Japanese breakup song ranking [2026]

wishsumika11rank/position

sumika / Wish [Music Video]

A heart-stirring ballad by sumika that portrays the ache of unrequited love and the inner conflict of wishing for the other person’s happiness.

Included on the single “Negai / Higher Ground,” released in December 2019, this song was written as the theme for TV Asahi’s Saturday Night Drama “Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.” In an astonishing anecdote, vocalist Kenta Kataoka reportedly revised the lyrics 117 times to align with the drama’s worldview.

The lyrics, which struggle to hold back overflowing feelings, and the melody that grows more heated as the emotions rise, are sure to bring tears.

It’s a gentle yet heartrending masterpiece, one we especially hope those who can’t muster the courage on Valentine’s Day and are holding onto painful feelings will listen to.

Happinessback number12rank/position

Shiawase

Back number, known for lyrics and melodies that ache and tighten the chest, has won wide support.

This work is the B-side track included on their major-label debut single “Hanabira,” released in April 2011.

It was later included on the album “Superstar,” released in October of the same year, and has continued to be cherished by fans as a hidden gem.

Realizing that the person you love is thinking of someone other than you, yet being able to stay by their side only by wishing for their happiness—these painfully selfless feelings and inner conflicts are depicted in the lyrics, piercing listeners’ hearts.

The beautiful arrangement incorporating strings further stirs the emotions.

For those suffering from unrequited love or who have once prayed for a loved one’s happiness from afar, this is a song that will bring you to tears.

LemonYonezu Kenshi13rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

It’s a bittersweet ballad that portrays a deep sense of loss and a love that refuses to fade.

The loneliness of a world without someone precious, and the vivid feeling that their presence still lives on within you, come through with aching clarity.

Released as a single in March 2018, it was written as the theme song for the drama “Unnatural.” During production, Kenshi Yonezu’s own experience of losing his grandfather is said to have informed the profound sorrow and prayer at the heart of the piece.

Like the fragrance of fruit that hints at bitterness and tartness, if you sing while holding on to indelible memories, the tension in your heart may gradually unwind.

How about it for a night steeped in grief, when you want to cry your heart out and heal your soul?

I loved (it/you)erica14rank/position

erica – “I Loved You” Full PV

A ballad by singer-songwriter Erica that weaves together the ache of heartbreaking unrequited love and the feelings left unspoken, set to the sound of piano.

The sorrow of a breakup and the pain of parting are delicately expressed through her clear, translucent voice.

Released in November 2015 and included on the album “Koku-uta 2: Things I Want to Tell You Before Graduation,” this song stands by those who have experienced parting, offering the courage to face forward while embracing the pain.

It will gently envelop the hearts of those who cannot accept the end of a romance, or who carry the regret of not having conveyed their feelings before it was over.

OverMr.Children15rank/position

Mr.Children over with Chinese subtitles

A Mr.Children masterpiece that gently wraps the pain of heartbreak: “Over.” As you revisit the moment of parting, your heart trembles with faint memories… In this way, the song perfectly synchronizes with the emotions of anyone nursing a broken heart.

Since their debut in 1993, they’ve stood by our hearts with countless hits, and “Over” is one of them.

Its lyrics portray a protagonist who looks back on a past love while feeling the sting of loss.

As hope and despair intersect, we realize that beyond the darkness overflowing with sorrow lies a new self.

It’s a masterpiece I wholeheartedly recommend not only to those who experienced heartbreak on Valentine’s Day, but to everyone carrying a past etched into their hearts.

I like you, but it seems you don’t really like me.back number16rank/position

Bokuwa Kiminokotoga Sukidakedo Kimiwa Bokuo Betsuni Sukijyanaimitai

This is one of back number’s signature songs, written straight from the heart about the ache of unrequited love.

Even the long title conveys the protagonist’s painful feelings as their love goes unanswered.

In the chorus, the powerlessness of facing the reality that the other person doesn’t have feelings for them is expressed in plain, direct words.

This track was included on the album Chandelier, released in December 2015.

It’s recommended for those who’ve experienced heartbreak or are currently in one-sided love.

If you listen when you want to revisit painful memories of love, you’ll likely find many parts to empathize with.

Girls don’t cry.katahira rina17rank/position

Rina Katahira - Girls Don’t Cry (Music Video)

It’s a love song where tenderness and strength coexist.

It’s a track by Rina Katahira, a singer-songwriter from Fukushima Prefecture, released in 2014 as her second single.

The down-to-earth lyrics resonated with many people.

Even while hurt by love, it carries the resolve to greet a new day with a smile.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to overcome the pain of heartbreak and look forward.

Be sure to add it to your playlist.

First LoveUtada Hikaru18rank/position

Hikaru Utada – First Love

A youthful love song by Hikaru Utada, whose lyrical piano tones and crystalline vocals sink deep into the heart.

The sorrow of parting and precious memories are woven together with care, and the recollection of first love returns like a film playing inside your mind.

Many will relate to the protagonist’s feeling that, even if a new romance comes along after the end of one, they can’t forget their first love.

Released in March 1999 on the album “First Love,” it was also used as the theme song for the drama “Majo no Jōken” broadcast the same year.

It’s a song that truly stays by the side of anyone who has experienced farewell with someone dear and is trying to move forward while holding those memories deep in their heart.

366 daysHY19rank/position

366 Days (Official Duet Version)

This is a ballad about the lingering feelings of being unable to forget a lost love.

Included on HY’s 2008 album “HeartY,” the song was used as the theme for Fuji TV’s drama and film “Akai Ito.” Its gentle melody, highlighted by a memorable piano line, carries lyrics that reflect on the memories of a lover who remains in the heart.

The duet version by vocalists Izumi Nakasone and Hideyuki Shinzato is also captivating, with the interplay of male and female voices bringing out the nuances of emotion even more vividly.

It’s a recommended track for those who have experienced parting with someone dear or are trying to overcome the pain.

planetariumOtsuka Ai20rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

A heart-stirring ballad that projects the ache of love onto the stars in the night sky, this piece is marked by Ai Otsuka’s delicate vocals and lyrical piano.

Memories of a lover and the wistfulness of time gone by are woven into the beautiful imagery of starry skies and planetariums, resonating deeply with listeners.

Used as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi” and included on the album “LOVE COOK,” it has continued to soothe many hearts since its release in September 2005.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while gazing up at the stars on a solitary night—recommended for those looking to heal the pain of heartbreak or to immerse themselves in cherished memories with someone special.