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)
Something CertainOda Kazumasa36rank/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 Shota37rank/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 Shota38rank/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.
The town where you liveShimizu Shota39rank/position
This is a ballad that paints the feelings of someone who, in unguarded moments, finds themselves searching for traces of a lover who should no longer be there.
It’s a song by singer-songwriter Shota Shimizu, released in October 2010 as his eighth single.
The track is also included on the album COLORS.
You can almost picture the protagonist overlaying the face of the one they can no longer meet onto a lookalike spotted on a station platform or onto familiar cityscapes.
Imagining the city where that person lives and simply wishing to see them—those one-sided feelings are, in a way, the very essence of a lingering “unrequited love” that follows a finished romance.
The melody, like an autumn dusk—lonely yet warm—soaks into the heart.
If there’s someone you can’t forget, listening to this will surely resonate deeply.
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?
Top Heart-Wrenching Songs by Male J-Pop Singers: Popular Ranking [2026] (41–50)
Love LetterGACKT41rank/position
This song, based on acoustic guitar and strings, is GACKT’s heartfelt expression of gratitude to his fans.
Produced in February 2005 as the title track of the album “Love Letter” and later released as a single in March 2006, it was chosen as the ending theme for the animated film Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam III: A New Translation – Love is the Pulse of the Stars.
The gentle vocals and delicate composition blend together, while the lyrics tenderly weave feelings of love for someone precious, leaving a deep impression.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to reflect on your feelings for those close to you—not only lovers, but also family and friends.
everything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVA42rank/position
A healing summer song by KREVA released in 2005.
It’s so comfortable you can’t stop hitting repeat.
The lyrics mention being far from perfect, but just listening puts you in a resort mood.
It’s very easy to sing, so it’s great for karaoke too! The song is about two people who care about each other and want to enjoy the summer, but end up lazing around anyway.
Extraordinary, out-of-the-ordinary experiences are a lot of fun, but maybe just spending time slowly with someone you love is enough to make you happy.
It’s a KREVA-style, love-filled track.
