Unrequited Love Song Ranking in Japanese Music [2026]

even ifHirai Ken91rank/position

Ken Hirai - even if

Ken Hirai’s timeless classic “even if” always brings me to the verge of tears whenever I listen to it.

Released as a single in 2000, it serves as the theme song for “Ken’s Bar,” his acoustic live series performed in a bar-style setting.

The song captures the reality of having a good rapport and an enjoyable connection, yet knowing the other person already has someone they like.

The opening lines are deeply relatable, highlighting the special and fragile nature of the moments you can spend together.

It’s heartbreaking how, overwhelmed by love, you want to confess your feelings but can’t—and how those unreturned emotions ache so deeply.

The final chorus, where raw feelings burst forth, is utterly tear-jerking.

It’s a bittersweet heartbreak song and a mature piece that gently accompanies all kinds of love.

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KEI

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Best Friend’s GirlSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu92rank/position

Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE / Best Friend’s Girl

This song features the beautiful vocals and clean accompaniment characteristic of Sandaime J Soul Brothers.

The title “Best Friend’s Girl” literally means your best friend’s girlfriend.

You can probably guess where this is going—it’s a bittersweet story about falling in love with your best friend’s girlfriend.

Some men reading this might have been in the same situation.

You love the woman, but if you confess your feelings, it could ruin your friendship… So what should you do with these feelings? Just listening to the song, those helpless, heartbreaking emotions make your chest ache.

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Hane Keisuke

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MissingKubota Toshinobu93rank/position

Missing

Among the standout Showa-era ballads of the 1980s, this piece shines with a special brilliance.

Portraying the pain of heartbreak and inner turmoil, the ballad—imbued with Toshinobu Kubota’s distinctive musicality and deep emotional expression—resonates with many listeners.

Released in September 1986 on his debut album “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” it wasn’t actually a single, yet it gained such popularity that it has been covered by numerous artists.

It was also chosen as the ending theme for TBS’s “Uwasa-teki Tatsujin” and TV Asahi’s “World Pro Wrestling,” earning love across generations.

For anyone who has experienced heartbreak or harbors unspoken feelings, this is a song that will surely be by your side.

to youMONGOL80094rank/position

To You by MONGOL800

A signature number from MONGOL800 that blends the warmth and exhilarating drive of Okinawa’s breeze.

The lyrics, written in straightforward words, convey overflowing feelings for a loved one directly, heating listeners’ hearts.

Released in September 2001, it’s included on the classic album “MESSAGE,” which sold over 2.8 million copies.

Though not a single, it has been featured in a detergent commercial, the film “Utatama♪,” and the drama “Ososaki no Himawari,” and has been loved for many years.

Its appeal is also evident from covers by artists like Mrs.

GREEN APPLE.

Its unadorned words give a push to one-sided love and help deepen the bond between two people.

I LOVE…Ofisharu Higedan Dism95rank/position

Official HIGE DANDism – I LOVE… [Official Video]

This song, which tries to express feelings kept close to the chest, is a track by Official HIGE DANDism, who are currently exploding in popularity on the domestic music scene.

It also drew attention as the theme song for the drama “An Incurable Case of Love.” As the lyrics in the opening suggest, many of us have experienced how our everyday perceptions change when we fall for someone, right? Those highly relatable lyrics are one of their big appeals.

And of course, after the title “I LOVE…” you’d expect “YOU,” but that single word can be so hard to say…

Listening to this song, you can really feel that tight, aching sensation of unrequited love.

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Hane Keisuke

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