Unrequited Love Song Ranking in Japanese Music [2026]

From Me to Youflumpool71rank/position

flumpool “Kimi ni Todoke” Music Video

A pop tune by flumpool that was also used as the theme song for a film based on a popular comic of the same name.

The lyrics, told from a male perspective and depicting pure emotions, are irresistibly relatable.

The way the chorus suddenly soars—like feelings of love bursting out—is wonderful, too.

The dramatic development that calls to mind “When You Wish Upon a Star” is absolutely lovely.

Give it a listen when you just can’t hold back your feelings of love.

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KEI

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makeupMy Hair is Bad72rank/position

My Hair is Bad – Makeup

The three-piece rock band My Hair is Bad released the poignant ballad “Keshou” in 2019.

Sometimes you fall in love, but the person you like has feelings for someone else, and you can’t even confess—ending in heartbreak.

This song is exactly about unrequited feelings, but… it also suggests there might be a physical relationship.

Being accepted in such a halfway manner, yet never becoming the most important person in the end—that’s really painful, isn’t it? For those who’ve been through the same experience, I think this is a heartbreak song that will make your chest tighten.

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sasashina

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KanadeSukima Suichi73rank/position

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

Released in 2004, this second single is an indispensable classic ballad when talking about Sukima Switch.

It was featured as an insert song in the film “Rough” and as a TV drama theme, and in 2006 it was also chosen as the ending theme for the final day of “Nettou Koshien.” The lyrics, depicting a moment of parting, convey the protagonist’s aching attempt to send their feelings to the one who is leaving, along with a wish to remain connected in their hearts.

When you reach a turning point in life—graduation, a job change, and so on—listening to this song will bring back memories from that time, and the tears will naturally start to flow.

With its gentle tempo and piano tones that soak into the heart, it’s a profoundly moving track.

You and the slopesSHISHAMO74rank/position

SHISHAMO “You and the Slopes”

Kimi to Gelende, with its catchy melody that evokes an exciting romance, is actually a song packed tightly with deep sadness—quite the opposite of its tune.

It tells a heartbreaking story: the person she’s long had a crush on actually likes another girl, and when she sees the two of them getting along, she realizes their feelings for each other.

A bittersweet track like that.

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utatane

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wrapTENSONG75rank/position

TENSONG “Matoi (Wrapped In)” [Official Music Video]

A gem of a love song that portrays a bittersweet form of love between a man and a woman.

It expresses the desire everyone has to love in their own way, rendered through TENSONG’s distinctive sound.

Released in July 2021, the track captured the hearts of many listeners, reaching No.

2 on LINE MUSIC.

It delicately sings of the confusion at parting, love that isn’t swayed by others’ opinions, and experiences that should be etched in the heart as precious memories—all carried by vocalist Takabō’s high, clear voice.

This is a song that stands beside anyone struggling with love and gently conveys that there are many ways to love.

I wish you were hereLEGO BIG MORL76rank/position

LEGO BIG MORL “I Wish You Were Here” Music Video

A song about feelings for a lover you’ll never meet again is “Anata ga Ireba Ii no ni” by the Osaka-born rock band LEGO BIG MORL.

It was included on their 2017 album “Shinzō no Ibasho.” The song was created around 2011, the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and it’s said that Hiroki Tanaka, who wrote the lyrics, also lost someone dear to him.

Those emotions are reflected in the song’s words.

If you’re currently in unrequited love, it might be best to express your feelings while you still can.

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Hamada Takuya

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waiting in vainrokudenashi77rank/position

Rokudenashi “Left Waiting” / Rokudenashi – Stood Me Up [Official Music Video]

This is a work by Rokudenashi, who began activities in 2021, delicately depicting the emotions of unrequited love.

The subtle shifts of a heart that can’t quite face the other person’s kindness, and the loneliness of being able only to watch them talk with someone else, leave a strong impression.

The vocals woven by Ninjin carry a warmth that feels like it gently heats the heart on a quiet winter night.

Written and composed by Hifumi, the song was released as a single in October 2021.

It’s a track that stands beside those troubled by love, offering empathy and comfort.

For anyone who holds a painful feeling they can’t confess to anyone—their love for someone dear—this song is meant for you.

Mikan HeartC&K78rank/position

C&K – Mikan Heart

Even if your head knows it’s a hopeless love, your heart can’t let go so easily, right? This song by the male duo C&K is their 10th single, released in October 2013.

Centered on the theme of an incomplete heart, it’s known as a ballad that passionately sings of the frustration of unrequited love.

The music video features Haruma Miura and Naoko Watanabe, and its heartrending story drew a lot of attention.

The song vividly portrays the wavering feelings that soar and sink with every little word or action from the other person, and listening to it makes your chest tighten.

It’s a classic also included on the album “CK AND MORE…,” a gentle companion for anyone carrying the pain of one-sided love.

flowerL’Arc〜en〜Ciel79rank/position

L’Arc～en～Ciel「flower」-Music Clip-

A signature song by L’Arc〜en〜Ciel that beautifully portrays the ache of unrequited love.

Hyde’s crystal-clear vocals superbly capture a heart swaying between dreams and reality.

Released in October 1996, the track was also used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Professional Baseball News.” It’s recommended not only for those suffering from unattainable love but also for anyone feeling nostalgic for their youth.

Listen to it in the afternoon sunlight, and those bittersweet memories from back then may come rushing back.

two peopleaiko80rank/position

aiko - “Futari” music video

Despite its upbeat, fast-paced pop melody, this aiko classic grips the heart with a piercing, aching sadness.

Released as a single in March 2008, it’s also included on the acclaimed album “Himitsu.” In 2014, it was featured in a commercial for Hoyu’s BeautyLabo Whip Hair Color, leaving a lasting impression on many listeners.

The song portrays the frustration of knowing in your head that you shouldn’t fall in love, while your heart can’t keep up.

The bravado of telling yourself you’re glad you realized it before getting in too deep, and the vivid imagery of the Ferris wheel in the background, are sure to cut to the core of anyone suffering from an unrequited love.

Precisely because of its bright sound, it brings even more tears—making it a track you’ll want to listen to on nights when you’re burdened with feelings you can’t do anything about.