[2026] Japanese songs to listen to when you're in love: A collection of J-pop classics

If only I could just come to hate you.Ryohei Ab

Ryohei Abe “If only I could just come to hate you.” Music Video

A pop song that tugs at the heart with the ache of being unable to confess your feelings even while carrying love inside.

Featured on the album “THE BEST 2020 – 2025,” releasing in January 2025, this track pairs warm, rich production with emotional lyrics that gently support anyone struggling with love.

Ryohei Abe’s delicate vocals and expressive delivery resonate deeply with those holding on to fragile feelings.

The song carefully portrays the frustration of being unable to let go of your emotions while agonizing over the distance between you and the one you like.

If you haven’t been able to tell that special someone how you feel, you’ll surely relate.

Look!Suiet

Look! – Suiet [ Official Music Video ]

A heartwarming ballad by Suiet, released in February 2025.

With a delicate melody, it beautifully portrays feelings for someone special.

Its sophisticated tone, infused with jazz elements, and its pleasant rhythm are striking.

Perfect for gazing up at the night sky as your thoughts turn to a loved one, or for talking with a friend troubled by love.

It’s a song that turns the small moments of everyday life into irreplaceable memories.

ContrastTOMOO

TOMOO – Contrast [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A gem of a love song that exquisitely interweaves longing for someone with a tender ache.

The feelings TOMOO weaves—wavering between the joy and loneliness of love—gently embrace emotions anyone can relate to.

That bittersweet yearning of having someone right before your eyes yet being unable to close the distance between your hearts.

The pure emotion that slips out despite putting on a brave face.

Carefully giving voice to the heart of someone in unrequited love, this song has been airing since January 2024 as the ending theme for cour 2 of the anime Blue Box.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are in the midst of a romance, with their loved one nearby yet unable to be fully honest about their feelings.

Say I doTravis Japan

Travis Japan – ‘Say I do’ Music Video

An emotional love song that sings of a sweet romance.

Travis Japan’s single “Say I do” has been selected as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Honnou Switch” and will be released in March 2025.

The song beautifully aligns with the world of the drama starring group member Kaito Miyachika, depicting the pure feelings of first love through their characteristically expressive vocals.

Its polished melody line and arrangement deliver an internationally flavored finish that transcends the bounds of J-pop.

Give it a listen when you’re chatting about love with friends, or when you can’t quite put your feelings for someone special into words.

Taisho RomanticismYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Taisho Romance” Official Music Video

This song, which tells a love story that transcends time and space, has been delivered by YOASOBI.

Set in the Taisho era, it portrays the feelings of two people living in different periods intersecting through letters, expressed within a unique world that fuses electronic sounds with traditional Japanese elements.

Released in September 2021, the track gained strong popularity on streaming platforms and earned platinum certification, capturing the hearts of many listeners.

It’s recommended for those who want to feel love and human connection that transcend eras.

Immerse yourself in YOASOBI’s world.

I like you.YUTORI-SEDAI

[Official Music Video] YUTORI-SEDAI – I Like You (Suki)

YUTORI-SEDAI is a three-piece rock band whose name was chosen from the concept of turning the often negatively perceived term “Yutori Generation” into something positive.

Their EP Suki, released on February 8, 2023, is striking for its gentle vocals and ensemble carried by a relaxed shuffle beat.

The lyrics portray a determination not to give up even when feelings don’t come across well—something anyone in love can probably relate to.

It’s a heartfelt number that gives a push to those unstoppable feelings of love.

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Only the two of us in this worldano

ano “Just the Two of Us in This World” Music Video

A heartwarming love song by ano that gently wraps the secret space shared only by two people in love.

It weaves delicate words to depict the special moments that exist only between you and someone precious, and the happiness you can feel only within them.

The melodic sound and fragile vocals blend beautifully, expressing the comfort of a world for just the two of you.

Since its release on February 14, 2025, this piece has soothed the hearts of many in love; it’s a gem of a ballad infused with ano’s sincere feelings.

It’s perfect not only for listening alone on a quiet night, but also as background music for special moments spent with someone important.