[Tear-Jerking] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads
This is a playlist that spotlights ballads among love songs—nothing but love ballads.
These ballads are filled with tender, heartrending emotions unique to romance, from sorrowful love to songs that gently draw you in.
There are nights when you just want to dive into love ballads and have a good cry, right?
We’ve gathered a wide selection, from recent hits to timeless classics.
Even when they describe happiness, they somehow bring tears—so immerse yourself in these exquisite love ballads and let it all out.
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[So Touching] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads (101–110)
Flower of loveaimyon
Aimyon, who has crafted numerous iconic ballads, wrote “Ai no Hana” as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Ranman.
In this piece, she compares love to a flower and portrays the way it blooms beautifully.
Listen while paying attention to its lovely imagery.
It’s also a song about love for someone you can no longer meet, so those who have had a similar experience will surely relate.
Its gentle, triple-meter sound soothes and warms the listener’s heart.
Time lapse (feat. Yella.E)/kocchi no kento
A heartrending love ballad that shines with the seamless harmonies of Japanese and Korean artists.
Kocchi no Kento welcomes Yella.E for this track, released in March 2025.
As time passes and the sky’s colors shift, they layer in feelings that never quite reach their destination.
The first verse paints everyday scenes, while the second sketches romantic scenery, delicately capturing the heart’s subtle tremors.
Why not listen to this pure duet of love—one that transcends language barriers—together with someone special?
Shall we break up?Miyuhan
Some of you may be feeling down even though you were the one who ended the relationship.
“Wakare yokka” speaks on behalf of those feelings.
It’s a song by singer-songwriter Miyuhan, where her signature clear vocals are highlighted by a simple acoustic arrangement.
The lyrics, which portray the wavering of the heart leading up to the decision to break up, will likely feel personally relatable.
Even if that’s not your situation, it’s crafted in a way that you can still empathize with.
Peerless BlossomAina ji Endo
This is a wonderful ballad whose gentle yet powerful piano accompaniment and emotional vocals resonate deeply.
Released by AiNA THE END in March 2025, the song was written as the theme for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter Two — Fire Rat.
It portrays the happiness of knowing love, the pain of losing it, and the resolve to go on living that arises from both, expressed with her unique lyricism and artistry.
Created after her third album, RUBY POP, this track further expands her range as a solo artist.
It’s a work that will truly speak to anyone who feels both the joy and the bittersweetness of life.
the red threadKobukuro
This is a long ballad that carefully depicts the feelings of a young person entering a rough patch with their partner, unfolding over seven minutes.
As a year passes, the protagonist’s heart gradually starts to look forward, and that progression is portrayed in a striking way.
Included on the album “Root of my mind,” which Kobukuro produced soon after forming, the song gently conveys the importance of trust in love.
It’s recommended for those who, while struggling with a relationship with someone important, still want to cherish their feelings for each other.
It’s a song you’ll want to sing with all your heart at solo karaoke or in the company of close friends.
[Tearjerker] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads (111–120)
tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa
It’s a painfully honest story song that realistically portrays heartbreak.
Over more than six minutes, post-breakup emotions are carefully traced alongside the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar.
A pack of cigarettes left behind by an ex becomes the trigger for recalling the time they spent together, and looking back, only regret remains—such a bittersweet inner landscape is woven through Koresawa’s delicate vocals.
Released in March 2017, just before her major-label debut, this piece can be considered a culmination of her work.
It’s also included on the album “Korekara,” where it continues to be loved.
The melodious, straightforward lyrics are sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.
On nights when you want to face your own feelings, try singing it at karaoke.
Tearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzu
A bittersweet yet beautiful melody that seeps into the heart, this ballad delicately portrays the protagonist’s sorrow and lingering feelings as they face a breakup with a lover.
The emotionally rich vocals woven by Southern All Stars, together with a simple instrumental arrangement, convey the pain of heartbreak with striking clarity.
Released in July 1992, it drew major attention as the theme song for the drama “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta.” It became Southern All Stars’ first million-selling single and won the Excellence Award at the 34th Japan Record Awards.
Whether you’re seeking to heal the sadness of parting or reminiscing about past love, this song gently stays by your side—and continues to be a source of comfort for many to this day.