RAG MusicBallad
Lovely ballad

[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.

Playlist

[Tear-Jerking] Classic and Recommended Love Ballads
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastblinkback number
blinkback numberplay_arrow
A heartwarming love song by back number
2eastbeloved captiveAraki Kazuhito
beloved captiveAraki Kazuhitoplay_arrow
Kazuhito Araki’s answer song depicting the anxieties of romance.
3eastStoryAI
StoryAIplay_arrow
An iconic AI song, a timeless masterpiece about love that resonates with the heart
4north_eastIt’s nothing.makaroni enpitsu
It's nothing.makaroni enpitsuplay_arrow
A heartwarming love song that cherishes ordinary happiness
5north_eastIn the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen
In the midst of the trivialHoshino Genplay_arrow
Gen Hoshino's debut single, a song that quietly conveys love
6south_eastfor a very, very long timeFANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE
for a very, very long timeFANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBEplay_arrow
A pure love ballad with a movie theme
7east366 daysHY
366 daysHYplay_arrow
'366 Days' is a famous song by HY that sings about love.
8eastA Naked Heartaimyon
A Naked Heartaimyonplay_arrow
Moving lyrics, a drama theme song that touches the heart
9eastOne more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshiplay_arrow
Masayoshi Yamazaki’s soul-stirring masterpiece
10eastLove SongGO!GO!7188
Love SongGO!GO!7188play_arrow
A classic by GO!GO!7188 that portrays the heartache of unrequited love
11eastAiHata Motohiro
AiHata Motohiroplay_arrow
Motohiro Hata’s masterpiece “Koi,” a poignant love song
12eastPreciousItō Yuna
PreciousItō Yunaplay_arrow
A ballad of resolute faith in the one you love
13eastSpot the differenceSuda Masaki
Spot the differenceSuda Masakiplay_arrow
The songs by Yonezu and Suda are masterpieces that resonate with the heart.
14eastLemonYonezu Kenshi
LemonYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu sings of eternal love in the theme song for 'Unnatural'
15eastI want to hug you.Mr.Children
I want to hug you.Mr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr. Children’s “Dakishimetai” later became a popular song.
16eastI long to see you now.MISIA
I long to see you now.MISIAplay_arrow
The longing to meet a loved one across time
17eastWherever you areONE OK ROCK
Wherever you areONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
A love song by ONE OK ROCK that vows love
18eastcatDISH//
catDISH//play_arrow
A poignant love song of farewell sung by Takumi Kitamura
19eastEverythingMISIA
EverythingMISIAplay_arrow
A powerful song of love: one of MISIA’s signature tracks
20eastKanadeSukima Suichi
KanadeSukima Suichiplay_arrow
A poignant ballad of farewell and bonds by Sukima Switch
21eastLove StoryAmuro Namie
Love StoryAmuro Namieplay_arrow
Namie Amuro’s poignant love song, a heart-stirring track
22eastClose your eyesHirai Ken
Close your eyesHirai Kenplay_arrow
Ken Hirai’s classic that portrays parting and a resolute love
23eastTSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
A bittersweet love song about a summer by the sea
24eastSnow BlossomNakajima Mika
Snow BlossomNakajima Mikaplay_arrow
The appeal of Mika Nakashima’s classic song “Yuki no Hana”
25north_eastLOVE LETTERMakihara Noriyuki
LOVE LETTERMakihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Noriyuki Makihara’s bittersweet youth song about unconfessed love
26north_eastSong of LoveKōda Kumi
Song of LoveKōda Kumiplay_arrow
Kumi Koda’s poignant ballad that gives love
27north_eastA New StorySuzuki Emiko
A New StorySuzuki Emikoplay_arrow
A song that depicts a love story hidden in everyday life
28south_eastMaplesupittsu
Maplesupittsuplay_arrow
A ballad depicting the protagonist accepting the pain of parting and moving forward.
