Masterpieces that sing about loneliness: J-pop to listen to when you're alone
This is a carefully curated playlist of Japanese songs that sing about loneliness.
Even when we say “loneliness,” there are many ways to feel it and many forms it can take.
Sometimes you despair at being alone, sometimes you want to be alone, and sometimes you feel the ache of not being able to see someone.
The feeling of pressing on even without someone precious by your side might also be a kind of loneliness.
Here are timeless songs you’ll want to listen to in those lonely moments.
Beyond the massive hits, you’ll also find tracks with a different kind of impact—songs that quietly support you at your core.
Every song here is a wonderful piece that stays close to the listener, so give them all a listen.
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Masterpieces that sing of loneliness: J-POP to listen to when you’re alone (41–50)
At HomeNakajima Miyuki
This is a work by Miyuki Nakajima that portrays the resolve to sever ties with the place one ought to return to and to live in the place one stands now.
Watching the last train bound for her hometown depart, the protagonist deliberately chooses not to go back—an image that overlaps with the loneliness and determination of someone breaking away from their past life to walk a new path alone.
The piece was included on the acclaimed 1977 June release “A-RI-GA-TO-U” and is also widely known as the B-side to the smash single “Wakare Uta.” It has been cherished as a song that colors the world of dramas crafted by So Kuramoto as well.
The warm folk sound seems to gently envelop both the loneliness that follows a major decision and the strength to keep looking forward despite it.
I’ll be by your side.Aoyama Teruma
This song gently embraces the emotions of a long-distance relationship, carrying a bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment.
Even when lovers are physically apart, their hearts remain close—an emotion expressed with exquisite balance through Thelma Aoyama’s soft vocals and SoulJa’s rap.
Though busyness can make the emotional distance feel wider, the unwavering resolve to care for each other resonates deeply with listeners.
Released in January 2008, the song topped the Oricon Weekly Chart and won the JASRAC Gold Award, becoming a massive hit recognized by Guinness World Records.
In 2022, a new collaborative track with SoulJa also came to fruition.
It’s a heartwarming message song that will resonate with those living apart from their partners or anyone grappling with the bonds they share with someone important.
ElfAdo
A powerful performance by Ado that resonates as an anthem for those who carry loneliness yet keep moving forward.
Released in January 2025 as the theme song for the drama “Who Watched the Peacock’s Dance?”, this work brilliantly captures the world of the series starring Suzu Hirose.
While staying close to the feelings of a protagonist who continues a solitary struggle, it sings of the preciousness of living true to oneself, making it a song that deeply touches the hearts of those weary from work or life.
It’s an encouraging track we especially recommend to anyone feeling lost or anxious in their daily life, or to those who have paused midway on their own path.
STAND-ALONEAimer
This is a song by Aimer that poignantly sings of aching loneliness within a digital soundscape.
Released in May 2019, it drew major attention as the theme song for the first chapter of the Nippon TV drama “Anata no Ban Desu.” The grandeur woven by piano and strings, infused with a subtly cold digital texture, makes the cry of an isolated heart resonate even more vividly.
The track was later included on the album Walpurgis.
It’s a song that will likely strike deep when you want to face yourself alone at night or quietly calm your mind.
Wonderlandiri
A masterpiece depicting the heart of someone striving to find light within deep darkness has arrived from iri.
Set to a luscious melody steeped in R&B and soul, it tenderly envelops the emptiness and loneliness of everyday life while powerfully singing of the will to move toward the light.
Included on the album “Private,” this track has continued to soothe countless listeners since its release in March 2023.
It’s a warm song that keeps you company on late-night drives or in moments when you want to cherish time alone.
iri’s gentle yet resolute voice is sure to resonate deeply in the hearts of those who listen.
If I had been living aloneSUPER BEAVER
A gem of a medium-tempo ballad that vividly portrays the joy and frustration we feel through our connections with others.
Included on SUPER BEAVER’s single “Highlight/Hitoride Ikiteita Naraba,” released in June 2020, this track was chosen as the theme song for the film Water Ribbon, starring Ayami Nakajo.
With delicate instrumentation and an emotive vocal performance, the melody gently sings of the importance of bonds with others and mutual support.
It’s a song that stays close to your heart when you want to reflect on what it means to live true to yourself and to find the courage to overcome setbacks.
Lonely in TokyoMirei Touyama
Singer-songwriter Mirei Touyama.
This is “Lonely in Tokyo,” released under the name MIREI and gaining attention.
Its long-awaited Japanese-lyrics version is “Lonely in Tokyo (Japanese ver.).” The song captures the feelings of a woman who feels lonely even when she has family or a lover.
With a club-music vibe, it’s perfect for when you want to get hyped up.
It also sounds fun to compare the two versions and their lyrics.
