Ranking of Popular Breakup Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026]

It’s a sad color, isn’t it?Ueda Masaki64rank/position

Sad Colors, Right? by Masaki Ueda

On a seaside where rain is drawing near, lovers are shrouded in the premonition of parting.

Masaki Ueda gives a powerful voice to the poignant feeling of “You were my youth” in this work, a renowned classic known as one of the defining heartbreak songs of the Showa era.

Although sales were sluggish when it was released in October 1982, requests on cable radio increased, and the following year it reached No.

5 on the Oricon chart, ultimately becoming a major hit that ranked No.

26 for the year.

Perhaps the unexpected pairing of Kansai-dialect lyrics with a melody suited to English lyrics captured the hearts of many.

It’s a song we especially recommend to those carrying the pain of a broken heart or who have experienced a farewell with someone dear.

Sad Colors, huh? ~ OSAKA BAY BLUESUeda Masaki65rank/position

Masaki Ueda - Kanashii Iro Yane ~ Osaka Bay Blues.mp4

A classic ballad that lets you fully savor the charm of old-school songcraft, “Kanashii Iro Yane.” It’s a 1982 single by soul singer Masaki Ueda—who also delivered many beloved tunes with the band emblematic of the Kansai blues scene, Ueda Masaki & South To South.

The lyrics were written by the legendary Chinfa Kan, who colored countless masterpieces from the Showa to Heisei eras.

The composition is by Tetsuji Hayashi, a melody maker known for crafting breezy songs now often grouped under city pop.

Masaki Ueda’s husky, overwhelmingly emotive vocals are incredibly cool, and the lyrical expressions resonate with a deep, heartrending poignancy.

It truly brings tears to your eyes…

A masterpiece whose quietly evocative expressions heighten the sense of melancholy, gently nestling close to a broken heart, while setting many memories in motion and even conveying a certain strength.

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If we ever meet in the city somedayNakamura Masatoshi66rank/position

If we ever meet in the city someday

It’s a gently written, heart-touching classic about memories of a past lover and the wish to meet again.

From parting in the city of memories, to love and resentment, and even the moment when dreams were shattered, it weaves together every moment the two spent together.

Masatoshi Nakamura’s warm vocals blend beautifully with the soothing melody crafted by Takuro Yoshida, resulting in a song that evokes both nostalgia and bittersweet longing.

Released in May 1975, it was used as an insert song in the drama “Oretachi no Kunshō” and reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

Many artists, including Naoko Ken and Masayuki Suzuki, have covered it.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to if you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or when you’re in the mood to reminisce about the past.

Love ForeverKatō Miriya × Shimizu Shōta67rank/position

Miliyah Kato × Shota Shimizu “Love Forever”

We swore to love each other forever, yet now I’m all alone.

Even in this aching situation, I can’t let go of my gratitude and tender feelings for you.

This work, which sent shockwaves through the J-POP scene, is a masterpiece that portrays memories that keep shining even after a breakup, and a strong bond that can’t be cut.

Released as a single in May 2009 and also included on the album “Ring,” this song marked the beginning of the MiliShow era—a collaboration between Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu.

On lonely nights, I put on a brave face, but deep down I just want to cry.

Listening to it in moments like that can help you regain your honest feelings.

It’s a song for anyone who wishes they could start over.

Farewell, my loverSakai Masaaki68rank/position

Farewell, my lover

This song is filled with a poignant sorrow that etches a breakup with a lover into the heart.

Over Kyōhei Tsutsumi’s beautiful melody, Masakazu Sakai sings with heartfelt emotion.

Released in May 1971, the track is also known as Sakai’s solo debut single.

The lyrics portray a couple who failed to recognize the happiness of their everyday life and ultimately parted ways, resonating deeply with listeners.

Following his time with The Spiders, this work revealed a new side of Sakai.

It’s a song that stands beside those who have experienced heartbreak or are trying to overcome a farewell with someone dear—one you’ll surely want to keep close to your heart.

dizzinessogura kei69rank/position

Kei Ogura - Dizziness

This is a song with lyrics written by the lyricist and singer Kei Ogura.

It isn’t very well known, but it seems it was used as an insert song in the sequel to the nostalgic drama Oretachi no Tabi, which people in their fifties and older may remember, such as The Fate of the Thirtieth Year.

Many of Kei Ogura’s songs are notable for their excellent poetry, and in Memai, the parting of a man and a woman is depicted with words that evoke vivid colors, like the sea and lipstick.

The Northern CliffsYamauchi Keisuke70rank/position

Keisuke Yamauchi “Cliffs of the North” Music Video

This work gives voice to a woman’s aching heart, as if the sea breeze were piercing her chest.

Released in February 2025 to commemorate Keisuke Yamauchi’s 25th anniversary since debut, it perfectly pairs his powerful vocals with a melody that conveys emotions with no place to go.

Set against the sheer cliffs of the north, it portrays lingering attachment, frustration, and a loss of hope for tomorrow.

It is a song that will surely stay close to the hearts of those bearing the pain of love.