29eastI want to be loved.Oku Hanako
I want to be loved.Oku Hanakoplay_arrow
A song about the earnest desire to be loved
30eastrendezvousshaitoopu
rendezvousshaitoopuplay_arrow
Sheitoupe, popular on social media, depicts the pain of heartbreak.
31eastDon’t disappear.Aina ji Endo
Don't disappear.Aina ji Endoplay_arrow
A heartfelt longing for someone precious I don’t want to lose
32eastCinderella BoySaucy Dog
Cinderella BoySaucy Dogplay_arrow
A love story of dependence, tormented by the other’s lies
33eastIt feels like I’m in love.Yuika
It feels like I’m in love.Yuikaplay_arrow
Piano ballad. Expresses the poignancy of unrequited love. Major-label debut work.
34eastSong of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai
Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanaiplay_arrow
A gem of a rock ballad that's trending on social media
35eastCry On Your SmileKubota Toshinobu
Cry On Your SmileKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
A bittersweet love for someone setting off on a journey toward their dreams
36eastI want to be loved.Mioyamazaki
I want to be loved.Mioyamazakiplay_arrow
Mio Yamazaki’s heartrending vocals that soothe loneliness
37eastMAYBETomioka Ai
MAYBETomioka Aiplay_arrow
A love ballad that sings of Ai Tomioka’s hope for the future
38eastnape (of the neck)aiko
nape (of the neck)aikoplay_arrow
Aiko’s poignant winter song about thinking of an ex-lover
39eastMissingKubota Toshinobu
MissingKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
Toshinobu Kubota’s classic song that sings of the pain of unrequited love
40eastAitaiKato Miria
AitaiKato Miriaplay_arrow
Depicting the bittersweet emotions of unrequited love
41eastLast LoveKato Miria
Last LoveKato Miriaplay_arrow
A masterpiece that expresses the pain of heartbreak with a transparent voice
42eastLove is…Kato Miria
Love is...Kato Miriaplay_arrow
An inspiring classic that vows eternal love
43eastWHYKato Miria
WHYKato Miriaplay_arrow
A heartfelt song that expresses the pain of love
44eastYOU… feat. Izumi Nakasone (HY)Kato Miria
YOU... feat. Izumi Nakasone (HY)Kato Miriaplay_arrow
Hit ballads by Miliyah Kato and HY
45eastLove ForeverKatō Miriya × Shimizu Shōta
Love ForeverKatō Miriya × Shimizu Shōtaplay_arrow
An inspiring song by Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu
46eastheartbeatFukuyama Masaharu
heartbeatFukuyama Masaharuplay_arrow
A heart swayed by an unexpected love and the singing voice of Masaharu Fukuyama
47eastBelieveChe’Nelle
BelieveChe'Nelleplay_arrow
A moving ballad filled with love and hope
48eastThe holeKing Gnu
The holeKing Gnuplay_arrow
A heart-touching ballad that portrays loneliness and loss
49eastALONEB’z
ALONEB'zplay_arrow
A bittersweet love song at dusk that heals loneliness.
50eastmore than anyoneBE:FIRST
more than anyoneBE:FIRSTplay_arrow
A ballad depicting the struggles of a man tormented at heart by BE:FIRST
51eastLove SongGReeeeN
Love SongGReeeeNplay_arrow
GReeeeN’s 2007 message song
52eastheartaimyon
heartaimyonplay_arrow
Aimyon, a heartrending love ballad
53eastKasane AiSoala
Kasane AiSoalaplay_arrow
Soala’s transparent vocals express emotion
54eastexistenceTENSONG
existenceTENSONGplay_arrow
A deeply moving song depicting TENSONG's heartbreak
55eastEndlessTOMOO
EndlessTOMOOplay_arrow
The depth of love in TOMOO’s piano ballads
56eastUntil the day I can no longer rememberback number
Until the day I can no longer rememberback numberplay_arrow
A poignant song about parting with a loved one
57eastI stillmilet
I stillmiletplay_arrow
milet’s love ballad that serves as a movie theme song
58eastThat’s not fair…arekunn
That’s not fair...arekunnplay_arrow
A song that sings of Are-kun’s bittersweet feelings of love.
