Kana Nishino’s Love Songs: Popular Track Rankings [2026]

Because it makes me want to see youNishino Kana15rank/position

Kana Nishino “Because I Start Wanting to See You” Live Performance

A poignant love song by Kana Nishino that skillfully portrays the emotional landscape of a woman who acts strong on the outside yet quietly holds on to her loneliness and longing to see someone.

The lyrics, written in relatable, everyday language about growing feelings for an ex-lover, resonated with many and immediately captured the hearts of young women upon release.

Released in June 2009, the song appeared as a lead single from her first album, “LOVE one.” It was also chosen as a POWER PLAY on NTV’s “Music Fighter,” becoming a signature track that brought Kana Nishino’s name to wider recognition.

It’s a song that offers comfort to those unable to recover from the pain of heartbreak or to sever lingering feelings for a former partner.

ifNishino Kana16rank/position

Kana Nishino “if” MV Full

“If” has a melody that conveys a poignant feeling right from the intro—it’s such a beautiful song.

It’s the piece my student practiced the most, and it holds special memories because they said, “I want to sing with a beautiful voice like Kana-yan’s!” and overcame their struggle with falsetto.

The highest note in this song is D#5, which is of course high, but I think the improvised falsetto lines at the beginning and end can be tough if you’re not used to them, since they’re sung with various articulations.

Those ad-lib sections sound so beautiful, so it’s worth nailing them.

With themes like “fateful encounters” and “hopes for the future,” I’d love for you to sing it to someone important to you.

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Kubota Mami

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EsperanzaNishino Kana17rank/position

Kana Nishino “Esperanza” MV Full

A song by Kana Nishino that expresses the bittersweet feelings of a woman’s unrequited love through passionate Latin sounds.

Even though she knows the person she likes already has a partner, the woman’s complex emotions still resonate deeply.

The sound of Spanish guitar and the powerful vocals beautifully fuse heartache with a forward-looking spirit.

Released in May 2011, it was used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Sukkiri!!” and was included on the album “Thank you, Love.” It won the Excellence Award at the 53rd Japan Record Awards.

This is a song that stands by women troubled by unrequited love and gives them the courage to keep looking ahead without giving up.

Things I like about youNishino Kana18rank/position

Kana Nishino “The Things I Like About You” MV (Short Ver.)

When it comes to expressing the feelings of a woman in love, Kana Nishino is the go-to artist, strongly associated with romance songs.

She’s a charismatic figure in love songs, especially among young women.

Her 28th single, released in 2016, is this track, “Anata no Suki na Tokoro” (“What I Like About You”).

It’s a love song overflowing with a happy aura.

As the title suggests, it’s a number that calmly lists all the things she likes about her partner, though here and there you might wonder, “Wait, is she dissing him?” Even so, it comes across as a cute love song that makes you feel that’s exactly what being head-over-heels looks like.

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utatane

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Feeling in loveNishino Kana19rank/position

Kana Nishino 'Feelings of Love' MV Full

A love song by Kana Nishino that portrays the struggles of two people who are more than friends but not quite lovers.

The secret feelings harbored for a longtime best friend are expressed with heartrending delicacy.

Even when the mind has given up, the heart can’t help but hold onto a faint hope—an emotion anyone who’s experienced unrequited love can relate to.

Featured on the album “with LOVE,” this track was released in November 2014 and captured the hearts of many listeners.

It’s a must-listen for anyone wavering between friendship and romance.

AlwaysNishino Kana20rank/position

Kana Nishino 'Always' MV Full

A song distinguished by its warm, gentle melody and lyrics that resonate with the heart.

The words remind us of the gratitude we tend to forget in everyday life, emphasizing the importance of phrases like “I’m sorry,” “Welcome home,” “I love you,” and “Thank you.” Released in November 2012, the track was also featured in a Sony headphones commercial, capturing the hearts of many.

When you want to express appreciation to someone you love or reaffirm your bond with someone important, why not give this song a listen? Wrapped in its tender vocals, you’ll feel a gentle warmth of love spread through your heart.

If there really is a destined person for meNishino Kana21rank/position

Kana Nishino “If My Soulmate Exists” MV (Short Ver.)

In the 2010s, Kana Nishino enjoyed overwhelming popularity with her love songs.

Her realistic lyrics—said to be written based on her own and her friends’ experiences—resonate with many people.

Among her many cute tracks, one I particularly recommend is “If There’s Such a Thing as a Soulmate.” It’s a medium-tempo pop tune released in 2015, composed by Takashi Yamaguchi, who also worked on “Darling.” The lyrics, themed around the idea of a “soulmate,” are romantic, portraying the dilemma between reality and ideal in a charmingly relatable way.

One of Kana Nishino’s greatest appeals is how she can make songs that feel like snippets of inner monologue come across as irresistibly charming.

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KEI

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