![[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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[Tearjerkers] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads (1–10)
PreciousNEW!Itō Yuna
A ballad imbued with a strong determination to believe wholeheartedly in your loved one and overcome any hardship together.
Sung by Yuna Ito, a Hawaii-born vocalist with overwhelming vocal prowess, this piece is a grand love song that will move listeners to the core.
Released in May 2006 as her third single, it was chosen as the theme song for the film “Limit of Love: Umizaru” and became a major hit.
The beautifully interwoven string melodies and her expansive, resolute voice are sure to inspire deep emotion.
Consider choosing it for a scene where you vow eternal love to the partner with whom you’ll walk through life, or as end-credits BGM to grace an emotional finale.
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?
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.
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.
I long to see you now.NEW!MISIA
A grand ballad that stirs the heart with a bittersweet yet powerful longing to meet a cherished person across time.
Sung by MISIA, renowned for her overwhelming vocal prowess, this piece was written as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “JIN” and released as a single in November 2009.
It was also positioned as the lead single from the album “JUST BALLADE,” and many listeners may remember it alongside the drama’s moving scenes.
The lyrics, capturing the frustration of not being able to meet someone you long for and the overflowing passion within, are perfect for anyone seeking the courage to confess their feelings on Valentine’s Day.
Why not immerse yourself in this soul-stirring voice while making chocolates?
A Naked Heartaimyon
This song has a lovely, quiet intro that traces the melody of the chorus on piano.
It was also used as the theme song for TBS’s smash-hit drama “My Housekeeper Nagisa-san.” Because it always played during the drama’s tear-jerker moments, I feel like I’m about to cry whenever I hear it, like a Pavlovian response.
The line “Without hiding anything, I showed my heart just as it is and realized—I’m in love” evokes a beautiful world of affection that ties in with the drama.
I think many fans would say this is their favorite song.
It was also performed at the 2020 year-end NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.