Recommended unrequited love songs for teenage boys: Classic and popular Japanese tracks

After-School JumpShimoda Asami

[THE iDOLM@STER] After School Jump (M@STER VERSION) (Vocals: Mami Futami)

It’s a love song I’d love for teen students to hear—about mustering all your courage after school to confess your feelings.

It’s captivating in the way it tells the story of finally confessing to someone whose back you’ve been chasing all along.

Just by listening, you’ll feel as if you yourself are about to confess to an upperclassman after school, completely drawn into the moment.

Lovely HappinessNakamura Eriko

[The Idolmaster] Suteki Happiness (M@STER VERSION) (Vocals: Haruka Amami)

It’s a love song bursting with energy, built on the belief that love is what brings peace to the world—just listening to it puts a smile on your face.

Matching the cuteness of the vocals, it directly conveys the feeling of wanting to show love to everyone around you and make them happy.

It’s a track I’d recommend when you’re feeling down.

Pura Sonic Love!Nigo Mayako

[THE IDOLM@STER] 'Pura-Sonic Love! (M@STER VERSION)' (Vocals: Yayoi Takatsuki)

With its youthful vocals and simple lyrics, this is a love song we want teenagers in love to hear.

It compares the fluttering emotions of being in love to the fizz of soda, and you can’t help but relate to hoping class ends quickly so you can see the person you like.

It’s one of those songs where every lyric feels sweet and a little bittersweet.

in factSato Amina

Deresute – in fact (Deresute - in fact) MV

It’s a love song about an endearingly awkward girl who’s head over heels but just can’t be honest, and every time, she ends up regretting it terribly.

She’s disgusted with herself for acting cold toward the person she likes and struggles with whether she can’t just be straightforward about her feelings—so much so that it brings you to tears.

Anyone in love will definitely relate.

Tokimeki EscalateYoshimura Haruka

[Deresute MV] Tokimeki Escalate - Mika Jougasaki as Center

It’s a love song about the desire to convey your feelings directly to the person you like and to have them see your true self.

The refreshing, soda-like melody contrasts with lyrics that express the unfiltered feelings of a girl in her teens—an irresistible gap that’s sure to captivate.

You can’t help but feel a flutter at her efforts to act a little more grown-up.

Chocolat TiaraOtsubo Yuka

“Deresute” Chocolate Tiara (Game ver.) Kanako Mimura SSR

This is a love song that likens the sweetness of romance to a variety of cute, sugary desserts, celebrating a charm that never grows old.

The bittersweet feeling of being in love and the honey-like sweetness are just like desserts.

Using that as its motif, the song tells us that love is something bittersweet and irresistibly addictive for everyone.

S(mile)ING!Ohashi Ayaka

[Deresute] SmileING! (Game ver.) Uzuki Shimamura SSR

It’s a love song that tells you how, when you’re in love, every scene shines as if lit by a spotlight.

It’s also one of those captivating tracks that teaches not only about love but about life itself: you shouldn’t stay down when you fall—stand up and say goodbye to yesterday.