[Remembering the Pain of Love…] Breakup Songs Recommended for People in Their 60s

Goodbye once moreChekkāzu

Goodbye once more

A gem-like ballad that gently weaves the pain of parting, set against a scene of lights drifting beyond the window and ice clinking in a glass.

Among The Checkers’ band sound, it’s a masterpiece that delicately portrays the feelings of a grown-up love.

Fumiya Fujii’s poignantly resonant vocals and Naoyuki Fujii’s beautiful melodies tenderly enfold the end of a love that still lingers with regret.

Upon its release in November 1990, the song reached No.

7 on the Oricon charts, and it was also included on the album “THE CHECKERS THE BEST,” soothing the hearts of many listeners.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear with the arrival of spring.

Why not listen alone on a quiet night and immerse yourself in cherished memories?

Cactus Flowerchūrippu

Cactus Flower

A poignant love song themed around parting and renewal with a loved one.

Sparked by a small incident one day, the girlfriend storms out of the room; from there, the lyrics delicately depict the scene of the room left behind and the man’s inner feelings.

Gentle lines evoke everyday images—the snowy view from the window, a half-knitted glove, laundry—rising vividly to the mind.

Released in February 1975, this work is cherished by many fans as one of Tulip’s signature songs.

It drew renewed attention as the theme song for the 1993 TV drama “Under One Roof,” making it widely known among younger generations as well.

Its beautiful melody, conveying both the pain of heartbreak and a sense of hope, carries a universal message that resonates with the heart.

It’s the perfect song for looking back on a bygone romance or deepening your feelings for someone special.

If we ever meet in the city somedayNakamura Masatoshi

If we ever meet in the city someday

It’s a gently written, heart-touching classic about memories of a past lover and the wish to meet again.

From parting in the city of memories, to love and resentment, and even the moment when dreams were shattered, it weaves together every moment the two spent together.

Masatoshi Nakamura’s warm vocals blend beautifully with the soothing melody crafted by Takuro Yoshida, resulting in a song that evokes both nostalgia and bittersweet longing.

Released in May 1975, it was used as an insert song in the drama “Oretachi no Kunshō” and reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

Many artists, including Naoko Ken and Masayuki Suzuki, have covered it.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to if you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or when you’re in the mood to reminisce about the past.

Let’s start from goodbyeSano Motoharu

Let's Start from Goodbye - Goodby Kara Hajimeyo / Motoharu Sano / cover by Hiroko Williams, sung by Hiroko Williams

A slow ballad with elegantly resonant strings that poignantly captures the moment of parting.

It’s said to be a song Motoharu Sano wrote and composed during his high school years.

The contrast between those who wave goodbye and the protagonist who cannot brings the lonely heart that struggles to accept the farewell vividly into focus.

Released in March 1983 as his 10th single, it was also included on the album No Damage, released in April of the same year.

Its steadily unfolding, lyrical melody quietly accompanies anyone who has experienced a departure or a goodbye, and is sure to evoke deep empathy.

The memories are too beautifulYagami Junko

Memories are too beautiful

Junko Yagami’s major-label debut song, which sings of a love forever out of reach, framed within beautiful memories.

A superb ballad where a sophisticated bossa nova-tinged melody intertwines with her lustrous vocals.

With lyrics that poignantly and beautifully depict a lost love, and a transparent, elegant sound, it can be considered the very essence of classic New Music.

Released in January 1978, it reached No.

25 on the Oricon chart.

It was also included on the album “Omoide wa Utsukushisugite” and selected as the theme song for Nippon Broadcasting’s “Cocky Pop.” This work is a timeless classic that gently accompanies hearts feeling the sorrow of parting with a loved one and the nostalgia for a past that can never return.

Recommended for those moments when you want to surrender to a soothing melody and immerse yourself in memories of days gone by.

I love you more than anyone.Furuchi Toko

I love you more than anyone.

When someone treats you gently, your heart aches; when they’re cold, you feel like crying…

This classic by Toko Furuuchi delicately portrays the feelings of everyone in love.

Capturing both the uncontrollable emotions toward a partner and the conflicts and contradictions that come with romance, the song was released in May 1996.

Used as an insert song for the drama “Watch Out for Us,” it was also included as a remixed version on the album “Hourglass.” Since then, it has been covered by numerous artists, including Sowelu, Hideaki Tokunaga, and JUJU.

If you’ve ever struggled with love, scenes from your own experience will surely come to mind.

It’s the perfect song to listen to quietly on your own or when you want to think about someone special.

And then I’m at a lossŌsawa Yoshiyuki

And then I'm at a loss

This eternal heartbreak song that captures the very moment of parting strikes the heart through Yoshiyuki Osawa’s husky voice.

The complex emotions and helplessness after a lover leaves the room are portrayed with delicate nuance.

Natsuo Giniro’s poetic lyrics blend beautifully with the sophisticated melody that incorporates elements of R&B.

Released in September 1984 and peaking at No.

6 on the Oricon weekly chart, the track was included on the album “CONFUSION” and also drew attention as a commercial song for Nissin Cup Noodles.

In 2023, a newly arranged version was used as the ending theme for the film “And Then I Drifted Away,” starring Taisuke Fujigaya, bringing the song to a new generation.

It’s a piece that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear.