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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Top 10 Breakup Songs by Japanese Male Artists [2026] (Ranks 71–80)
The Northern CliffsYamauchi Keisuke71rank/position
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.
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi72rank/position
This is the song used to accentuate the calm atmosphere in the Suntory Maker’s Mark commercial, which portrays the unchanging deliciousness of the whiskey through a character played by Shun Oguri who is immortal.
The track is also famous as the theme song for the feature-length anime 5 Centimeters per Second, and it conveys a bittersweet sentiment over the sound of an acoustic guitar.
The lyrics honestly express memories of the past and the regrets tied to them, as well as the pain of wishing for “just one more time,” even while knowing it can never come true.
The part about instinctively looking for someone’s figure somewhere—a feeling many can relate to—also heightens the sense of poignancy.
The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akira73rank/position
A song that paints a bittersweet love story reminiscent of late summer, mirroring it with the changing colors of cyclamen flowers.
Akira Fuse’s supple, soaring vocals richly convey the emotions from the beginning of love to the loneliness of parting.
Released in April 1975, the track reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart in May of the same year.
It garnered numerous awards, including the Japan Record Award, and became a major hit, ranking second on Oricon’s year-end chart.
It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to when you need to heal the pain of heartbreak or when you feel nostalgic for your bygone youth.
The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka74rank/position
Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s hit song “Saigo no HOLY NIGHT.” Released in November 1986, this track was used in a JAL commercial and later featured in a Tsuburaya Productions commercial as well.
It’s a rare case of a single song being used in multiple ads over a short period.
While it didn’t sell extraordinarily—about 250,000 copies, making it a moderate hit—because it was featured in several commercials as mentioned, many people will find it familiar.
Lonely Way of the WindSugiyama Kiyotaka75rank/position
A masterpiece that portrays urban loneliness and hope for the future, with a crystal-clear singing voice that resonates deep in the heart.
Like a breeze sweeping through an unfamiliar street corner, this solo work by Kiyotaka Sugiyama beautifully sings of feelings for a former lover.
It carries a profound message that even after parting with someone important, past memories never fade and continue to sustain the heart.
Released in January 1988, the song captured the hearts of many viewers as the theme for “Tuesday Suspense Theater” and reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart.
Its lyrics, which express a refreshing resignation and the courage to look forward, will surely kindle a quiet light in the hearts of those seeking to overcome the pain of heartbreak.
I miss youHayashibe Satoshi76rank/position
This is a song by Satoshi Hayashibe, who became instantly famous on a certain karaoke TV show.
He has a crystal-clear voice, and just hearing him is sure to bring tears to your eyes.
The lyrics are relatable even for women, and simply listening to the song fills you with a poignant ache.
MoonlightKuwana Masahiro77rank/position
This is one of Masahiro Kuwana’s signature songs, poignantly singing of the pain of heartbreak and the transience of parting.
Against a nighttime scene illuminated by moonlight, it portrays the complex emotions of a man on the verge of setting out on a journey.
The gratitude he feels toward his beloved and the sorrow of farewell are memorably conveyed through Kuwana’s characteristically gentle vocals.
Originally released in 1978, the song was self-covered a decade later in 1988 and included on the album “IT’S ONLY LOVE.” With the passage of time, his deepened voice lends the track an even more heartfelt resonance.
It’s a song I especially recommend to those seeking to heal the pain of heartbreak or who have experienced a farewell with someone dear.
If being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaro78rank/position
Naotaro Moriyama’s “If Living Is Painful” has a title that pierces the heart.
Released in 2008 as Moriyama’s 16th single, the song features lyrics written by poet Omodaka Kite, a friend of Moriyama’s.
The lyrics may seem a bit shocking right from the start, yet the gentle melody brings a gradual sense of solace.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to not only after heartbreak but also during life’s difficult times—a piece you’ll want to keep as a talisman.
Our FailureMorita Doji79rank/position
Bokutachi no Shippai, which carries a warmth even amid despair, is a song released by Doji Morita in 1976.
It sings of the sorrow and regret of a couple who had been living together but eventually broke up.
Yet it isn’t only about negative emotions; it also expresses a deep love, which may be what gives the song its warmth.
Incidentally, the lyrics include many phrases that can serve as windows into 1970s culture.
If you come across anything unfamiliar, be sure to look it up!
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo80rank/position
This song, known as one of Eigo Kawashima’s signature works, portrays with poignant strength a man numbing the pain of a broken heart with alcohol and a woman washing it away with tears.
Released in June 1976, it became a nationwide hit, aided by its use in a commercial for Kizakura Brewery.
There’s also a well-known anecdote that Kawashima wrote the lyrics and composed the music at age 19, inspired by his uncle.
Influenced by folk music, its simple melody and lyrics that capture both the strength and vulnerability of men strike a deep chord.
It’s the perfect track for healing the wounds of heartbreak or facing life’s struggles.
Why not listen on a quiet night with a glass in hand?