A tear-jerking breakup song that washes the pain away with tears

lingering loveKitatani Ruki

Ruki Chatan “Koinokori” Official Music Video

Ruki Kitadani, who also made waves with the 2023 Pocari Sweat commercial song “Ao ga Mau,” is a singer-songwriter born in 2003 from Takayama in Gifu Prefecture.

His song “Koinokori” is one I especially want heartbroken men to hear.

The lyrics are like a treasure box of memories, mentioning places like the convenience store they often went to together and the path where they took walks on dates.

Even amid the lingering attachment, you can still feel the love he has for her.

It’s a tearjerker for anyone who can’t switch their feelings off right away—an absolute must-listen.

You have no eye for it.Ansako

Anzako - You Have No Eye for It [Official Music Video]

A song that vividly brings to mind a woman walking with tears in her eyes, clutching a convenience-store-bought drink in one hand.

The pain of heartbreak, self-loathing, and tangled emotions are woven with delicate words.

The wavering feelings caught between “I still love you” and the reality of “it’s over” resonate deeply with listeners.

Included on Ansako’s second album, “No Make, Story,” this track became a long-running seller for over half a year after its release and struck a chord with many.

It’s a warm song that offers comfort to those suffering the sting of a breakup or blaming themselves.

White LoversKuwata Keisuke

Keisuke Kuwata – Shiroi Koibitotachi (Full ver.)

A gem-like ballad woven from winter’s chill and gentle warmth.

Rather than viewing past love as a failure, it tenderly celebrates those moments of affection, wrapped in the distinctive warmth of Keisuke Kuwata’s vocals.

With imagery like snow quietly piling up and a calm atmosphere shaped by strings and winds, this single was released in October 2001.

Familiar from Coca-Cola commercials and, more recently, UNIQLO’s HEATTECH ads, the song also won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It’s a heartfelt recommendation for anyone who has gone through a farewell with someone dear and wants to cherish the memories.

Sentimental KissShio Reira

Reira Shio / Sentimental Kiss Acoustic ver. (full) [Official Music Video]

A gentle ballad by Reira Shio that delivers bittersweet feelings on a warm acoustic sound.

The lyrics delicately portray the distance between lovers after a breakup and the emotions wavering between heart and body, resonating deeply.

Her voice weaves memories of a feverish love and a faint lingering warmth with novel-like beauty, tenderly embracing the kind of heartache everyone has felt at least once.

Released in March 2022, the song was also used as background music for ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Wolf-chan Won’t Deceive.” It’s a track that will stay by your side on nights when you want to bask in memories of someone special, or when you need someone to hear the feelings you can’t hold inside.

Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji

Do whatever the hell you want.

A love song that strikingly portrays a man trying to keep his pride even as he’s tormented by the premonition of a breakup.

The scene of a lover packing up and leaving in the middle of the night is exquisitely rendered through Yu Aku’s delicate words and Katsuo Ono’s wistful melody.

The conflicting emotions—lingering attachment to the other and a man’s stubborn pride—intertwine, and Kenji Sawada’s sultry vocals shake the soul.

Released in May 1977, the song claimed the No.

1 spot on the Oricon weekly chart for a total of five weeks.

It went on to achieve the remarkable feat of sweeping numerous music awards that year, including the Japan Record Award.

A gem of a masterpiece that resonates deeply with those who have experienced parting with someone precious or who stand at a crossroads in life.

HappinessOnda Masanori

"Happiness" / Masanori Onda

Masamori Onda’s “Shiawase” is a wonderful song paired with an MV that’s heartbreakingly poignant, like a home movie of happier days.

Believe it or not, Onda was still only 19 as of 2023.

“Shiawase” is a classic breakup song that looks back on days of happiness, yet it somehow avoids any trace of the usual clichés—there’s something mysterious about it.

The scene where he writes her name in the sand, in particular, is a real tearjerker.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a good, cathartic cry!

Why feat. Emimi NodaTakase Tōya

Takuya Takase / Why feat. Emi Noda (Official Music Video)

A heartbreak ballad distinguished by a beautiful, soul-stirring melody.

Toya Takase’s emotional vocals and Emi Noda’s clear voice brilliantly capture the bittersweet feelings after a breakup.

Released digitally in January 2022 and included on the album “13-gatsu 1-nichi” (The First Day of the 13th Month), this song resonated with many listeners who relate to the joys of love and the pain of parting, drawing attention on charts across Asia.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels the loneliness that deepens at night or the emptiness of losing someone dear.