[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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- A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs
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- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
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- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
[Heart-Touching] Classic Ballad Masterpieces: Timeless Hits and the Latest Tracks [2026] (301–310)
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
This is a song that became a long-running hit as the theme for the film “Tsuki to Kyabetsu,” starring Mr.
Yamazaki.
It conveys lingering feelings and an unfading love for an ex-girlfriend.
As he basks in their sparkling memories, the moments when he instinctively finds himself looking for her are especially heartrending.
What’s more, the fact that it’s performed as a guitar-and-vocal solo makes the melancholy stand out even more.
“As long as you’re here, that’s enough,” “I want to see you”—it’s a tear-jerking breakup ballad filled with a man’s unfulfilled longing.
#302Hirai Ken
It’s a song about an unrequited love where the person you like has someone they like.
Doesn’t the world of this song shake your heart from the very start? It sings, “Even if our feelings don’t align, I want to be with you,” and “It’s okay if you don’t love me,” and that determination to support them already brings me to tears.
And because it’s Ken Hirai who sings it, the song stands out even more.
Ken Hirai masterfully handles everything from pop songs to ballads, but this time, let yourself be drawn into the guileless, gentle world of this track.
[Touches the Heart] Masterpieces of Ballads: Timeless Classics and the Newest Hits [2026] (311–320)
Can I call it magic?Hirai Ken
This is a beloved ballad with a gentle aura by the popular artist Ken Hirai, who has been active as a singer-songwriter since 1995.
Released in 2016, it’s a beautiful song where Hirai’s poignant, husky high tones resonate over a simple accompaniment.
The real charm of this track lies in its lyrics.
Written to a cherished partner, the section describing “ways to make you smile” conjures the image of a loving couple and warms the heart.
In the latter half, it carries a message of continuing life together from here on, making it a perfect recommendation as wedding BGM.
BuddyHirai Dai
A digital-only single by Dai Hirai, released on May 31, 2021.
It came out as the fourth installment in a series that released new songs every three weeks.
It’s a stylishly arranged love song, and with Hirai’s soft, expressive vocals laid over the sound, it becomes a superb pop ballad.
The lyrics express love in a straightforward way without any gimmicks, which I think boosts the song’s likability and listeners’ sense of connection.
It’s an exquisite pop ballad!
Stand by me, Stand by you.Hirai Dai
“Stand by me, Stand by you.” — popular on platforms like TikTok — is singer Dai Hirai’s 10th digital single, released in 2020.
In 2021, it was featured in a new web commercial for the wedding information site Mynavi Wedding.
The song has surpassed 100 million streams, and its lyric video on YouTube has garnered over 40 million views.
With lyrics that celebrate the miracle of meeting you, it’s a very happy ballad—perfect for weddings!
Savoring youthIkuta Rira feat. ano
This song, a collaboration between Rira Ikuta and ano, was released on March 20, 2024.
It drew attention for being selected as the theme song for the latter chapter of the film Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction.
Rira Ikuta’s clear vocals and ano’s unique style blend beautifully, vividly portraying the conflicts and instability of youth.
Even while feeling frustration and disappointment, their stance of supporting each other and facing forward is striking.
Why not give it a listen when you want to find small glimmers in everyday life or feel like overcoming difficulties together with someone?
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.
