Ranking of Heart-Wrenching Songs by Male J-Pop Singers [2026]
What kind of music do you all like?
There are many types—fun songs, refreshing songs, and more—but I think many people also like “heart-wrenching” songs.
Among those bittersweet songs, here are recommended tracks sung by male vocalists, presented in a ranking format.
This list is updated regularly, so check back from time to time.
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Top 20 Most Heartbreaking Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026] (Ranks 11–20)
futureKobukuro11rank/position
A very heartrending ballad about continuing to hide your feelings so you can go on liking someone.
It’s a song by Kobukuro that became the theme for the film “orange.” If confessing your love doesn’t lead to mutual feelings, you’ll have to give up… In that case, it’s better to stay in unrequited love.
The protagonist of this song may find it harder to bear being unable to stay by that person’s side than the pain of unrequited love.
If you remain friends, you can always be by their side as a friend… It’s a bittersweet love song that conveys a strong will and the depth of love.
rainbowSuda Masaki12rank/position
Masaki Suda, who is active both as an actor and a singer, released “Niji” in 2020.
The song was written and composed by singer-songwriter Huey Ishizaki.
Carried by the interwoven tones of acoustic guitar and strings, his gentle singing voice resonates.
Its message, depicting the bond with a partner who shares one’s life, will touch your heart.
It has been used in many TikTok videos featuring everyday moments with loved ones, family scenes, and beautiful landscapes.
Give it a listen while thinking of someone you want to cherish forever.
budKobukuro13rank/position
It’s a masterpiece overflowing with feelings for a beloved person you can no longer meet.
Written by Kentaro Kobuchi of Kobukuro in memory of his mother, whom he lost in his teens, the song was specially composed in 2007 as the theme for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” It begins with gentle acoustic guitar and then swells into a dramatic development in the chorus that truly moves the heart.
The lyrics portray hope for a future that will bloom like a bud not yet in full flower, along with the belief that the person you can no longer see is still watching over and cheering you on from somewhere.
When you recall the kindness of someone dear who is now far away, you may find tears spilling out before you know it.
the red threadKobukuro14rank/position
A love ballad by Kobukuro inspired by the legend that two people destined to be together are connected by an invisible red thread.
If you get a good answer on White Day, you might think, “We were connected by a red thread”…
or rather, you’d want to think so, right? The lyrics tell a story of two people whose relationship begins with a childhood crush and, over time, grows into true love—so much so that you could probably make a whole drama or film from them.
While inheriting the worldview Kobukuro has built so far, the song also feels fresh in its own way.
Voice of the Seaurashima tarō (kiritani kenta)15rank/position
The song “Umi no Koe” (Voice of the Sea) is an au commercial tune in which Kenta Kiritani, playing Urashima Tarō, sings of his yearning for Otohime.
The composition is by BEGIN’s Masaru Shimabukuro, and incredibly, the sanshin is performed by Kiritani himself.
The song is poignant not only because it’s about a love that may never reach its destination, but also because the simple sanshin melody and Kiritani’s unadorned vocals amplify the sense of longing.
It’s also a popular karaoke number, so if you’re experiencing unrequited love, why not sing it and let your feelings out?
White LoversKuwata Keisuke16rank/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.
SquallFukuyama Masaharu17rank/position
Masaharu Fukuyama’s song delicately portrays the joys and bittersweetness of summer romance, brimming with the intensity and beauty of emotions like a passing summer shower.
Released in 1999 and included on the album “Magnum Collection 1999 ‘Dear’,” the piece won broad support from fans for its emotionally rich vocals and profound lyrics, and it was also featured in films and TV dramas.
In particular, it vividly captures the feelings of a woman in love, evoking each fleeting moment of a summer romance.
Showcasing Fukuyama’s vocal prowess and musical sensibility, this track is recommended for those in love and for anyone wishing to bask in summer memories.
Fire◎Flowerhalyosy18rank/position
Speaking of summer, it’s the season of love! This song likens the fleeting nature of romance to fireworks coloring the night sky.
Even while regretting falling in love, the lyrics convey a continued longing for the other person.
Listening to it makes you feel as if a cool breeze is blowing, just like on a summer night.
single bedSha ran Q19rank/position
A melodious ballad that poignantly portrays the feelings of a man who, after heartbreak, can’t bring himself to step into a new love.
The single bed etched with memories of his beloved now stands as a symbol of lonely solitude.
The simple, everyday happiness they once shared, and the aching longing for someone who has now become distant, tighten the chest.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, this song was used as the ending theme for the anime D·N·A² and is also included on the album “Inferiority Complex.” It’s a song that gently supports those who are trying to move forward while looking back on a past love, and those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi20rank/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.