[Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]

aspiration; longing; ardent desireFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Wishful Longing (Inspire Movie for the film “If Only I Could Meet You Again at the Hill Where That Flower Blooms”) *NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen performance song

A song by Masaharu Fukuyama, created as the theme for the film “At the Hill Where That Flower Blooms, If I Could Meet You Again,” which depicts timeless pure love set in wartime Japan.

Sung from the perspective of a kamikaze pilot, its lyrics about the happiness of living in the present resonate deeply with listeners.

Released in December 2023, the track became a massive hit, ranking No.

1 across 19 categories on its first day of digital distribution.

Fukuyama’s characteristically delicate sensibility and musicality blend beautifully with the film’s worldview.

With lyrics that portray life and death, good and evil, and the everyday joys and sorrows, this song is sure to gently nudge those standing at a crossroads in life.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata / Promise of a Sunflower (Short Ver.)

When it comes to ballads that truly resonate, it has to be Motohiro Hata.

His beautiful, gentle voice soothes tired hearts and heals those that are down or hurt.

His song “Himawari no Yakusoku” (Promise of a Sunflower), released in 2014 as the theme for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon, is loved by a wide audience, from children to adults.

It’s a tender number filled with the feeling of quietly cheering someone on from afar while wishing for their happiness.

It’s a song you’ll want to give to someone you love—or from a parent to a child.

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utatane

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wishing starAyaka × Miura Daichi

Ayaka × Daichi Miura / “Negai Boshi” Music Video (included on the album “LOVE CYCLE”)

The song “Negaiboshi” weaves its lyrics from wishes collected under the hashtag #みんなでつくろう (“Let’s create together”), specifically “things we wish for precisely because we’re living under the impact of COVID.” Photos gathered in the same way were used in the music video.

Many listeners may find themselves moved to tears by these lyrics, which capture the inability to fully accept reality and the longing to see loved ones.

A song that hopes for a brighter tomorrow, it will surely continue to be sung as a classic that supports people in difficult times, even after the pandemic has subsided.

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sasashina

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Gazing at the starsSuda Masaki

Masaki Suda “Gazing at the Stars”

Actor Masaki Suda, who captivates many music fans with his full-fledged musical activities.

This song became the theme for the drama “Love You as the World Ends,” and its lyrics are appealing because they mirror the feelings of the protagonist, who is suddenly separated from his lover.

In addition to being a mid-tempo ballad with a bittersweet story woven into the lyrics, Suda’s use of falsetto further heightens the song’s sense of poignancy.

Combined with its beautiful melodic line, it’s a superb ballad that grips your heart just by listening.

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Hane Keisuke

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Strawberry Statement, Once Morebanban

Let's Do the 'Strawberry Statement' Once More

Released in August 1975, this poignant coming-of-age ballad, which tenderly portrays the transience of youth and changing times, became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

It was the first song written by Yumi Arai for another artist, gently capturing memories of dates at the movie theater, days fervently devoted to the student movement, and the young facing the reality of entering the workforce.

Banban’s warm choral work blends beautifully with the fragile lyrics, resulting in a piece that fills the heart with nostalgia and bittersweet emotion.

This song will resonate when you want to immerse yourself in memories of your youth or reflect on moments shared with someone dear.

That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu

That Wonderful Love Once Again ~ 2024 Ver. [Official Promotion Video]

A gem of a folk song, filled with longing and nostalgia in search of a lost love.

It gently embraces shifting emotional distances and reflections on youth gone by.

The warm sonic world woven by the soothing resonance of the acoustic guitar and a refined arrangement beautifully captures the farewells and hoped-for reunions we all encounter in life.

Since its release in May 1971, it has been beloved as a staple for school events and graduation season, and has been widely used as incidental music in dramas and variety shows.

When you want to linger in memories with someone dear, why not immerse yourself in its soul-stirring vocals and poetic world?

The True Nature of TearsSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “The True Form of Tears” MV (Theme song for NHK Night Drama ‘Vanilla na Mainichi’)

It’s a soul-stirring song that gently embraces the loneliness and struggles everyone carries in their hearts.

It delivers a heartwarming message about the importance of accepting the invisible, deep-seated emotions within us just as they are.

Created by SUPER BEAVER in January 2025, the piece was written as the theme song for NHK General’s late-night drama “Vanilla na Mainichi,” further enriching the show’s world.

Airing from the same January, the drama features the track as a key song that closely reflects the protagonist’s feelings, including a scene where a main character sings it.

Whether you’re standing at a crossroads in life, trying to confront yourself, or hoping to understand someone else’s feelings, this is a song that will surely resonate with your heart.