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

Two People in a Fading CitySazan Ōrusutāzu

Two People in a Fading City

A ballad that portrays the story of a man and a woman who meet amid the languor of summer with a heartrending melody is included on Southern All Stars’ album “THANK YOU SO MUCH,” released in March 2025.

This gem of a track also serves as the theme song for the film “Sunflowers on the Board.” It delicately depicts how a romance that began as a superficial relationship gradually transforms into true love.

Keisuke Kuwata’s deep vocals and a beautiful melody line reminiscent of Eric Clapton strikingly capture a poignant farewell.

In the film “Sunflowers on the Board,” starring Kentaro Sakaguchi, the song resonates perfectly with the human drama set in the world of shogi, further enriching the film’s atmosphere.

It’s a song that stays close to your heart when you want to sink into the melancholic mood at summer’s end or when you’ve experienced a parting from someone dear.

loveUru

[Official] Uru “Ai”

Singer-songwriter Uru, who continues to captivate many listeners with her mysterious presence and embracing voice.

Released in November 2025, her 16th single “Platform” includes this track as a B-side, whose acoustic resonance and use of space create an ensemble that sinks deep into the heart.

The lyrics, which find love beyond anxiety and loneliness, will resonate with anyone who knows their own fragility.

It’s a gem of a ballad, with a tender, comforting vocal that gently seeps in.

dead endHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Dead End [Official Video]

Ikidomari, the theme song for the film A Moon in the Flatlands, by Gen Hoshino.

It’s a quiet love song composed only of piano and vocals.

The lyrics, which depict adult loss and regret—continuing to harbor feelings for someone unforgettable even while standing at a dead end—resonate deeply.

Hoshino has commented that it’s “not a song about myself, but a song that tells the story within the song in the first person,” which shows how faithfully it conveys the film’s worldview.

Please take your time and immerse yourself in its poignant afterglow.

Stars are falling.Senchimirimentaru

Sentimental - “Hoshi ga Furu” (Falling Stars) Music Video

This is a winter ballad that sings of lingering feelings for a former lover.

Released by Centimillimental in November 2025, the song was written as the commercial theme for the Laguna Illumination “Carnival of Light and Water,” held at the Laguna Ten Bosch resort in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture.

Grand piano-and-strings arrangements are layered with Atsushi’s delicate vocals to paint a poignant world where longing and bravado intersect.

The protagonist, torn between wishing happiness for the person they parted from and emotions that won’t fade, resonates powerfully alongside the image of lights pouring down the winter night sky.

It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone trying to face forward after a heartbreak.

It feels like I’m in love.Yuika

It’s like I’m in love / “Yuika” [MV]

Woven with delicate words that capture a sweet, bittersweet longing, this ballad seeps into the heart with its beautiful piano melodies and crystalline vocals.

Yuika’s true-to-life emotional expression beautifully conveys both the ache and the joy of unrequited love, resonating with anyone in love.

Released in February 2024 and featured as an insert song on ABEMA’s romance reality show “Koisuru ♥ Shuumatsu Homestay 2024 Winter,” the track drew attention as her first major-label release.

It’s a quintessential love song that gently embraces the flutter and anxiety of falling in love, and the happiness of becoming mutual.

This is a song you’ll want to listen to when you want to cherish your feelings of love or nurture your affection for someone special.

DiNAYuuri

Yuuri – DiNA / THE FIRST TAKE

Yuri’s heart-stirring new work, which beautifully weaves emotions etched into our genes, arrives in January 2025.

Just as memories with a loved one take root deep within our DNA, it delicately portrays feelings that linger in the depths of the heart.

From fleeting everyday moments to sharing love and loneliness, the story unfolds with a gentle melody that seeps into the soul.

Known for the 2020 smash hit “Dry Flower,” Yuri masterfully captures the transformation and growth born from memories of love through delicate word choice and melody.

This piece accompanies the subtle shifts of the heart that everyone experiences as they cherish the past while taking a new step forward.

It’s a song I recommend to anyone who wants to feel the strength of bonds and the courage to keep moving ahead.

realmiwa

real

This is a sublime ballad filled with kindness, where a clear, beautiful piano tone and a soaring vocal performance resonate in the heart.

Released by miwa in February 2025, the song was chosen as the ending theme for the anime “Momentary Lily.” It tenderly depicts the small joys of everyday life and the bonds with loved ones, delivering a heartwarming message.

It harmonizes beautifully with the anime’s world, further enhancing the work’s appeal—an aspect not to be overlooked.

Showcasing the maturity of miwa as an artist on the 15th anniversary of her debut, the track is also slated to be included on the album “miwa.” It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you feel lonely or want to savor time with someone special.