Classic and popular unrequited love breakup songs
Heartbreak is very sad and painful.
How people cope varies—some talk to others, some take time to rest.
There are surely many who find comfort in listening to music.
Here, I’ve gathered Japanese songs about unrequited love and heartbreak.
Even if unrequited love hurts, don’t give up—move forward to your next love!
Top 10 classic and popular unrequited-love breakup songs (1–10)
somedaySaucy Dog
Saucy Dog is a rock band drawing attention for lyrics that pierce straight into listeners’ hearts, contrasted with gentle vocals.
This is their biggest hit: a heartbreak song that gazes back on a relationship that ended, while wishing to meet again someday.
Blue BenchSasuke
Sasuke is an artist whose transparent, captivating voice and exceptional musical sensibility continue to be loved across generations, drawing listeners into the world of each song.
This is their smash-hit unrequited love song—a heartbreak ballad that expresses the bittersweet feelings of young love that everyone has experienced.
Christmas songback number
A smash hit by back number, an artist whose true forte is poignant love songs delivered with powerful, emotion-filled vocals.
This song depicts a Christmas spent after mustering the courage to confess one’s feelings only to be rejected—a classic that brings a surge of heartache when you listen to it.
I long to see you now.MISIA
A massively popular unrequited-love ballad by MISIA, an artist who represents Japan’s music scene with her overwhelming vocal prowess and powerful vibrato that captivates everyone.
It’s a heartbreak song that expresses feelings for a beloved person you can’t meet no matter how strongly you long for them.
cherry blossomKobukuro
A massive hit by Kobukuro, one of Japan’s leading artists, featuring the universally praised warm harmonies of the duo’s voices and heartfelt, straightforward lyrics in a love song.
It’s a track that brings to mind someone you once loved during cherry blossom season, and it’s also a popular choice at karaoke.