[Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
Ballads that are always close to our hearts and soothe our souls.
I’m sure you have a favorite song of your own.
But there are times when you think, “I want to discover ballads I’ve never heard before!”
In this article, we’ll introduce a wealth of moving, must-hear ballad classics just for you.
We’ve picked not only timeless masterpieces that have been sung for years, but also the latest tracks from today’s popular artists, so be sure to find a new favorite.
Listen to lots of beautiful ballads and let your heart be healed.
- Recommended ballads for men: classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth.
- [Songs I'd love women to sing!] Popular ballads performed by female artists
- A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.
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- Today's recommended ballads: A carefully curated selection of heartwarming, gem-like masterpieces!
- A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs
- A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- [Take it easy] Recommended ballad songs to help you sleep
- [Karaoke] Classic and Popular Ballad Songs You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
[Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces and the Newest Hits [2026] (181–190)
I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN
This is the debut single by DEEN, a rock band that made its major-label debut as part of the Being boom that swept Japan in the 1990s.
Despite being their debut song, it was also used in a commercial and became a million-selling hit, standing as DEEN’s biggest and most iconic track.
It’s a ballad packed with elements that anyone would consider a classic: bittersweet feelings and hope directed toward a former partner, and a gentle, beautiful melody.
It’s a soothing song that heals the fatigue of everyday life, and one I recommend even to those who don’t usually listen to ballads.
[Heartwarming] Masterpieces of Ballads: Timeless Classics and the Latest Hits [2026] (191–200)
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Although they’re an idol group, they also have the side of a dance rock band, performing choreography while playing instruments.
This song, “Neko” (Cat), was written and composed by the popular female singer-songwriter Aimyon.
It’s a heartrending breakup song about being unable to let go of an ex-girlfriend; the lyrics are filled with lingering attachment, imagining that if she were a discarded cat, he would take her home.
It’s moving to the point of tears.
There’s also a self-cover version sung by Aimyon herself, so it’s recommended to listen and compare!
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE
The 31st single by DREAMS COME TRUE, a group at the forefront of the J-pop scene with overwhelming vocal prowess and irresistibly catchy melodies you can’t forget after a single listen.
Written as the theme song for the TV drama “Suna no Utsuwa” (The Castle of Sand), this ballad features bittersweet lyrics about a forbidden love and a wistful arrangement that really tugs at the heart.
With no clear chorus section and an outro built on persistently unsettling chords, the song’s structure conveys a sense of instability that mirrors the protagonist’s feelings—no matter how sincerely they love, their feelings will never be rewarded.
It’s a uniquely compelling number that invites empathy even from listeners who haven’t had that kind of experience.
I love you. I loved you.DREAMS COME TRUE
“Aishiteru Aishiteta,” included as the ninth track on DREAMS COME TRUE’s sixth album “magic,” released on December 4, 1993.
It’s a poignant ballad that paints the scene of two people at the moment of parting.
The vocals, as if recounting memories one by one, are heartrending, and as you listen, a fragile melancholy will seep into your heart.
Just… I want to see youEXILE
Released in 2005, this is one of EXILE’s signature works from that era.
It’s a classic tearjerker ballad—practically the definition of a heart-touching song with beautiful male vocals layered over a piano accompaniment.
The lyrics portray lingering feelings for a former lover: even when you try to forget, you just can’t.
Many men will likely relate to that bittersweet emotion.
It’s a song we recommend not only to listeners who remember those days, but also to younger listeners who’ve just gone through a breakup.
I was born to meet you.EXILE SHOKICHI
This is SHOKICHI’s second solo single.
It’s a straightforward love message song about the happiness of meeting the one you love.
Simple words are filled with all the love for that special person.
It might be rare for a Japanese person to express their feelings this openly.
Maybe that’s why, if someone said this to me, I feel like I could be happy for the rest of my life.
I’d feel like there’s nothing left to fear.
fragileEvery Little Thing
Released in 2001, this is Every Little Thing’s 17th single and a popular song that was also performed at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It became a hit that won many awards, including the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Cable Radio Awards and the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.
One of its charms is a melody line you won’t forget once you’ve heard it.
Notably, the story-style music video continues into the next release, “Graceful World.”