Recommended songs to listen to when you feel regret: classic and popular Japanese tracks.
Do you have regrets?
Here’s a song list dedicated to you.
I’ve gathered songs you can relate to—ones that speak your feelings for you, songs that lift your spirits and give you a push, and songs that make your regretting self feel a little silly.
- Masterpieces that sing of regret. Recommended popular songs.
- [No Going Back] A Love Song About Regret
- A famous song about setbacks. A song that stays by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up.
- [Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces that depict various kinds of gloom.
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- [Trash Songs] A carefully curated selection of tracks about the lowest, worst kind of loser—and hidden gems!
- [Songs with Great Lyrics] Masterpieces you’ll want to listen to while savoring the words that resonate with your heart
- Songs to listen to when you've been betrayed. Classic hits about betrayal.
- [Lingering Feelings and Regrets] A Love Song for You Who Can’t Forget Your Ex-Boyfriend
- Recommended breakup songs for high school students: classic and popular J-pop tracks
- Songs to listen to when you're feeling down. Recommended feel-good, uplifting tracks.
Recommended songs to listen to when you feel regret: Classic and popular J-Pop tracks (41–50)
tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa
A singer-songwriter beloved for relatable, down-to-earth lyrics, Koresawa delivers a piercing song of regret.
The protagonist is portrayed desperately trying to recover the warmth of lost days from the small personal items their partner left behind.
The depictions of miscommunication—“If only I’d paid more attention to them,” “If only they had cared more about me”—will resonate painfully with anyone who has parted ways with a long-time partner.
Released in March 2017, this work is marked by its acoustic sound.
For those who feel their own shortcomings led to the breakup, this song may quietly sit with you and allow you to shed your tears.
juvenileamazarashi
It’s a song that makes you feel it’s okay not to fear the mistakes and regrets that come with youth.
Everyone goes through a juvenile phase, and the lyrics beautifully remind you of how precious that is.
The melody is also captivating, with a memorable chorus that feels like it gives you a push forward.
Silver saltKami wa saikoro o furanai
This song is characterized by its delicate portrayal of emotions.
It sings of time gone by and lost love, striking deep in the listener’s heart.
The sound stands out with prominent post-rock elements, and the dynamic shifts in the arrangement seem to mirror the ebb and flow of feelings.
Released by Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai in October 2024, it was also chosen as the ending theme for season 6 of the anime Golden Kamuy.
It’s a perfect track for when you can’t sort out your feelings or want to linger in memories of the past.
If you surrender yourself to the dramatically unfolding melody line, it might just stay close to your heart.
What do you regret?STU48
Formed in 2017 as one of the AKB48 groups, STU48 is an idol group based in the seven prefectures of the Setouchi region.
Their 10th single, “What Will You Regret?” features an ensemble with a touch of wistfulness that leaves a strong impression.
Even when we think we’ve chosen the best option at the time, people still end up having regrets—this message seems to teach us both the difficulty of life and the preciousness of choosing to live in a way that leaves no regrets.
With its translucent vocals and memorable melody, it’s a sentimental pop tune.
danceAdo
I want to shake off this frustration… In times like these, let’s crank up the music and hype ourselves up! This track by the hugely popular singer Ado—known for her powerful vocals and wide expressive range—was released in 2021.
It’s an energizing number where her razor-sharp vocal work pairs perfectly with a full-on EDM sound.
The snappy melody will stick in your head.
Highly recommended to play it as loud as you can.
After a broken heartCHIHIRO
When you go through a heartbreak, you can’t help wondering what was wrong with you, can you? This is a song by CHIHIRO, a singer-songwriter from Fukuoka Prefecture, included on her 2019 album “Watashi no Koi wa Namida de Dekiteiru” (“My Love Is Made of Tears”).
The feelings of a heartbroken woman are expressed in down-to-earth words that pierce the heart.
Her voice is straightforward, yet even that sounds tinged with sadness.
Recommended for those who want to have a good cry and reset their feelings.
A Tiny Bit of CourageFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
It was released in 2007 as FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ fifth single.
The song was used as the May opening theme for Nippon TV’s “Music Fighter” and as an insert song in the film “The 700 Days’ War with Our Local Police Officer.” It’s a song that teaches us the importance of having just a little bit of courage.