Popular Unrequited Love Songs: Japanese Music/J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]

My name is Unrequited Loveindigo la End92rank/position

indigo la End "The Name Is Unrequited Love"

A bittersweet, frustrating crush sung over a light, stylish sound.

This song portrays a one-sided love stuck in that ambiguous space of more than friends, not quite lovers—a situation that breeds frustration.

You want to say you like them, but you’re afraid of breaking the comfortable rhythm you already share.

Many listeners will likely relate to those conflicted feelings.

This track is by Indigo la End, the band led by Enon Kawatani.

It was first performed at their Nippon Budokan show in November 2022, and fans have been eagerly awaiting its release.

If you’re struggling with the distance between you and the one you like, this song will gently embrace your heart.

I long to see you now.MISIA93rank/position

MISIA – Aitakute Ima (Official HD Music Video)

“Aitakute Ima” is MISIA’s 23rd single, released in 2009.

It was written as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “JIN,” and it reached No.

9 on the Oricon singles chart.

In writing the lyrics, MISIA visited the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots in Kagoshima, where she read letters from soldiers heading to the front, addressed to their families and loved ones.

Reaffirming the weight of life and the depth of human bonds, she penned the lyrics.

If there is someone you feel that strongly about, please listen to “Aitakute Ima.”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hamada Takuya

Report a problem

someone I likeUeno Yūka94rank/position

Yuka Ueno “Suki na Hito” Music Video

It’s not just something that happens in anime or dramas—some of you might have actually fallen for the same person as a friend, told them you’d support them while hiding your own feelings.

When it’s sprung on you suddenly, it’s understandable to feel unable to confess, yet you also can’t bring yourself to tell your friend or your crush how you feel.

It’s a helpless, brooding emotion, but here it’s expressed with truly straightforward, pure sincerity.

It’s a song that will resonate with anyone who’s had the same experience.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai95rank/position

God Does Not Play Dice “Yoru-Naga Uta” [Official Lyric Video]

‘Yona Uta’ is a song that portrays the aching feeling of shedding tears whenever you recall an unforgettable love.

The melody alone can move you to tears, but the lyrics—expressing the longing to touch the person you love once more—are truly painful and heartrending.

There are many ways to interpret how the lovers part, so it will likely resonate with many people currently experiencing unrequited love.

Although it’s a heartbreak song because it suggests you can no longer meet the one you love, it’s also a track I recommend to anyone who can’t give up on their feelings.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu96rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

This ballad delicately portrays the bittersweet emotions of carrying heartbreak while praying for the other person’s happiness.

It holds unwavering love for a ended romance and hopes for the future, and the protagonist’s forward-looking resolve amid sorrow is deeply moving.

Crafted by Masaharu Fukuyama and released in April 2000, the song was used as the theme for the TV show U-nan no Hontoko!’s segment ‘Mirai Nikki V,’ and it sold a cumulative 2,299,000 copies.

Inspired by a real location in Ota Ward, Tokyo, it also became a talking point as many people visited the site at the time.

It’s perfect for nights when you want to look back on past love and sink into nostalgia, or when you wish quietly for someone dear to be happy.

Wrapped in the song’s gentle melody, this masterpiece is one you’ll want to hear as you slowly face your memories.

I want to become the kind of thing the person I like likes.Suzuki Suzuki97rank/position

I want to become what the person I like likes – Suzuki Suzuki [Official Music Video]

Suzuki Suzuki is a sibling duo who became the sixth champion in the Singing Ability No.

1 Competition on the music talk variety show “Momm!!”.

Their track “Suki na Hito no Suki na Mono ni Naritai” from their first album “313” has a title with an impact that says it all.

The lyrics depict a love that grows even while feelings for the person they like are kept hidden, and just by listening, you can’t help but root for it to one day come to fruition.

It’s an emotional number distinguished by the beautiful harmonies unique to siblings.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

if…DA PUMP98rank/position

DA PUMP / if… (short ver.)

A song worthy of being called an iconic hit of the Heisei era, this is DA PUMP’s 12th single.

Distinct from the group’s signature dance music, it stands out with its lyrical melody and suave rap.

Released in September 2000, it peaked at No.

11 on the Oricon charts and was also featured in a Sharp commercial.

The lyrics depict a bittersweet love, expressing feelings for the other person through repeated “what if” scenarios.

It’s a perfect track for anyone wanting to reminisce about the sweet-and-sour romances of their school days or for those harboring unrequited feelings.