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

Maplesupittsu1rank/position

Spitz / Kaede

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

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

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

Okazaki Taiiku “Heartbreak Song” Music Video

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

The Last Rain

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

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

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.

Love SongShimizu Shota6rank/position

Shota Shimizu “Koi Uta” MV

A bittersweet breakup song that quietly strikes the heart with lingering feelings for an ex and an overwhelming, unfixable regret.

Sung by Shota Shimizu, an artist who weaves R&B and soul sensibilities into Japanese, the track’s lo-fi warmth slowly seeps into you.

While looking back on the past, it honestly captures the loneliness of a daily life that will never return; its lack of over-the-top drama makes the pain feel all the more real.

Released in May 2021, it was later included on the album HOPE.

It’s a sentimental love ballad that gently stays by your side on nights when you want to sink into memories alone in your room, or when you need a good cry while holding onto feelings you still can’t let go.

Cats and Allergieskinoko teikoku7rank/position

Kinoko Teikoku – Cats and Allergies

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.