59eastBe happy, okay?matsumura kanau
Be happy, okay?matsumura kanauplay_arrow
Looking back on memories with a heartbreak song
60eastThat’s all there is to it.Marushii
That’s all there is to it.Marushiiplay_arrow
A heartbroken woman looks back on her happy days
61eastLiar MoonYorushika
Liar MoonYorushikaplay_arrow
A ballad that delicately portrays a sense of loss through piano and vocals
62eastthe depths of the heartrokudenashi
the depths of the heartrokudenashiplay_arrow
A heartbreaking love ballad by a good-for-nothing
63eastsnow moonYamada Ryosuke
snow moonYamada Ryosukeplay_arrow
A bittersweet love story on a winter night
64eastA midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru
A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
A song of deep love and sorrow for someone dear
65eastDestinyAee! group
Destiny Aぇ! groupplay_arrow
Aぇ! group’s bittersweet love song
66eastPrecious LoveEXILE ATSUSHI
Precious LoveEXILE ATSUSHIplay_arrow
A wedding song by EXILE ATSUSHI themed around love
67eastYou’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
You're no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYSplay_arrow
A ballad about the pain of heartbreak
68eastsomedaySaucy Dog
somedaySaucy Dogplay_arrow
A love song that portrays heartbreak and memories
69eastBlue amberback number
Blue amberback numberplay_arrow
A drama theme song that delicately expresses sorrow and a desire for revenge
70eastGoodbyeofukōsu
Goodbyeofukōsuplay_arrow
Off Course’s pure love ballad, poignantly expressing the end of a romance
71eastRainy Amusement ParkSasuke
Rainy Amusement ParkSasukeplay_arrow
A ballad depicting memories of an amusement park date and a breakup
72eastThe Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
The Last Rain Yasushi Nakanishiplay_arrow
A gem-like ballad portraying rain and parting
73eastHide-and-seekYuuri
Hide-and-seekYuuriplay_arrow
A ballad that likens a breakup with a live-in partner to a game of hide-and-seek
74east180°yamazaru
180°yamazaruplay_arrow
A love ballad of a mountain monkey. Depicting the struggles of romance.
75eastClose your eyesHirai Ken
Close your eyesHirai Kenplay_arrow
A ballad about longing for a lost lover
76eastHeartbreaker (I fell in love with a cowgirl)Hirai Dai
Heartbreaker (I fell in love with a cowgirl)Hirai Daiplay_arrow
Hirai Dai's country love song
77eastWhy did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinki
Why did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinkiplay_arrow
A ballad that portrays the poignancy of heartbreak and love
78eastMetronomeYonezu Kenshi
MetronomeYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu’s love ballad, feelings passing each other by
79eastFlavor Of LifeUtada Hikaru
Flavor Of LifeUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
A classic song by Hikaru Utada that portrays heartbreak
80eastcrescent moonayaka
crescent moonayakaplay_arrow
Singing about the bittersweetness and optimism of a long-distance relationship
81eastSong of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE
Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A duet song that portrays love and separation
82eastI LOVE YOUkurisu haato
I LOVE YOUkurisu haatoplay_arrow
Chris Hart's heartbreak ballad song
83eastLinju Lovemakaroni enpitsu
Linju Lovemakaroni enpitsuplay_arrow
A moving story depicting love and feelings in the face of death
84eastAgate Caressed by NightAyase
Agate Caressed by NightAyaseplay_arrow
A wistful ballad depicting a farewell to a loved one
85eastIn loveHY
In loveHYplay_arrow
A ballad that portrays a heart accepting heartbreak and growing
86eastMay it be filled with kindnessJUJU
May it be filled with kindnessJUJUplay_arrow
A heartwarming ballad that depicts gratitude and love for a beloved person
87eastOnly HumanK
Only HumanKplay_arrow
A song of hope where smiles await beyond sorrow
