![[Tear-Jerking] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/h-KuoHHjGRs/maxresdefault.webp)
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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- Recommended tear-jerking songs for women: classic and popular J‑pop tracks
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
[Tearjerkers] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads (1–10)
blinkback number
Mabataki, which was chosen as the theme song for the film The 8-Year Engagement: A True Story, was released in 2017 by back number, a rock band indispensable when talking about J-pop love songs.
The band’s sound resonates with the addition of beautiful string tones.
It portrays a couple supporting each other, and Iyori Shimizu’s straightforward, passionate vocals move listeners to tears.
It’s a warm song filled with the desire to be a source of strength precisely when a loved one is going through pain or hardship.
Why not listen to it while thinking of someone you love?
beloved captiveNEW!Araki Kazuhito
Singer-songwriter Kazuhito Araki, who has moved many listeners through social media and live performances.
This track was created as an answer song to “April Love Song,” released in April 2021, which drew significant attention.
Taking the perspective of a woman, it candidly expresses the anxieties and attachments of love, as well as the pain that comes from loving someone, in straightforward words.
It gently stays close to the unstable feelings that arise precisely because you care, making it recommended for those troubled by love or for nights when your feelings for someone overflow and you just want to cry.
Its unadorned, earnest vocals will resonate deep within your heart.
StoryAI
A love ballad released in May 2005 that’s synonymous with the Japanese songstress AI.
Its lyrics, which sing of a universal “love” that applies not only to lovers but also to married couples and siblings, resonate no matter the situation in which you listen.
Her sweet, gentle, enveloping middle register showcases the vocal prowess AI honed through rap and gospel.
It’s perfect for those moments when you want to listen closely, thinking of someone special, and take in the message: “Cherish this very moment.”
It’s nothing.makaroni enpitsu
A love song dedicated to “you,” who gave someone like me—who has nothing to brag about—an ordinary, commonplace kind of happiness and love.
The piano melody that evolves throughout the track is beautiful, isn’t it? In the memorable chorus, you can really feel the straightforward message from Hattori, the vocalist who wrote the lyrics.
It’s a love so strong that putting it into words almost feels crude, and I think it resonates in the hearts of everyone who listens.
Even the faint throat-clearing from Hattori right before the singing starts conveys raw emotion—and it’s enough to make your heart skip a beat.
In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen
A little-known gem: Gen Hoshino’s first single as a solo artist.
Having a ballad as a debut song—Gen Hoshino is just too wonderful! As he himself said, “I’d always thought it would be nice if I could convey that feeling without saying ‘I love you.’” The more you listen, the more you somehow end up falling for Gen Hoshino—it’s a mysterious song! It’s a tearjerker I want to listen to with the person I love, soaking in the lyrics that say, “Love quietly dwells in the ordinary.”
for a very, very long timeFANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE
Here is a pure-love ballad that warms the winter chill and seeps deep into the heart.
The lyrics, which capture the growing feelings of love through everyday, fleeting moments and the frustration of being unable to say “I love you,” tighten the listener’s chest.
Released as a single in December 2025, this song was chosen as the theme for the film “Romantic Killer,” starring member Sota Nakajima.
The delicate timbres of piano and strings intertwine with twin vocals, unfolding dramatically toward the chorus—another point of allure.
If you’re stuck in a one-sided crush and can’t quite take that first step, listening to it might gently nudge you forward.
Why not savor it slowly while thinking of someone special?
366 daysHY
When it comes to a gem of a love ballad that lays bare unwavering feelings for an ex, “366 Days” tops the list.
The song by the hybrid band HY was included on their 2008 album HeartY.
Many may know it as the theme song for the drama and film Threads of Destiny (Akai Ito).
Izumi Nakasone’s soulful vocals, perfectly matched with the band’s slow-tempo performance, are deeply moving.
It’s a sweeping love ballad that embraces the feeling of “I can’t help but think about that person all the time.” Give it a listen on a night when you just want to have a good cry.