Tear-jerking love songs: classic and popular hits from Japanese music

Snow SmileBUMP OF CHICKEN

Snow Smile @ Zepp Sapporo

Among BUMP OF CHICKEN fans, the quintessential winter love song is “Snow Smile.” The fourth album “Yggdrasil,” which includes this track, is in my opinion the finest masterpiece among BUMP’s albums.

The Habit SongGen Hoshino

Gen Hoshino – Kuse no Uta (Official Video)

I want to convey that Gen Hoshino’s love songs are not just “Koi.” I’d like people who came to like him through “Koi” to listen to “Kuse no Uta.” While many of his recent songs are stylish and pop, his first album, “Baka no Uta,” starting with “Kuse no Uta,” is full of masterpieces with simple, down-to-earth arrangements.

You're no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS "You’re Not Here Anymore"

This is a gem of a ballad that sings of the sweet, aching pain of heartbreak.

The farewell scene on the station platform and the memories the two shared are delicately portrayed and delivered with a melody that pierces the heart.

Among FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ works, it stands out for its rich emotional expression.

Released in October 2007, it reached No.

8 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Otona no Shikaku,” earning broad support across generations.

The song is also included on the album “FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 2,” and has been covered by Mariko Takahashi.

It’s a heartwarming track that stays by your side when you sense the end of a romance or go through a farewell with someone dear.

Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Unrequited Love” MV

SUPER BEAVER’s in-show song for NHK’s late-night drama “Vanilla na Mainichi” delivers a powerful rendition of aching, unrequited love that truly stirs the heart.

It’s a gem of a ballad where a melody that gently cradles a faint yearning blends beautifully with subtly warm lyrics.

First released digitally on March 7, 2025, and included on the single “Kataomoi / Namida no Shoutai,” out March 12, the track enriches the drama’s world alongside its main theme, “Namida no Shoutai.” With tender, emotional soundscapes and the band’s signature straightforward message, this heartwarming song keeps you company in those quiet moments when you secretly think of someone you love.

somedaySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

A straightforward, honest love song that brings the ache and poignancy of heartbreak right to your chest.

Through real-life scenes—like the deserted park at Tawarayama and the sloping road where you can see the starry sky—the memories woven together vividly portray feelings for a precious person you can never meet again.

Released in May 2017 as a track on the album “Country Road,” this piece gently embraces an unforgettable love with warm lyrics that blend in the local Shimane dialect.

Its softly resonant melody offers quiet comfort to those who want to hold their one-sided love close, and to those who can’t quite put an end to a past romance.

Heart Rainindigo la End

Indigo la End “Koiame”

A heart-stirring ballad that quietly observes a bittersweet parting in love.

Its melody delicately captures subtle emotions, while the graceful sound of acoustic guitar and electric piano resonates deep within.

Released by indigo la End in February 2016, the song was featured as the TV commercial theme for the smartphone game ‘Shoumetsu Toshi’ and is also included on their second major-label album, ‘Aiiro Music.

‘ Told from the perspective of a woman reflecting on the end of a relationship, the lyrics leave a strong impression as they carefully express emotional shifts through the metaphor of rain.

It’s a song that stays close to your heart when you want to quietly accept the pain of heartbreak and move forward.

MIOAimyon

MIO

This song gently and simply portrays the delicate nuances of emotions in love.

It quietly sings of a woman’s feelings as she earnestly seeks true love, even as she grapples with everyday anxieties, loneliness, and confusion over subtle changes in her partner.

Written by Aimyon when she was 15, the piece captures the pure sensibilities of adolescence and beautifully expresses the universal joys and heartaches of love.

Included as the B-side to the single “Ai wo Tsutaetai da toka,” released in May 2017, it features a simple arrangement centered on guitar and vocals.

Its calm, supportive melody closely follows the wavering heart of a woman in love, making it a song I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wrestling with matters of the heart.