Lovely anime song

[Bittersweet] A Special Feature on Anime Breakup Songs [Sad]

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Breakups are part and parcel of romance.

Heartbreak can really take a toll on you.

Sure, some breakups leave you feeling refreshed, but far more often, that’s not the case.

There’s that sudden moment when you realize the person who was always by your side is gone… Just thinking about it makes your chest ache.

In this article, I’ve put together a collection of anime heartbreak songs.

They’re all gems that will soothe the wounds in your heart.

Letting a song lead you to watch the anime it’s from might be a nice change of pace, too—give it a try.

[Bittersweet] A Collection of Anime Breakup Songs [Sad] (1–10)

Mosaic FragmentSwish!

[Code Geass] Mosaic Kakera / SunSet Swish [LIVE] with Lyrics Subtitles

Mosaic Fragment Swish!

It’s the ending theme of the anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

The song is by Swish!, a three-piece band from Osaka Prefecture, released in 2007 as their sixth single.

It’s a medium-tempo, bittersweet rock number with a nostalgic charm that somehow brings back childhood memories.

Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics, which reflect on the “current self” shaped by the encounters and farewells we’ve experienced.

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GarnetHanako Oku

Hanako Oku / Garnet (Solo Acoustic Performance)

Garnet Oku Hanako

It’s a very famous song as the theme for the animated feature film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

It’s a moving piece loved by a wide audience.

Released in 2006 as Hanako Oku’s fourth single.

Hanako Oku’s voice is so captivating that just listening to it can bring tears to your eyes.

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frecklesJUDY AND MARY

Freckles – JUDY AND MARY (Full)

Freckles JUDY AND MARY

It’s a slightly bittersweet yet catchy anime song about how, no matter what, you just can’t remember the face of someone who should have been important.

It’s one of the signature tracks by JUDY AND MARY, the rock band that led Japan’s music scene in the late ’90s, released as their ninth single in 1996.

Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, it became a big hit.

YUKI’s buoyant vocals are truly wonderful, aren’t they? It’s still a classic that ranks high on karaoke charts today.

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[Heartbreaking] A Collection of Anime Breakup Songs [Sad] (11–20)

Lost my musicHaruhi Suzumiya (Aya Hirano)

Lost my music [CD audio]

Lost my music - Haruhi Suzumiya (Aya Hirano)

A presence that meant more than anything has vanished.

This breakup song channels that sense of loss into a powerful sound, leaving you feeling positive by the time it ends.

It was used as an insert song in the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and is sung by Aya Hirano, who played the lead role.

Perhaps because of its high-energy style, you can really feel the desire to deliver these feelings to you.

It’s a great pick not only as an anime song, but also for fans of classic rock.

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Just one wishMiho Komatsu

Detective Conan ED - Only One Wish - Miho Komatsu - Detective Conan Ending

Just One Wish by Miho Komatsu

Because we fell in love, the breakup hurts all the more.

This is a heartrending breakup song that gives voice to emotions that well up uncontrollably.

It’s a track by Miho Komatsu, a singer-songwriter from Hyogo Prefecture, released in 1998 as her third single.

Chosen as an ending theme for the anime Detective Conan, it became a hit.

Many of you might feel a wave of nostalgia when you listen to it.

Perhaps it’s the arrangement and the overall tone, but somehow… the image of a setting sun drifts across my mind.

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You are... not here.Minami Kuribayashi

School Days - You... Aren’t Here (original Japanese lyrics, Chinese adaptation)

Minami Kuribayashi Without You

It’s a sad unrequited love song about liking someone who likes someone else—not me.

The track was used as the ending theme for the anime based on the game “School Days,” and it’s sung by Minami Kuribayashi, who is also active as a voice actress.

It’s included on her second album, “passage,” released in 2006.

Her heartrending vocals, so fragile they seem like they might fade away, really tug at your heartstrings.

It’s painful when your feelings don’t reach the person you care about, isn’t it? Give it a listen when you want to have a good cry.

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Your Memorymao

Hakuoki: Your Memory [Recollection, Part Two] Hijikata × Chizuru YouTube via torchbrowser.com Monarudo

Your memory, Mao

It’s a heart-wrenching number that blends pure love and heartbreak, singing, “No matter how much time passes, I’m thinking of you.” The song is by mao, a singer also known for performing “Yume o Kanaete Doraemon,” and it was released in 2010 as her third single.

It was used as the ending theme for the anime Hakuoki, which is based on a romance game.

The melody carries a traditional Japanese atmosphere that suits the work, and mao’s gentle vocals fit perfectly, stirring the emotions.

We all want to stay happily in love with the person we care about forever, don’t we…?

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