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)
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.
Masterpieces that sing of loneliness: J-POP to listen to when you're alone (51–60)
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.
FightNakajima Miyuki
Just looking at the title, you might think this song is a cheer song meant for everyone, but when you read the lyrics, it seems more strongly about rousing yourself and standing up when you’re in trouble or feeling sad.
The year after this song was released, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Tokyo subway sarin attack occurred, so it’s said that Miyuki Nakajima often sang this song at her concerts.
When you feel lonely, I hope listening to this song helps you become a stronger version of yourself.
biting my lipyoshida takurou
Takuro Yoshida’s classic “Biting Your Lip” is truly a song about loneliness.
It’s perfect for listening to alone at night while swaying on a train.
It’s also known as the theme song for the 1980s film series Detective Story.
The song is highly popular even among those who aren’t Takuro Yoshida fans.
Crying in the rain…Yanagi Jōji & Rainīuddo
“Crying in the Rain” sung by George Yanagi & Rainy Wood is truly a masterpiece.
Even if you’ve never heard it before, once you listen, you’ll be overwhelmed by its appeal.
It’s just so cool—and despite being from quite a while ago, it doesn’t feel dated at all.
I can’t put it into wordsOda Kazumasa
This song, “Kotoba ni Dekinai” by Kazumasa Oda, lets you fully savor his husky yet transparent voice.
It’s a classic that he has been singing since his days with the band Off Course.
Many will also recognize it as the theme song for the Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercials.
A guaranteed tearjerker.
Only on nights when I want to dieAina ji Endo
This is a heartwarming song that delicately portrays how the smile of someone precious comes to mind in moments when your heart feels like it might break amid an unremarkably passing everyday life.
Aina the End wrote and composed the song, with production by Shingo Sekiguchi of Ovall.
Her quietly companionable husky voice blends exquisitely with the warm acoustic sound.
Written in February 2020 as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS drama “Shinitai Yoru ni Kagitte” (“Only on the Nights I Want to Die”), Aina the End—who was a fan of the original work—carefully captured the story’s worldview.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you feel lonely, hopeless, or on the verge of breaking.
The presence of someone dear, and the warmth of shared memories, will surely become a source of support for your heart.