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.
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Popular J-Pop Male Singers’ Breakup Songs: Ranking 2026 (11–20)
Ruby RingTerao Akira11rank/position
This is a classic song that poignantly sings about the pain of a broken heart.
Akira Terao’s distinctive voice conveys the loneliness and lingering attachment after a breakup with even greater depth.
Released in February 1981, the song became a massive hit, topping the Oricon charts for ten consecutive weeks.
It was also featured in a Yokohama Tires commercial, leaving a lasting impression on many listeners.
The image of the protagonist still searching for a former lover’s face in the city, even years after parting, is striking and symbolizes the lingering feelings they carry.
It’s a song that I believe will resonate with anyone who has experienced the loss of someone important.
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā12rank/position
A song that candidly portrays the clingy emotions of a heartbroken man, it is Golden Bomber’s seventh single, released in October 2009.
While influenced by Showa-era kayōkyoku, it also features a distinctive sound with elements of Eurobeat.
It captured the hearts of many, winning the JASRAC Gold Award in 2014.
Combined with the band’s unique concept as a visual kei “air band,” it’s also very popular for karaoke—perfect for getting hyped with friends.
Recommended for those who want to empathize with the pain of heartbreak or sing their hearts out to feel refreshed.
cherrysupittsu13rank/position
With its melodious sound and lyrical lyrics, this masterpiece gently stays close to the heart.
While looking back on the days of a bygone youth, the protagonist’s resolve to keep moving forward carries a warmth that invites everyone’s empathy.
Released in April 1996 and reaching No.
1 on the Oricon charts, the song was also included on the album “Indigo Chiheisen,” and has been featured in NTT East’s TV commercials since 2019.
This piece is perfect for moments when you want to take a new step forward while cherishing memories with someone special, or when you feel like linking arms with friends and singing together—any time you need a boost of positivity.
Goodbyeofukōsu14rank/position
This is a pure love ballad that poignantly portrays the end of a romance, released as an Off Course single in December 1979.
With Kazumasa Oda’s warm yet translucent vocals and a heart-stirring melody, the song richly conveys the sorrow of parting.
Its gentle, relatable lyrics—about a first heartbreak or a bittersweet farewell to someone dear—have made it a beloved classic that quietly resonates with listeners.
It was also featured as an insert song in the first season of the TBS drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B” and later included on the album “SELECTION 1978-81.” As a song that stands by you through the poignant end of love that comes with winter’s chill, it’s especially recommended for those facing a farewell with someone important.
loveMatsuyama Chiharu15rank/position
Chiharu Matsuyama, a hugely popular artist among the Showa generation and a representative figure of Hokkaido.
His song “Koi” (Love) was released in 1980 as his eighth single and is one of his signature tracks.
Sung from a woman’s perspective, it expresses the feeling of deciding to say goodbye because she’s utterly exhausted by her current life and by the effort of continuing to love her partner.
You can sense the temperature gap between men and women in love, and the many ways their feelings miss each other.
Thinking about the woman’s position—as if she’s trying to convince herself—makes it all the more painful and heartbreaking.
After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke16rank/position
This is “Matsuri no Ato” (After the Festival), released in 1994 as the fifth single by Keisuke Kuwata, an artist Japan is proud of.
It was used as the theme song for the drama “Shizukanaru Don.” From the title alone you can sense a somewhat wistful atmosphere, making it a perfect piece for the end of summer.
The lyrics evoke the end of summer and the arrival of autumn, while at the same time depicting the end of one man’s love, capturing a poignant sadness.
The slightly melancholic melody and Kuwata’s vocals amplify that feeling even more.
Let your feelings go and give it a listen.
cherry blossomKobukuro17rank/position
This is one of the signature songs by Kobukuro, the musical duo of Shunsuke Kuroda and Kentaro Kobuchi.
It portrays a farewell tied to the cherry blossom season, one that can be seen as both a heartbreak song and a graduation song.
While expressing the loneliness of parting, it also depicts a resolve to move forward into the future, with powerful lyrics that convey a bright sense of hope.
It’s a warm track that also serves as a cheer-up song, offering the strength to overcome a bittersweet farewell.
Last SongGACKT18rank/position
Starting from a silence like freshly fallen snow and gradually building into passion, this dramatic progression makes it one of GACKT’s most memorable ballads.
The poignant theme of a “last song” dedicated to a loved one resonates deeply with listeners.
Released as a single in November 2003, it also plays a crucial role in the narrative of the album Crescent and continues to be cherished by fans today.
It was performed at the 54th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a widely known episode where its overwhelming expressiveness deeply moved audiences at home.
It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to quietly accept a love that has ended, or on nights when you look back on the past alone and try to face forward.
Tokyoichou BOYZ19rank/position
Even though I should be sad, what I keep remembering are the good times.
It’s a song by the punk rock band Ginnan BOYZ, who led the rock scene of the 2000s.
It’s included on their 2005 album “Kimi to Boku no Daisanji Sekai Taisen-teki Ren’ai Kakumei” (A Third World War-esque Love Revolution Between You and Me).
The lyrics describe how, in the midst of the city, the image of the person you love suddenly pops into your head.
The wrung-out vocals and palpable emotion are irresistibly compelling—an achingly moving work.
Give it a listen when you really want to cry your heart out.
Sly womanSha ran Q20rank/position
This is a hardcore heartbreak song, so I want you to sing it while deliberately facing reality.
In the end, the song concludes with a lingering desire to see her again, so it’s a perfect recommendation for someone who still can’t get over his ex.
Sing it and give her a call.