Nana by Ai Yazawa isn’t just a manga—it’s an emotional journey that hits readers in the heart with its raw portrayal of relationships, loss, and dreams left behind. The manga dives deep into the lives of two women named Nana and the people around them, capturing every high and devastating low.
If you’ve read the manga, you already know it’s filled with moments that stay with you long after you’ve turned the page. Here are the top 7 most heartbreaking moments in Nana—the scenes that shattered fans and still resonate deeply in 2025.
- Ren’s Death
Without question, this is the most shocking and painful moment in the entire manga. Ren Honjo, the guitarist of Trapnest and Nana Osaki’s soulmate, dies in a tragic car accident. The loss is sudden, brutal, and emotionally catastrophic for Nana Osaki, who spirals into deep depression afterward. His death leaves a void that no one in the story is able to fill—and fans were just as heartbroken.
Ren’s death marks a turning point in the manga, plunging the narrative into darker emotional territory and changing Nana forever.
- Nana Osaki’s Breakdown After Ren’s Funeral
Ren’s funeral is heavy, but what truly breaks readers is witnessing Nana Osaki’s grief afterward. She completely shuts down emotionally, isolating herself from everyone, even Hachi. Watching such a strong, fiery character become so hollow and hopeless is devastating. It’s a powerful reminder of how deep love and loss can cut. - Hachi’s Pregnancy and Takumi’s Proposal
When Nana Komatsu (Hachi) finds out she’s pregnant and decides to marry Takumi, fans were torn. Many hoped she’d choose Nobu—the one who genuinely loved her. But Hachi chooses security and stability over love, breaking Nobu’s heart and her own in the process.
The scene where Nobu lets her go, knowing it’s what she’s chosen, is filled with quiet sorrow. It’s not dramatic—but it’s real, and that’s what makes it hurt.
- Nana Osaki Finding Out About Hachi’s Baby from a Tabloid
One of the most emotionally distant yet powerful moments is when Nana Osaki finds out about Hachi’s pregnancy not from her, but from a tabloid. It’s a symbol of how far they’ve drifted apart—two people who were once inseparable, now living completely different lives. The pain in Osaki’s expression says everything. It’s the kind of heartbreak that comes from silence, not shouting. - Shin’s Downward Spiral
Shin is one of the youngest characters in the series, and his quiet suffering hits hard. After his arrest and the disintegration of his relationship with Reira, Shin starts slipping emotionally and mentally. He’s a child trying to survive in an adult world filled with fame, drugs, and pressure.
His loneliness is subtle but powerful, and his moments of vulnerability show how broken he truly is inside.
- Nobu’s Silent Heartbreak
Nobu’s heartbreak is a thread that runs throughout the manga. He’s one of the purest characters in the series—kind, loyal, and full of love. Watching him fall in love with Hachi, only to lose her to Takumi, is gut-wrenching. But what makes it worse is how quietly he carries that pain. He doesn’t explode—he just accepts it and keeps going.
It’s a quiet kind of heartbreak, but one that lingers.
- Nana and Hachi Drifting Apart
Perhaps the most tragic part of Nana isn’t one explosive moment—but the slow, painful fading of the friendship between the two main characters. Once the heart of the story, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu eventually become strangers, connected only by memories and unspoken feelings.
As life pulls them in different directions—music, fame, motherhood, heartbreak—they lose touch. And yet, they still think of each other, still feel the ache of absence. It’s not a dramatic ending—it’s just heartbreak in its most realistic form.
Final Thoughts
Nana is more than a love story—it’s a mirror to real life. It shows us that sometimes, people leave, dreams fade, and life doesn’t give us the closure we want. But in that pain, there’s also beauty. Every heartbreaking moment in Nana is crafted with such emotional honesty that it continues to move fans even years later.
If you’ve experienced any of these scenes, you know the impact they leave behind. And if you’re new to Nana, prepare your heart—because this manga doesn’t pull punches when it comes to emotional truth.