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 2026 Rankings: Melancholic Songs by Japanese Male Artists (31–40)
Nylon threadSakanakushon31rank/position
This song is included on Sakanaction’s seventh album, “834.194,” released in June 2019.
It was also featured in a commercial, so many of you may have heard it.
It’s mellow, with that distinctly Sakanaction melody that slips naturally into your ears.
With words like wind, sea, and waves woven in, it makes you feel as if you’re right there—perfect for a gentle listen in the summer.
Tears of MagnoliaSutādasuto☆Rebyū32rank/position
A love ballad that sings of the profound sense of loss after losing the lover to whom eternal love was vowed.
Using the magnolia—the flower that symbolizes spring—as its motif, it beautifully depicts warm memories with a beloved person and the loneliness felt after their loss.
It was included as the first track on Stardust Revue’s album “SOLA,” released in March 1993, and was later released as a single, selling 150,000 copies.
In 2005, an acoustic version was produced for a Nikka Whisky commercial.
For those who have lost someone precious or who recall bittersweet memories in the spring season, this work will resonate deeply with your heart.
red-yellow fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans)Fujifaburikku33rank/position
A song by the Japanese rock band Fujifabric that makes you yearn for the arrival of autumn and feel the melancholy of summer’s end.
Its beautifully written, literary and lyrical Japanese lyrics depict autumnal scenes, and the band arrangement deepens that atmosphere, moving listeners to tears.
Even after the vocalist Masahiko Shimura passed away in 2009, it remains a beloved autumn classic in the rock genre.
Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi34rank/position
A classic song set in the port town of Yokohama that portrays the poignant scene of a sorrowful farewell.
Released in March 1971 as Hiroshi Itsuki’s re-debut single, it became a major hit.
Through the symbolic images depicted in the lyrics, the pain of heartbreak is expressed.
Itsuki’s rich, resonant voice further enhances the song’s world.
It’s a piece that gently accompanies those who reminisce about past love.
When you feel like looking back on memories with someone dear, why not give it a listen?
Harmony at the End of SummerInoue Yosui & Anzen Chitai35rank/position
When it comes to classic summer songs, you can’t leave out “Natsu no Owari no Harmony.” It’s a collaboration between Yosui Inoue and Anzenchitai, first performed at the concert “Stardust Rendezvous Yosui Inoue・Anzenchitai LIVE AT Jingu.” It was released as a single in 1986.
As summer draws to a close, I find myself longing for it.
The beauty of the Japanese lyrics and the resonance of their harmonies seep into the heart, tightening the chest with a sweet ache.
At the same time, it’s suffused with warmth, and one of its charms is how it brings back the admiration and excitement I felt as a child.
It’s truly dreamlike—a summer classic you want to listen to closely.
Waltz of StarlightSen Masao36rank/position
Released in March 1966, this is a gem of a love song by Masao Sen that portrays a heartrending parting and profound affection.
With a sincere vocal delivery, it delicately conveys the feelings of a man and woman who chose to go their separate ways.
Set to a waltz rhythm, its wistful melody and emotionally rich lyrics resonate deeply with listeners.
In 1968, it gained popularity through cable broadcasting and reached No.
1 on the Oricon Singles Chart for the week.
It also won the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance and became a massive hit, selling a total of 2.5 million copies.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear on sleepless nights or when lost in thought, wrapping you in a voice that stays close to your heart along with nostalgic memories.
Something CertainOda Kazumasa37rank/position
Since this song was used in a commercial, I think many people know it.
Masakazu Oda’s gentle singing voice and the poignant lyrics resonate in the heart.
It makes you think about what’s most important and what you can do right now, and it’s a song that makes you feel like you can keep trying for that answer.
Side DishShimizu Shota38rank/position
Here’s “Side Dish,” an adult tear-jerker steeped in rhythm and blues by Shota Shimizu, who cites influences from Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye.
A side dish is a dish that complements the main course, and here it’s used as a metaphor for the many “other friends” who can’t become the official steady partner.
Faced with the harsh situation of “the woman I like starts dating a guy with a bad reputation, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” what would you do? The music video—featuring nothing but a smiling woman—is also a must-see!
End of SummerShimizu Shota39rank/position
This song is a lovely ballad that captures the unique loneliness everyone feels at least once at the end of summer.
Its bittersweet yet beautiful melody seeps deep into the heart, evoking memories of a summer romance that ended too soon and a nostalgia too delicate to put into words.
Shota Shimizu’s soulful, sometimes fragile vocals bring that scene to life with even greater clarity.
The track appears on Shota Shimizu’s fifth album, ENCORE, released in March 2014.
It’s perfect for listening alone on a late summer night.
Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo40rank/position
A masterpiece that sings of hope shining through the bitter cold, its bittersweet sense of life’s melancholy resonates deeply.
Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s vocals, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with strength, seep into the depths of the heart.
Released in 1986, it won the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.
That same year, it appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and topped the Oricon charts—a work cherished by many.
Masterfully intertwining northern landscapes with the stirrings of love, this song was also used in regional tourism promotions and winter campaigns.
For many, it remains a treasured song of memories.
Why not spend a quiet moment listening to its heartwarming voice?