88eastrootKing Gnu
rootKing Gnuplay_arrow
A warm ballad that sings of unassuming value
89eastYou are here—that’s everything.Kotora
You are here—that's everything.Kotoraplay_arrow
A love ballad that portrays happiness with a loved one
90eastYoung and BeautifulLana Del Rey
Young and BeautifulLana Del Reyplay_arrow
A moving, heart-stirring ballad that depicts love and beauty
91eastSakuraMyuk
SakuraMyukplay_arrow
A bittersweet love song of spring, moved by a mystical singing voice
92easttrace (of someone/something), semblance, vestige; a lingering image or memory of how someone/something used to beNovelbright
trace (of someone/something), semblance, vestige; a lingering image or memory of how someone/something used to beNovelbrightplay_arrow
Novelbright’s heartbreak ballad song
93eastBetter Half (feat. JEONGHAN of SEVENTEEN)Omoinotake
Better Half (feat. JEONGHAN of SEVENTEEN)Omoinotakeplay_arrow
A touching ballad with a long-distance relationship theme
94eastmonologueOmoinotake
monologueOmoinotakeplay_arrow
A new song that expresses parting and a sense of loss with an oriental sound
95eastleap day personRADWIMPS
leap day personRADWIMPSplay_arrow
A heartbreaking love song by RADWIMPS
96eastSparkleRADWIMPS
SparkleRADWIMPSplay_arrow
Rock ballad theme song for a Makoto Shinkai film
97eastJust being alive is admirable.ReoNa
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNaplay_arrow
ReoNa's emotional ballad song
98eastUnrequited loveSUPER BEAVER
Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVERplay_arrow
SUPER BEAVER's unrequited-love-themed rock
99eastBye For NowT-BOLAN
Bye For NowT-BOLANplay_arrow
A hopeful anthem for overcoming breakups, resonating with the heart.
100eastContrastTOMOO
ContrastTOMOOplay_arrow
Expressing youthful romance with care through TOMOO’s piano piece
101eastMyraTani Yuuki
MyraTani Yuukiplay_arrow
A gem of a love song depicting the collapse of a romance
102eastMe too,YUTORI-SEDAI
Me too,YUTORI-SEDAIplay_arrow
A ballad about an unattainable love
103eastpetalback number
petalback numberplay_arrow
A heartbreak song layered over cherry blossom petals
104eastHappy Endingback number
Happy Endingback numberplay_arrow
Lingering attachment to an ex-lover and complex emotions
105eastmy nameback number
my nameback numberplay_arrow
A love song by back number that connects hearts just by calling your name
106eastFlower of loveaimyon
Flower of loveaimyonplay_arrow
A song in which Aimyon likens love to a flower
107eastTime lapse (feat. Yella.E)/kocchi no kento
Time lapse (feat. Yella.E)/kocchi no kentoplay_arrow
A heartrending love ballad by Japanese and Korean artists
108eastShall we break up?Miyuhan
Shall we break up?Miyuhanplay_arrow
A song that portrays the feelings of deciding to part ways
109eastPeerless BlossomAina ji Endo
Peerless BlossomAina ji Endoplay_arrow
Aina’s resolve for love and loss
110eastthe red threadKobukuro
the red threadKobukuroplay_arrow
A love ballad that overcomes the rut and looks forward
111easttobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa
tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawaplay_arrow
Delicately portraying post-breakup emotions with an acoustic guitar
112eastTearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzu
Tearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
A signature ballad by Southern that depicts the pain of heartbreak
113eastMidsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu
Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
A heartbreak love ballad at summer’s end
114eastsingle bedSha ran Q
single bedSha ran Qplay_arrow
A ballad that portrays the feelings of recovering from heartbreak and moving forward
115eastTears of MagnoliaSutādasuto☆Rebyū
Tears of MagnoliaSutādasuto☆Rebyūplay_arrow
A love ballad that sings of the sense of loss from losing a loved one
116eastTo the seaSenchimirimentaru
