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism4rank/position
When it comes to Higedan’s signature songs, many people would probably name this one.
“Pretender” is Official HIGE DANDism’s second single, released in 2019, and it was also the theme song for the film “The Confidence Man JP: The Movie.” It’s a love ballad overflowing with bittersweet emotion—a sad song about unfulfilled love—but it’s also a track that powerfully amplifies the feelings of unrequited love.
I want to be your lover.Abe Mao5rank/position
Often described as “an anthem that wraps up all the pent-up feelings of a bittersweet unrequited love,” this song is known as one of Mao Abe’s signature works.
Its lyrics, woven from her real experiences in high school, portray the ache of unrequited love with striking realism and have resonated with many.
Released as a single in August 2009, it was also chosen as the ending theme for a regional music program, catapulting it to fame.
It’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to honestly express their feelings to a crush but just can’t take that first step.
Why not listen to this song and find the courage to share how you feel?
You don’t listen to rock.aimyon6rank/position
A classic that has captured the hearts of many as one of Aimyon’s signature songs.
The beautiful lyrics, like a snapshot of youth, also convey a strong resolve: no matter how close or far apart we are, I’ll never let go.
Sung with a simple, unadorned voice, its message—“If you love someone, you must keep thinking of them single-mindedly, no matter the circumstances!”—sinks gently into the heart.
Released in August 2017, the song surpassed 100 million streams in November 2019.
It’s a perfect track for those experiencing unrequited love or struggling with romance.
cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS7rank/position
This is an epic love song over six minutes long that delicately portrays the wavering emotions of an ambiguous romance.
The bittersweet feelings of being elated or dejected by a partner’s slightest gestures or words are expressed over a calm and beautiful melody.
Included on RADWIMPS’ album ANTI ANTI GENERATION, released in December 2018, the song was also used as the theme for ABEMA’s dating reality show Who Is the Wolf?, resonating strongly with younger audiences.
The music video features Nana Komatsu and Fuju Kamio, resulting in a striking visual piece that reflects contemporary views on love.
It’s a track best enjoyed when you can really take your time singing—whether during a solo karaoke session or at karaoke with close friends in a relaxed setting.