[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.
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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
[Heart-Touching] Classic Ballad Masterpieces: Timeless Hits and the Latest Tracks [2026] (301–310)
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki

Released in 1990.
It’s one of the artist’s signature songs.
The song is about the time of moving from childhood to adulthood.
The pain of love, the longing for a glamorous world.
Once you enter adolescence, you experience many emotions that are different from when you were small.
In this song, instead of a smartphone, the radio stays close to the boy’s heart.
The music you loved back then could even influence your way of thinking and living, making it something truly important.
I’m home.Teshima Aoi

This is a song sung by Aoi Teshima that was used as the theme for the drama “Heaven and Hell: Two Faces of the Psycho.” It’s striking for her breathy vocals—one of her greatest charms—which fill the track and lend it an overall sense of sorrow.
The lyrics tell the story of a loved one who has disappeared from the home they once shared.
Seeing mail arrive addressed to the absent lover brings a pang of loneliness, and even the sight of the now-tidy room—made neat in the absence of the messy partner—stirs up sadness.
By depicting these ordinary, everyday scenes, the song vividly conveys the ache of being left alone, drawing us as listeners closer to the events in the lyrics and moving our hearts.
[Touches the Heart] Masterpieces of Ballads: Timeless Classics and the Newest Hits [2026] (311–320)
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi

When it comes to Kazuyoshi Saito’s classic ballads, “Utautai no Ballad” is the standout.
It’s a beloved masterpiece that has been covered by many artists, and in 2017 it was chosen as the theme song for the film Lu Over the Wall.
This song, which expresses love for someone dear, delivers words of love so directly yet so naturally.
No matter how many times you listen to it, or at what age, it resonates with the heart.
It’s a song that warms you from within, so try listening to it together with a beloved partner or cherished family.
Family SongHoshino Gen

This is the 10th single by Gen Hoshino, chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Overprotected Kahoko.” Released in 2017 as the follow-up to the smash hit “Koi,” the song has a gentle feel that celebrates the warmth of family.
The must-see music video features Hoshino in an outfit reminiscent of a certain beloved anime protagonist, set against a uniquely nostalgic Showa-era family atmosphere.
ComedyHoshino Gen

This is a song by Gen Hoshino themed around family.
It was written specifically as the ending theme for the anime SPY×FAMILY.
While it’s sprinkled with words that nod to the series, it straightforwardly portrays feelings toward family.
The gentle, floating sound is striking, and you can sense a savoring of happiness.
Please give this tender ballad a listen—it conveys familial love and expresses a wish for the eternal bond of a family that can laugh together over little things.
homeKiyama Yusaku

This is a warm ballad number by Yusaku Kiyama, performed at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, expressing his love for his family.
While ballads often sing about romantic partners, “home” conveys feelings for his own children.
It’s rare to find songs from a father to his children, but whether it’s a lover or a child, they’re both precious, aren’t they? The song has also been covered by Chris Hart and Yo Hitoto.
Listening to OliviaAnri

This is the debut single by singer-songwriter Anri, who made her major-label debut at the young age of 17 and is also known for the massive hit CAT’S EYE, the theme song of the TV anime Cat’s Eye.
The storyline of the lyrics—hard to believe it was written by a teenager—and her powerful vocals drew attention, and the song went on to become a standard covered by numerous artists.
The lyrics, written from a woman’s perspective about a love that has reached an impasse, may strike men with a tightening feeling in their chests.
With its calm melody and heartrending words that sink into the soul, this is a ballad you’ll want to savor slowly, letting each line of the lyrics resonate.



