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Ranking of Popular Breakup Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026]
When you’ve had your heart broken, you often feel like listening to sad breakup songs rather than upbeat ones, don’t you? For those in that situation, here’s a ranking of popular breakup songs by male singers that we recommend.
These are masterpieces that will help heal your heart and guide you toward your next love.
Top 10 Breakup Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026]
Maplesupittsu1rank/position
A ballad that sings of the resolve to live on with the pain of parting.
Those warm days when even casual exchanges with a loved one—and the ache in your heart—were all wrapped in their smile.
Yet even as the protagonist accepts a daily life that will never return, the way they move forward as if embracing a voice is deeply moving.
After being included on the album “Fake Fur,” it was released in July 1998 as a double A-side single with “Spica.” It has been used in numerous dramas, including as an insert song for Fuji TV’s “Over Time” and in NTV’s “Zambi.” It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone who can’t stop dwelling on a lost love or who can’t forget someone dear.
Masamune Kusano’s clear, translucent vocals deliver a ray of hope within the sorrow.
single bedSha ran Q2rank/position
This is a wistful ballad that poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a former lover, a classic that gently teaches the preciousness of love.
As the protagonist looks back on memories left behind on a single bed, they realize that a romance once taken for granted was in fact more valuable than jewels, weaving a moving drama.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, the song became a major hit, ranking 24th on the year-end charts.
It was also used as the ending theme for the anime D.N.A²: They Were Once a Thing, and included on the album Inferiority Complex.
It’s the perfect track for reminiscing about youthful love while sharing memories with friends.
breakup songOkazaki Taiiku3rank/position
This song, which portrays the pain of heartbreak and the journey back from it, gives voice to the feelings of a protagonist who has gone through a breakup as grand as a fireworks display.
It poignantly lists places filled with memories of a lover—movie theaters, amusement parks, aquariums—then depicts how they “burn down” over time.
Yet the lyrics also blend humor with a sense of strength, encouraging oneself to stop brooding and face forward.
By staying close to the listener’s heart, this track offers the courage to overcome heartbreak.
It’s a unique breakup song that never gives you time to wallow, showcasing Okazaki Taiiku’s keen eye for detail and distinctive sensibility.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi4rank/position
A gem of a ballad that gracefully portrays rainy scenery and the ache of parting.
Yasushi Nakanishi’s transparent vocals exquisitely capture lingering feelings for a lover and a passion verging on madness.
The dramatic piano melody and strings weave an achingly poignant world.
Released in August 1992, the song peaked at No.
16 on the Oricon chart.
It drew attention as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Hitachi Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” and had sold a cumulative total of about 900,000 copies by 1998.
Featured on the album “Yasushi Nakanishi,” among many other releases, it has inspired numerous covers by prominent artists, including Kumi Koda.
A sophisticated track best enjoyed while quietly sipping a drink in a lounge.
On nights when you want to soothe the pain of a broken heart, its soulful voice will gently stay by your side.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu5rank/position
A timeless masterpiece that gently cradles the feelings of a lost love, overflowing with bittersweet longing and tenderness.
Its sweet melody and emotionally rich vocals weave a heart-stirring love ballad that portrays a love unchanged even after a farewell.
Released in April 2000 as Masaharu Fukuyama’s 15th single, it was chosen as the theme song for the “Mirai Nikki V” segment of TBS’s “Unnan no Hontoko!” and ranked second on Oricon’s annual singles chart that year.
Healing hearts and resonating with many throughout the year, this song is perfect for the spring season.
While carrying the pain of parting, it conveys a pure wish for the other person’s happiness—an exquisite love song to listen to during spring’s farewells and new encounters.
Cats and Allergieskinoko teikoku6rank/position
This song delicately portrays the feelings of having to accept an inevitable farewell, even while still longing for a lover.
Accompanied by a heartrending vocal, the resolve to move forward while cherishing past memories resonates deeply.
It is the title track of Kinoko Teikoku’s album “Neko to Arerugī,” released in November 2015, a major-label debut that drew significant attention.
With its gentle arrangement incorporating piano and strings, the song signaled a new horizon for the band and has been embraced not only by fans but by many listeners.
It’s a piece I especially recommend to anyone who knows the ache of loving someone yet being unable to stay together.
Before you become a memorysupittsu7rank/position
A ballad that represents Spitz’s early years, portraying the earnest moments of two people nearing a breakup with a beautiful melody.
Released in October 1993 as a re-cut single from the album “Crispy!”, this song was used as the theme for the lifestyle program “Motto Suteki ni!” and is also known for being the band’s first entry on the Oricon charts.
In 1997, it was featured in a commercial for Ajinomoto gift sets, and it has been cherished ever since.
The lyrics capture the helpless loneliness and gentle gaze before the “you” by one’s side becomes a distant presence—feelings that might seize your heart.
Why not listen quietly on a night when you want to get sentimental and reflect on past loves?
White LoversKuwata Keisuke8rank/position
It is a lyrical ballad that depicts the bittersweet feelings of love in winter.
Released in October 2001, it is a work by Keisuke Kuwata themed around the winter season.
Rather than simply mourning a love that has passed, it also carries a sense of celebrating the memories of love, portraying warm emotions alongside scenes of a city blanketed in falling snow.
It was used as the theme song for Coca-Cola’s “No Reason” campaign commercial, and later featured in UNIQLO’s “LifeWear” commercial, earning affection from a wide audience.
It is a heartwarming song to listen to when you want to heal a heart hurt by love or reflect on cherished memories.
It was all you.Yamazaki Masayoshi9rank/position
This is a song by Masayoshi Yamazaki that quietly portrays the aching emotions of heartbreak.
Released in March 2003 as his 14th single, the first pressing included bonus footage as his first work bundled with a DVD.
Characterized by his gentle tenor that earnestly sings of lingering affection entwined with pain, the lyrics strike a chord deep in the heart.
Its simple yet delicate melody is perfect for moments when tears are close and you’re seeking a touch of solace.
Not only those experiencing a breakup, but even onlookers can listen and empathize.
With each listen, this work offers new insights and may help you overcome the hardships of heartbreak.
MissingKubota Toshinobu10rank/position
This is a gem of a ballad by Toshinobu Kubota, known for his uniquely groovy style, perfect for an autumn night.
It poignantly conveys, with a soulful voice, the helpless love between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other yet can never be together.
The struggle of wanting to forget but being unable to, and the regret of wishing they had met earlier, really hits home.
The song was included on his debut album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986, and was used as an ending theme for shows like World Pro Wrestling.
Though it wasn’t released as a single, it remains one of his most beloved signature songs.
It feels like a gentle companion to the quiet loneliness that follows the bustle of summer.