Unrequited Love Song Ranking in Japanese Music [2026]

wishsumika15rank/position

sumika / Wish [Music Video]

A song by sumika that portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love and hope for the future.

The protagonist’s inner struggle—wishing happiness for the one they love while being unable to suppress their own feelings—is especially striking.

Released in December 2019 as the theme song for the drama “Ossan’s Love -in the sky-,” it reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

The music video has also been viewed over 20 million times, capturing the hearts of many.

It’s recommended not only for those wrestling with love, but also for anyone who wants to cherish the feeling of wishing someone else happiness.

Why not listen to this piece and face the “wish” that lies within you?

somedaySaucy Dog16rank/position

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

This is a song by Saucy Dog that sings of a bittersweet love.

The lyrics, filled with youthful memories—like climbing a hill, gazing at the stars, and the moment of holding hands for the first time—resonate deeply.

Included on the mini-album “Country Road” released in May 2017, it later reached No.

95 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in October 2021 following their performance on THE FIRST TAKE.

It has also become a popular track, surpassing 200 million streams.

Recommended for those who can relate to holding onto hope—“until the day we meet again”—even while carrying the pain of heartbreak.

Unrequited lovemiwa17rank/position

miwa 'Unrequited Love'

A ballad that portrays a heartrending love, seeping into the heart with its translucent vocals and the warm sound of the piano.

Included on the March 2012 album “guitarium,” it was selected as the ending theme for the music information program “saku saku” in February 2012.

The lyrics delicately express the feelings of a secret, unspoken crush and the bittersweet pain of being unable to get closer the more you care.

With a heartwarming melody that gently embraces the frustration of being unable to confess and the anxiety that everyone experiences when they fall in love, this song offers solace and support.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are keeping their feelings for someone special tucked away in their hearts.

I like you, but it seems you don’t really like me.back number18rank/position

I like you, but it seems you don't really like me / back number (cover)

As its straightforward title, “I Like You, But You Don’t Seem to Like Me,” suggests, this back number song expresses the feelings of confessing love only to be turned down.

Included on their fourth major studio album, Chandelier, released in 2015, the track was never released as a single yet remains highly popular among fans, and it even inspired the short film “Everything I Can Still Do for You.” Sung from a male perspective, it’s a heartrending piece that captures emotions that can’t be contained.

whiteoutreGretGirl19rank/position

reGretGirl "Whiteout" Official Music Video

This song starts off with hard rock, but the lyrics are really heart-wrenching.

It’s written from a male perspective, yet I’m sure many women can relate as well.

In the past, people would bring up breakups face-to-face, but these days it seems more common to use social media.

It’s lonely and sad, but I suppose romance changes with the times.

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Ozaki Shunji

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CHE.R.RYYUI20rank/position

CHE.R.RY – YUI (Full)

This is a cute love song by YUI that portrays exchanges over a cell phone with someone you like.

A single message can make your heart race, and you find yourself resisting the urge to reply right away.

It’s the kind of bittersweet, unrequited feeling that makes you think, “I know exactly how that feels!” Released in March 2007 as her eighth single and featured in a KDDI “LISMO!” commercial, the song became a huge hit that captured many hearts.

When your chest is full of feelings of love, listening to it will surely lift your spirits.

It’s a heart-fluttering track that feels like it’s cheering on your romance.

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE21rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

When it comes to refreshing songs that signal the start of summer, Aoi to Natsu is a standout.

Released in 2018 by the rock band Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, known for creating theme songs for numerous anime and films, it delivers an energetic band sound that evokes a breezy youthfulness.

The lyrics are cool, reminding us that everyone is the protagonist of their own life.

Set to a driving rhythm, blossoming feelings of love are sure to accelerate.

It’s a dynamic track that wraps up the anxieties and loneliness of unrequited love.

Give this upbeat tune a listen—it’ll make you excited for the summer ahead!

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mutō

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