Gently staying close to a wounded heart… A Reiwa-era heartbreak song
Even in the Reiwa era, the desire to have music heal a heart wounded by heartbreak is probably the same as ever.
Unrequited love, love that has ended—its forms vary from person to person, but there are countless songs in the world that those with such experiences will find relatable.
So this time, we’re introducing heartbreak songs born in the Reiwa era.
You’re sure to find tracks that resonate with your own experiences, so be sure to check them out!
Gently staying close to a wounded heart... Reiwa-era breakup songs (1–10)
maybeYOASOBI
This mid-tempo track, which portrays a morning of parting, was released in July 2020 and is based on the grand-prize-winning work from the “Yoru Asobi Contest vol.1.” Its lyrics, depicting a heartrending farewell and complex emotions, are sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.
Ayase’s composition intertwined with ikura’s vocals conveys the pain of separation, lingering attachment, and the difficulty of moving forward.
It’s a comforting song to listen to when you want to heal the wounds of a broken heart or reflect on a past love.
wishsumika
A bittersweet world woven by gently resonant vocals and a melody that seeps into the heart.
sumika’s songs offer comfort to those carrying the pain of heartbreak.
This track, released as a single in December 2019, drew attention as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.” Set against the chill of winter, its lyrics beautifully depict an unrequited love, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
It’s a song that stands beside those who can’t accept the end of a romance or who have experienced the loss of someone dear.
evening primroseNovelbright
A digital-only single by the five-piece rock band Novelbright, their sixth such release in total, which was featured as the MONTHLY SONG on the infotainment show “Tokudane!” The track has surpassed 100 million streams and is a dramatic ballad featuring an arrangement centered on piano and strings layered with the band’s sound.
The lyrics depict feelings for an unforgettable lover, and combined with the heartrending high-tone vocals, they really squeeze your heart.
It’s an emotional love song we hope you’ll listen to when you’ve lost someone dear.
If only I could come to hate youyuka
A song that delicately captures the complex emotions that follow the end of a romance.
Yuka’s clear, translucent vocals and the bittersweet yet beautiful melody seep into the heart.
Released in June 2024, this track conveys through its lyrics the tangled feelings of trying to move forward while holding on to memories you wish you could forget but can’t.
It’s a breakup song that resonates not only with those who’ve experienced heartbreak, but also with anyone who has parted ways with someone important—truly a representative heartbreak anthem of the Reiwa era.
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism
A four-member piano pop band, Official HIGE DANDism, that dominates the J-pop scene with an advanced yet effortlessly accessible pop sensibility.
This is their second single, written as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP: Romance, and it has remained a long-running hit since May 2019—a renowned ballad.
Being drawn to someone while unable to see a future together is a decision even more painful than breaking up because you’ve grown to dislike each other.
With its catchy melody, this song grips listeners’ hearts and doesn’t let go, offering comfort to those wounded by heartbreak.
Love? (As if.)Hitsuji Bungaku
“Koi Nante” by Hitsujibungaku vividly captures the pain that lingers in everyday life after a romance ends, as well as the lingering attachment to a former lover.
It’s the closing track on their EP “Zawameki,” released in February 2020, and has continued to be cherished by fans as a hidden gem.
The steady, understated beat instead highlights emotional instability, tightening the listener’s chest.
As vocalist Moeka Shiotsuka has said, she set out to write a love song, and the lyrics delicately portray those contradictory feelings—trying to accept a breakup while still harboring a faint hope.
On a night when you want to quietly reflect on the end of a love, why not listen to it alone and take it in?
Dried flowersYuuri
Yuri’s second major release, a digital-only single, is a work that vividly captures the heartache of a breakup.
The delicate tones of the acoustic guitar perfectly match the song’s lyrical world.
It depicts the complex emotions toward an ex after choosing to part ways—feelings many listeners will likely relate to.
Released in October 2020, the track exploded in popularity on streaming platforms and went on to claim three crowns on the Billboard Japan year-end charts in 2021.
It’s a song that offers comfort when you want to heal the pain of heartbreak or when you’ve experienced a farewell with someone important.