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 10 Heart-Wrenching Songs by Male J-Pop Singers [2026] (1–10)
Unrequited love.haji→8rank/position
This is a song about an unrequited love, overflowing with a sense of longing.
When you contrast the exciting memories with your current feelings, the ache only deepens.
Haj→’s powerful vocals intensify the emotion of love.
The final line, which candidly speaks for those experiencing an unrequited love, is truly moving.
Donut holehachi9rank/position
This is a Vocaloid song produced by Hachi, posted in 2013.
Hachi is Kenshi Yonezu’s producer name for his Vocaloid works, and if you listen closely, you can sense Yonezu’s signature style even in his songs from that time.
The track is upbeat and catchy, yet somehow bittersweet…
Please give it a listen—and try singing it, too.
futureKobukuro10rank/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.
Top 20 Most Heartbreaking Songs by Male Japanese Artists [2026] (Ranks 11–20)
rainbowSuda Masaki11rank/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.
budKobukuro12rank/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 threadKobukuro13rank/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)14rank/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?