To the seaSenchimirimentaruplay_arrow
A love song of parting and memory, a featured track from the Given movie
117eastfreesiaMarushii
freesiaMarushiiplay_arrow
Delicately depicting the psychology of love in Marcy’s new song
118eastwaiting in vainrokudenashi
waiting in vainrokudenashiplay_arrow
A Useless Unrequited Love Depiction Song
119eastsympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yoplay_arrow
Hitoto Yo's debut work, a heartwarming, original sound
120eastdogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yoplay_arrow
Hitoto Yo's classic ballad, a prayerful lyric that touches the heart
121eastthreadNakajima Miyuki
threadNakajima Miyukiplay_arrow
Miyuki Nakajima’s gem of a masterpiece that weaves fate with warp and weft
122eastBetelgeuseYuuri
BetelgeuseYuuriplay_arrow
A song about the bond between starlight and people
123eastBeing lovedKazuki
Being lovedKazukiplay_arrow
A ballad portraying the pain of heartbreak and lingering attachment
124eastFirst LoveUtada Hikaru
First LoveUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
A love ballad by Hikaru Utada
125eastYour SongYasuda Rei
Your SongYasuda Reiplay_arrow
Rei Yasuda's 'Kimi no Uta' is a song about a deceased lover.
126eastGentle RainKoizumi Kyoko
Gentle RainKoizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
A smash hit song that portrays Kyoko Koizumi’s earnest feelings
127eastYour Song for YouKawasaki Takaya
Your Song for YouKawasaki Takayaplay_arrow
A heartwarming song that contrasts cosmic love with everyday love
128eastAbove the setting sunKawasaki Takaya
Above the setting sunKawasaki Takayaplay_arrow
A passionate love hidden in a quiet heart
129eastSymphonyHirai Dai
SymphonyHirai Daiplay_arrow
Dai Hirai’s movie theme song love ballad
130eastBallad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshiplay_arrow
A warm, classic song that sings of the universality of love
131eastBeyond the goodbyeMatsushita Kohei
Beyond the goodbyeMatsushita Koheiplay_arrow
A song that gives you the courage to rise after heartbreak
132eastWhite LoversKuwata Keisuke
White LoversKuwata Keisukeplay_arrow
Keisuke Kuwata's winter ballad song
133eastI won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki
I won't fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
A ballad depicting the pain of heartbreak and the glimmer of hope
134eastSentimental KissShio Reira
Sentimental KissShio Reiraplay_arrow
A ballad by Shio Reira. A gentle portrayal of the end of a romance.
135eastLet’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu
Let's become a familyFukuyama Masaharuplay_arrow
A heartwarming classic by Masaharu Fukuyama that depicts love and the bonds of family
136eastAn unfinished love song I’ve been working on foreverHata Motohiro
An unfinished love song I've been working on foreverHata Motohiroplay_arrow
A ballad depicting the gentle love of a married couple
137eastAzaleaYonezu Kenshi
AzaleaYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
A ballad depicting lost love and hope for the life that follows
138eastVersailles – Versailles –ayaka
Versailles - Versailles - ayakaplay_arrow
Ayaka’s theme song expresses feelings of love and freedom
139eastfor a whilerikon densetsu
for a whilerikon densetsuplay_arrow
A ballad that depicts the pain of heartbreak
140eastfilamentUru
filamentUruplay_arrow
A translucent singing voice and deep emotion move the heart
141eastwaltzieiri reo
waltzieiri reoplay_arrow
A poignant love ballad: Leo Ieiri’s song that resonates with the heart
142eastMemo lockShio Reira
Memo lockShio Reiraplay_arrow
Shioreira’s heart-resonant song depicting love and loss
143eastTi AmoEXILE
Ti AmoEXILEplay_arrow
An adult love song about a forbidden romance
144eastIkuriipuhaipe
Ikuriipuhaipeplay_arrow
CreepHyp’s Love Song
145eastyouieiri reo
youieiri reoplay_arrow
Leo Ieiri’s heartrending, gem-like love song