[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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[Heart-Touching] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces and the Newest Hits [2026] (21–30)
iNumber_i


This song, included on the 2024 release “No.O -ring-,” is a ballad that carries a message of savoring the small happiness close at hand without being greedy—saying that as long as I can be with you, just a handful of happiness is enough.
Alongside those warm lyrics, its mid-tempo progression and the inclusion of brass create a charming, blissful atmosphere.
The song was used in 2025 for SEKKISEI’s commercial “i Bright.
Clearer than snow.” The three members of Number_i also appear, dressed in pure white outfits, and their walk through a snowy landscape leaves a striking impression.
future paintingFukuyama Masaharu

It’s a song written specifically for Nippon Life’s 2025 commercial “Nurturing the Future,” and the title is said to carry two meanings: a vision of the future and a path toward it.
The lyrics, which sing about living each day earnestly because we ourselves are the ones creating the future, are sure to resonate with many listeners.
Another indispensable charm of this track is being able to hear Fukuyama’s warm, rich vocals.
It’s a heartfelt ballad infused with the desire to cherish our loved ones—and ourselves—for the sake of the future.
[Heartfelt] Classic Ballads: Timeless Masterpieces and the Newest Tracks [2026] (31–40)
A New StorySuzuki Emiko

A pure-love ballad by Emiko Suzuki that delicately portrays the special brilliance hidden in everyday life.
Listening to it makes you realize that the days of laughing and crying on repeat are, in fact, an irreplaceable story.
Released in advance in February 2022 as the lead track from the album “5 senses,” it drew attention for its tie-in with a bridal jewelry brand on TV Asahi’s “Promercial.” It’s a piece we hope you’ll listen to if you’re feeling the desire to cherish the time you spend with your partner anew.
Final scene.eill

Singer-songwriter eill, known for her translucent vocals and versatile musicality, continues to draw attention.
Chosen as the theme song for Amazon Prime Video’s reality dating show “Love Transit Season 3,” this track was released for streaming in October 2025.
Set to a classic R&B groove, it delicately portrays the emotions of a woman striving to move forward while holding onto feelings for someone she’s parted ways with.
It’s moving in its depiction of the aching loneliness of having no one left to keep her warm, alongside the complex desire to cherish that love in her heart forever.
Give it a listen when you feel like looking back on a past romance.
mental imagekoron

This ballad, released in November 2025 by Colon, a member of Strawberry Prince (SutoPuri), was written and composed by Chouchou-P.
It delicately portrays the preciousness of cherishing someone dear.
The clear vocals meld beautifully into the spacious resonance of piano and strings, creating a wonderfully soothing sound.
Capturing in music the moments where memory and imagination intersect—when feelings for someone appear in the mind like vivid images—this song is perfect for times when you want to face your own emotions.
A Song Dedicated to the Worst YouYuuri

Yuri’s new song, released in November 2025, had its live debut on the first night of the Asia tour at Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium, and was streamed online in a way that carried the fans’ on-site energy straight to the internet.
The track is a poignant medium-tempo ballad in the lineage of “Dry Flower” and “Betelgeuse,” portraying the protagonist’s conflicted emotions as they continue a relationship even while knowing the other person isn’t serious.
Aware that both they and their partner are being unfair, the lyrics frankly express the pain of being unable to let go and the lingering attachment—offering listeners a chance to confront their own vulnerabilities.
It’s a song that will stay close to anyone who has settled for a convenient relationship or needs the courage to accept an ending.
Heroineback number

A signature ballad by back number that beautifully captures the crisp winter air and the bittersweet ache of unrequited love.
Even while knowing they can’t be the main character in the other person’s story, the narrator’s pure wish to stay by their side evokes a moving, heart-tightening feeling—even for those without similar experiences.
Produced by Takeshi Kobayashi, the song opens with a striking organ tone, followed by Iyori Shimizu’s warm yet heartrending vocals that gently seep into the soul.
Released in January 2015 as their 11th single, it also drew attention as the CM song for JR East’s “JR SKISKI” campaign featuring Suzu Hirose.
It’s the perfect track to revisit the bittersweet taste of an unattainable love or to listen to on a winter night while thinking of someone special.



