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

Mobnoderella≠ME

≠ME (Not Equal Me) / 10th Single “Mob-no-derella” [MV full] / “Mob-no-derella”

A beautiful medium-tempo ballad inspired by the fairy tale Cinderella, depicting the sorrow and wistfulness everyone experiences.

Rino Sashihara’s delicate lyrics, together with the graceful melody composed by 17-year-old Sota Sekiguchi and Katsuhiko Sugiyama, gently embrace unrequited feelings and loneliness.

In director Toshitsugu Ohno’s music video, the fragile emotions of twelve girls who cannot be the star of the ball are rendered with stunning visual beauty.

Set to be released in April 2025 as the title track of ≠ME’s 10th single, the song will come in four editions: Type A, Type B, Type C, and the Noimi edition.

This piece conveys the hope that even while being hurt in the shadow of someone else’s happiness, you will surely find a light that belongs only to you—a song that will soothe the hearts of those carrying deep wounds.

Get naked.Ōhara Sakurako

Sakurako Ohara – Get Naked (Official Music Video)

Sakurako Ohara, who also made waves for having singer-songwriter Mao Abe write and compose the song with arrangement by akkin, released “Hadaka ni Natte” in January 2026 as her first single after turning 30.

From its opening—just acoustic guitar and vocals—the track pulls you in, conveying a strong resolve to move forward even while carrying the pain of a breakup.

The custom guitar used in the music video, designed with “night cherry blossoms” in mind, also leaves a lasting impression, and the song comes together as a rock ballad where gentleness and intensity coexist.

It’s an emotional number that we hope those looking to heal the wounds of heartbreak—or to lay their feelings bare and draw energy for tomorrow—will definitely listen to.

horizonYahagi Moeka

Moeka Yahagi – Horizon [Music Video]

Set to Moeka Yahagi’s warm yet bittersweet melody, this ballad expresses a strong resolve to “be yourself.” Written as the ending theme for the TV anime Sky-Blue Utility, the song serves as a message to the anime’s characters as well as to Yahagi herself.

It will be released digitally in advance on January 4, 2025, with the CD release on February 19.

The lyrics, which tie into the anime’s worldview centered on youth and friendship, will gently encourage anyone striving to walk their own path with confidence.

Fantasy in the CornerHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / Fantasy in the Corner (Lyric Video)

Hirai Dai’s new song gently weaves a small wintertime fantasy blooming in a corner of the city with a warm, tender voice.

Its heartfelt appreciation for the small joys of everyday life resonates deeply with listeners.

Conveying the message that quiet moments with a loved one are the greatest happiness, this track will be included on the EP “Katasumi no Fantasy,” slated for release in November 2024.

It’s a perfect song for those seeking a heartwarming voice for the cold season or wishing to put their feelings for someone special into words.

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.

Bolero of Winter WitheringNaoto Intiraymi

Naoto Inti Raymi “Winter-Bare Bolero” Music Video

We present a heartwarming ballad that dramatizes a breakup and reunion with a lover, set against evocative, wintery cityscapes.

Naoto Inti Raymi’s digital single, released in January 2025, is a gem that gently sings of the bittersweet feelings of lovers who drift apart and the joy of finding each other again.

Its lavish string arrangement blends beautifully with his warm, resonant vocals.

The track is included on the April album Intersection, positioned as a core song celebrating the 15th anniversary of his debut.

From the rush of spotting a loved one in a crowded street to the renewed resolve to walk forward together, the tapestry of emotions woven here makes it the ultimate love song—perfect for warming the heart in the cold season and for anyone seeking to feel the bond with someone special.