Ranking of Popular Japanese Love Songs and Romance Tracks [2026]

I love you, but goodbye.CHIHIRO36rank/position

CHIHIRO – I Love You, But Goodbye (Official MV)

CHIHRO’s heartrending song gently accompanies those struggling with unrequited love.

It delicately portrays the inner conflict of a woman who chooses to part ways despite still being in love.

Released in October 2017, the track was also used as the theme song for a romance program on AbemaTV, resonating with many listeners.

It’s a song that supports those suffering from an unattainable love or those who have decided to end a relationship.

Crying your heart out while listening might help you take a step toward a new love.

Until the day I can no longer rememberback number37rank/position

back number – Until the Day It Becomes Unrememberable (full)

A poignant ballad by back number that quietly sings of lingering feelings and a sense of loss for a former lover.

Released in October 2011 as their third single, the song is also included on the album “Superstar,” which came out the same month.

The lyrics portray the emptiness of days that keep going even after losing the most important person in the world, and the deep bond in which the two formed halves of each other.

Fear of memories of the other fading intertwines with the resignation that they will eventually be forgotten, and the realization that the time spent with the person was part of oneself wells up with aching tenderness.

A song that offers comfort to anyone who has lost someone dear.

lingering loveKitatani Ruki38rank/position

Ruki Chatan “Koinokori” Official Music Video

This is a ballad by Ruki Kitaya that sings of the pain and lingering feelings of heartbreak—something everyone experiences at least once.

Carried by gentle, unadorned strings, the song carefully weaves the emotions of someone who can’t accept parting with a loved one.

The protagonist, avoiding places filled with memories—like the convenience store where they used to meet or the walking path—will be relatable to many listeners.

Since its release in January 2023, the song has generated a major response, particularly on social media.

It’s a recommended track for those nursing the wounds of a breakup or in the mood to look back on a past love.

To Those Who Know the Blue of the Skyaimyon39rank/position

Aimyon – A Person Who Knows the Blue of the Sky [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A bittersweet youth love song filled with yearning.

Inspired by a film, Aimyon paints a track that conveys the ache of unrequited love alongside a faint glimmer of hope.

Released as a single in October 2019, it drew attention as the theme song for an animated movie of the same name.

The lyrics evoke a nostalgic look back at a love that has passed, gently wrapping you in feelings of heartache that everyone has experienced.

It’s perfect for high school students who want to listen while thinking of someone they like.

It’s great for quietly listening alone, and also for sharing with friends to reminisce about your youth.

Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku40rank/position

Kinoko Teikoku — Night of the Osmanthus

This song by Kinoko Teikoku delicately portrays the sentimental feelings that arrive in fleeting moments on autumn nights.

Carried by a beautiful, slightly ephemeral guitar tone, it quietly speaks of longing for someone unforgettable.

With the scent of fragrant olive stirring old memories, the lyrics—steeped in the ache of time that can never return—perfectly accompany the uniquely melancholic mood of autumn.

It was included on the album Time Lapse, released in September 2018.

An emotional yet gentle track, ideal for listening to at night when you’re spending time alone.

milk teaShimizu Shota41rank/position

milk tea

There’s a heart-fluttering love song that paints a sweet, comforting romance like a cup of milk tea.

Written by singer-songwriter Shota Shimizu, the song likens the gentle blending of milk and tea to lovers opening their hearts and melting into one another.

The lyrics capture those small, everyday moments of tenderness that make your heart skip a beat.

The mellow electric piano and Shimizu’s soft vocals beautifully set the scene for the couple’s sweet time together.

The track is included on the single “My Boo,” released in October 2016, and can also be found on the album “FLY.” Listen to it on a summer evening, nestled close to someone special, and your love might feel even more extraordinary.

Just Be FriendsDixie Flatline42rank/position

[Megurine Luka] Just Be Friends [Original PV]

Lyrics that fixate on a lover as they were when you first met, and wish to find them again even after being reborn, feel a bit unsettling for something called pure love.

They pretend to sing of a resolve to step toward the future, yet it’s obvious they haven’t truly given up on the other person.

Am I the only one who senses an eerie quality, as if they’re intoxicated by the despair of heartbreak?