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

usmilet50rank/position

milet 'us' MUSIC VIDEO (Theme song for the Nippon TV Wednesday drama 'Gisou Furin' [Fake Affair])

A heartrending love song by milet that earnestly sings about cherishing the present moment, even while feeling anxious about possibly losing a relationship by confessing one’s feelings.

She conveys the interplay of courage and fear in taking a step forward through her signature husky voice.

Born from the album “us,” released in August 2019, this track also perfectly captures the world of the NTV Wednesday drama “Fake Affair,” for which it served as the theme song.

It gently accompanies those who struggle to express their feelings honestly to someone, or who hesitate out of a desire not to change a precious relationship.

Ice Cream SyndromeSukima Suichi51rank/position

Sukima Switch – “Ice Cream Syndrome” (Short ver.)

The lyrics of Sukima Switch’s “Ice Cream Syndrome,” which sing about two people whose distance never seems to shrink, are heartbreaking.

Released as a single in 2010, it was chosen as the theme song for the film “Pokémon the Movie: Diamond & Pearl—Zoroark: Master of Illusions,” and reached No.

6 on the Oricon singles chart.

The title evokes the scene of ice cream melting while you hesitate and fail to confess your feelings—so fitting for summer, isn’t it? It also ranked seventh in a 2012 fan vote, so be sure to give it a listen!

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Hamada Takuya

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Maplesupittsu52rank/position

Spitz / Kaede

This is an autumn song by the four-member rock band Spitz.

Kaede was released in 1998 as a double A-side single.

The gentle vocals are heart-wrenching.

In 2017, actress Moka Kamishiraishi covered it in a commercial for Gogo no Kocha (Afternoon Tea), and it became a hot topic.

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Araki Jakkan

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The holeKing Gnu53rank/position

King Gnu – The hole

A ballad that gently accompanies those carrying loneliness, loss, and wounded hearts.

It begins with a serene piano melody, then unfolds into a deeply poignant soundscape woven from strings and reverb-laden drums.

The lyrics, crafted by Daiki Tsuneta, express profound empathy for people bearing emotional scars and a powerful desire to protect the ones they love.

The music video, directed by filmmaker Takuya Uchiyama, beautifully portrays the shifting dynamics of a couple’s love.

When you want to take time alone to face yourself, or when your heart feels unsettled, this work offers quiet healing along with deep resonance.

makeupMy Hair is Bad54rank/position

My Hair is Bad – Makeup

The three-piece rock band My Hair is Bad released the poignant ballad “Keshou” in 2019.

Sometimes you fall in love, but the person you like has feelings for someone else, and you can’t even confess—ending in heartbreak.

This song is exactly about unrequited feelings, but… it also suggests there might be a physical relationship.

Being accepted in such a halfway manner, yet never becoming the most important person in the end—that’s really painful, isn’t it? For those who’ve been through the same experience, I think this is a heartbreak song that will make your chest tighten.

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sasashina

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Callchanmina55rank/position

Chanmina – Call (Official Music Video)

Chanmina, a female rapper also known as the Beyoncé of Nerima.

Her song “Call” is a breakup track that puts into words a slightly bitter lament about how a guy she was into suddenly flipped and fell for a girl who’s her complete opposite, leaving her hurt.

The feelings of “I was the one who misunderstood” and “But you liked me at least a little, didn’t you?” intersect, and in the end she puts on a brave face with “I don’t care about you anymore.” As a fellow woman, I understand that feeling well.

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sasashina

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Heart ForecastEVE56rank/position

Heart Forecast – Eve MV

If you’re looking for a sweet-and-sour unrequited love song that’ll make you hum along without thinking, I recommend this track by Eve.

It’s included on the album “Smile,” released in February 2020, and it was also used as a Valentine’s campaign song in collaboration with Ghana Chocolate.

The song is packed with classic “unrequited love moments,” like the fluttery excitement, getting carried away in your own head, and then feeling down again.

It’s a perfect fit for lovestruck middle and high school students.

Listen to this song, lift your spirits, and do your best to confess your feelings!