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

The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi

Yasushi Nakanishi / Last Rain [Official Music Video]

It was released in 1992 as Yasushi Nakanishi’s second single.

It’s a profound song in which a man’s lingering attachment and regret after parting with his lover, and his inner feelings, are projected onto a rainy scene.

As one of Yasushi Nakanishi’s signature songs, it has been loved for many years and covered by numerous artists.

Your name is hopeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'Kimi no Na wa Kibō - DANCE & LIP ver. -' Short Ver.

Released by Nogizaka46 in 2013, “Kimi no Na wa Kibō” features Rina Ikoma as center and is a ballad that portrays the unique feelings of yearning and first love in adolescence.

Composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama, known for his ballads, it’s often cited as one of Nogizaka46’s signature songs.

There are moments when, prompted by something small, the scenery before you suddenly looks different—surely everyone has experienced that.

You don’t confess it; you quietly tuck it away in your heart, yet it sparkles.

The grand yet airy sound production also lightens the spirit.

It’s a quintessential Nogizaka46 masterpiece that lets you feel the glitter of the unseen and the thoughts within your heart.

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KEI

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Song of PointillismInoue Sonoko

Inoue Sonoko “Tenbyō no Uta” (Solo ver.) Music Video

Originally a collaboration song with Motoki Omori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, this is Sonoko Inoue’s solo version.

While Sonoko Inoue is known for love songs packed with fluttery excitement that make you happy just by listening, “Tenbyou no Uta” is a ballad laced with heartbreak.

No matter how you listen, your heart feels tightly squeezed.

Because it’s a song about a brief, fragile love, its worldview really pierces you.

The fact that the accompaniment is only piano further heightens the poignancy.

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gummy

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PIECE OF MY WISHImai Miki

PIECE OF MY WISH

“PIECE OF MY WISH” is Miki Imai’s seventh single, released in 1991.

It was the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Ashita ga Aru Kara,” in which Imai starred, and it reached No.

1 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

The song became her first million seller and, along with “PRIDE,” can be considered one of her signature tracks.

Its lyrics, which sing about the importance of being genuine, really resonate.

It’s a classic that has been covered by many artists, including Yuki Koyanagi and Ms.OOJA.

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Hamada Takuya

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tagYuuri

Yuuri 'Tag' Official Music Video

It’s a ballad that blends heartache and pure love, comparing a late-blooming realization of love to the title “Tag.” The song is by Yuuri, a singer-songwriter from Chiba Prefecture, and was released digitally in 2022.

It tells a story of meeting again, after time has passed, with someone you loved and played with as a child—its story-like lyrics squeeze your heart.

It almost feels like watching a romance movie.

As it continues the story of “Kakurenbo” and “Dry Flower,” those familiar with those songs may find it especially moving.

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Araki Jakkan

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Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

Yuri, a male singer-songwriter, created the masterpiece “Kakurenbo” (Hide-and-Seek).

The rock band MY FIRST STORY took a liking to the song and covered it, bringing it into the spotlight.

It’s a heartbreaking breakup song told from the perspective of a man waiting for the woman who said they’d meet again but never returned.

He compares her not coming back to a game of hide-and-seek, wishing for the game to end soon.

It’s a recommended ballad that both men and women should definitely listen to.

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sasashina

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Dried flowersYuuri

Yuri “Dry Flower” Official Music Video - Director’s Cut ver. -

If you’ve ever experienced a broken heart, you can’t help but relate, right? Singer-songwriter Yuuri’s signature song “Dry Flower” is a heartrending breakup ballad that portrays the feelings of a man and a woman after their split from each of their perspectives.

The candid, unvarnished emotions stir up the pain of past heartbreaks.

The powerful band sound meshes perfectly with Yuuri’s emotional vocals, making it a track whose feelings resonate directly in your heart.

It’s a highly recommended ballad for anyone going through a breakup.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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