Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]

petalback number85rank/position

back number – Hanabira (full)

A heartbreaking breakup song that overlays the fleeting memories of love with cherry blossom petals.

The lyrics delicately portray how memories with a lover linger everywhere in the city, turning even everyday scenes into amplifiers of pain.

While still holding on to love, the reality is that they will never meet again.

This song carries a message that gently embraces that hurt.

Released in April 2011, it was featured as the ending theme for JAPAN COUNTDOWN.

It is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced a painful romance.

bamboo-copterKasamura Tōta86rank/position

Taketombo / feat. Vocoflex

A heartrending melody and lyrics that leave a deep mark on the heart.

It’s a song by Tota Kasamura, released in May 2024.

The feelings of someone who has gone through a breakup are portrayed with delicate nuance.

The gentle tones of the piano and the strong, resonant vocals create a harmony you can’t help but be absorbed in.

And the repeated words “It’s okay”…

it truly shakes the soul.

Of course, it’s wonderful to listen to yourself, but if you have a friend who’s struggling, sending it to them might just help.

First loveUtada Hikaru87rank/position

Hikaru Utada “First Love” (Short Version)

It’s a striking song that starts abruptly with Hikaru Utada’s vocals, without any prelude.

Whether it’s the chorus or the build-up to it, every part of the track conveys a sense of poignancy.

The lyrics vividly express the sadness and pain of first love.

The intricate melodies—ones that only Hikaru Utada could write—also speak to the complexities of love, making the wistfulness all the more palpable.

The end of lovemafumafu88rank/position

It’s the End of Love / Mafumafu [Music Video (Drama ver.)]

A song by Mafumafu, the singer-songwriter also known from the musical unit After the Rain.

It tells the story of a bittersweet love: going to a summer festival with someone you like, but lacking the courage to confess and letting it end there.

I’m sure many people have had a similar experience.

The lyrics are packed with delicate, true-to-life feelings, like memories of a fleeting love from school days.

If you’ve ever given up on a crush at a festival, please give it a listen.

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sasashina

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#302Hirai Ken89rank/position

Ken Hirai '#302' MUSIC VIDEO

Ken Hirai, a singer with a captivating husky high-tone voice, is known for his many popular love songs! In these lyrics, the protagonist has feelings for a woman who has just had her heart broken.

The song depicts the two of them going to karaoke together, and it’s truly moving.

That’s because, while he feels it’s unfair to be kind to her when she’s vulnerable, he still wants to be her support—an expression of love from the bottom of his heart.

If you’re wondering what to do when the person you like has just gone through a breakup, maybe treating them gently, as in these lyrics, could be one way to go.

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Hane Keisuke

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to cry innocently; to weep with a childlike airAKASAKI90rank/position

[AKASAKI] Adokenaku / Innocently Crying (Lyric Video)

This is a heartwarming song that delicately portrays the desire to protect someone precious.

The lyrics weave a world where love and longing for the other person intersect, resulting in a track that quietly seeps into the heart.

Crafted with AKASAKI’s naturally gentle vocals, the song has drawn significant attention, including being selected as Kiss FM KOBE’s recommended Japanese track for January 2025.

It marks the seventh single for AKASAKI, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter currently in high school.

This piece is one you’ll want to listen to when thinking of someone important who is far away, or someone who is no longer by your side.

Why not immerse yourself in its warm sonic world—like a tender whisper in your ear—while letting your feelings for a loved one grow deeper?

Fallen blossoms were watching summer.resipa91rank/position

Fallen blossoms were watching the summer. / Hatsune Miku

A bittersweet yet beautiful piece that paints feelings for time that has passed, like blossoms falling away.

Created by resipa and released in June 2024.

Its mellow sound, led by piano and guitar and layered with sound effects that evoke summer scenes, conveys silence and nostalgia.

From a poetic worldview where dreams and reality intersect, you can sense both the cherishing of time with someone precious and a feeling of loss.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.