Popular and recommended poignant Japanese songs on YouTube Shorts: a collection of timeless tracks that touch the heart

So it wasn’t me, huh.riria.

riria. / So it wasn’t me. [Music Video]

Singer-songwriter Riria, who rose to popularity after posting self-accompanied performances on social media.

Released in October 2021, this song is a ballad that vividly portrays the pain and lingering feelings of a broken heart.

The confessional lyrics—about how the other person’s kindness only makes her suffer more—tighten your chest as you listen.

You’ll be drawn in by the sound centered on the delicate interplay of piano and guitar, Riria’s fragile vocals, and a structure that lets emotion overflow all at once with a key change near the end.

Try listening in a relaxed posture.

rendezvousshaitoopu

rendezvous

The rock band Shytone, which rose to prominence after a viral hit on social media, released a signature track in April 2023 that sings of a man’s searing emotions after a breakup.

Unable to accept parting from someone he loved deeply, he longs for an impossible reunion; the loneliness of his lover’s traces fading from everyday life is expressed through vocalist So Sasaki’s superb word choices—so moving you might be brought to tears.

The song is also known for surpassing 100 million total streams in November 2023 and is included on the album “Hors d’œuvre.” Why not entrust your heart to its somehow comforting melody that stirs up those bittersweet feelings?

Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE · Inoue Sonoko

Tenbyouno Uta

A beloved ballad featuring the overwhelmingly popular band Mrs.

GREEN APPLE and vocalist Sonoko Inoue, who is also active as an actress.

It portrays a bittersweet yet beautiful story of two people who fall in love within a limited time.

The rich expressiveness of Motoki Omori’s voice and the crystalline clarity of Sonoko Inoue’s vocals weave a harmony that conveys feelings beyond words.

Included on the single “Ao to Natsu” released in August 2018, the song colored the story as an insert track in the film “Aonatsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-nichi.” Knowing that the intention was to express dialog-free scenes through singing makes the lyrics resonate even more deeply.

It’s a song that gently accompanies that slightly lonely feeling, like the end of summer.

Song of the Eternal NightKamisama wa saikoro o furanai

God Does Not Play Dice “Yoru-Naga Uta” [Official Lyric Video]

A poignant breakup song that captures the pain of the moment you realize the person you loved is drifting away.

Created by God Doesn’t Roll Dice, the track was included on the mini-album “A View on Lambda,” released in May 2019.

It later gained attention primarily on TikTok from spring 2020, and the official lyric video on YouTube surpassed 10 million views.

The piano tones and the earnest vocals of Shusaku Yanagida quietly portray a yearning for days that will never return.

The protagonist can’t accept the other person’s change of heart, yet still wishes to meet them once more—an image that will resonate with anyone carrying the pain of unrequited love or heartbreak.

The reasons for the breakup can be interpreted in various ways, making this a song I’d recommend even to those who feel they are on the verge of losing someone important right now.

Please forget it.Yorushika

Yorushika – Please Forget (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

A song by Yorushika whose gentle melody and soul-soothing vocals evoke a sense of nostalgia.

The theme centers on self-sacrificial love, as the narrator wishes for their beloved to “forget” them for the sake of the beloved’s future.

Yet behind those words seems to lie a desperate, contradictory feeling of “I actually don’t want you to forget,” and that tension tightens the listener’s chest.

Released in July 2024 as the theme song for the drama “GO HOME: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department—Unidentified Persons Consultation Office,” this sentimental number quietly stays by your side on nights when you’re nursing heartbreak or immersing yourself in memories of someone dear.

hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake

Omoinotake | Hundreds of Millions of Light-Years [Official Music Video]

This song was written as the theme for the drama “Eye Love You” starring Fumi Nikaido, and it’s performed by the piano rock band Omoinotake.

Its theme is steadfast love that never fades, no matter how far apart you are—even transcending time.

While the bright, exhilarating sound makes your heart dance, the lyrics portray a poignant longing for someone you may never meet again, and that contrast really hits home.

After its release in February 2024, the song captured so many hearts that it surpassed 100 million streams at the sixth-fastest pace in history.

When you can’t easily see someone important to you, this song is sure to gently stay by your side.

tear(s)Marushii

Marcy – Tears (Official Music Video)

A love ballad that portrays the ache of heartbreak in stark contrast to the dazzling summer sun.

It’s a work released in August 2025 by the rock band Marcy, known for down-to-earth lyrics that resonate.

Memories of love told in the past tense and words detailing feelings that will never reach their destination shake the listener’s heart.

Skillful metaphors—like the pain of memories lingering as sensations in the body and a future that was never opened—reflect the protagonist’s earnest emotions and are sure to bring tears.

The song is slated to be included on their third original album, set for release in November 2025, which will also feature Aozora, the theme song for the film “Youth Gestalt Collapse.” It’s a track you’ll want to listen to quietly on nights when you want to immerse yourself in unforgettable memories of love.