[Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs

paintingŌmori Motoki

Motoki Ohmori – “Painting” Official MV

It’s a song that resonates deep in the heart, marking a return to solo activity after about four years.

Written by Motoki Ohmori, the frontman of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, it was released as a digital single in May 2025.

The lyrics delicately portray profound melancholy and sorrow, carrying a poignant wish for you to paint in your own colors.

Ohmori’s expressive vocals, set against an ambient soundscape, further deepen the song’s world.

When you feel lost in life, this track is sure to stay close to your heart.

half moonHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / half moon (Lyric Video)

A romantic medium-tempo ballad that likens unrequited feelings to a waning moon.

Released by Dai Hirai in May 2025, it’s the fourth installment in a series of four consecutive digital singles produced to coincide with his beach festival, THE BEACH TRIP 2025.

The lyrics were co-written with EIGO, and the composition and arrangement were a collaboration with Haruto Nishi.

It’s a perfect track for a summer night drive.

Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki

Hideaki Tokunaga – The Broken Radio

Like music flowing from a nostalgic radio, a timeless song that seeps into the heart along with memories was created by Hideaki Tokunaga in July 1990.

The track, which overlays the feelings of a boy transitioning from adolescence to adulthood with the image of a broken radio, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Tokai no Mori” (“Urban Forest”) and reached No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Featuring a grand arrangement by Ichizo Seo and beautifully harmonized with Tokunaga’s delicate vocals, the song artfully blends elements of pop and ballad into a moving piece.

It was also included on the album “JUSTICE” and performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009.

Conveying the transience and passion of youth, as well as a yearning for self-renewal, this work gently embraces the emotional fluctuations everyone experiences while growing up—a resonant song that speaks to the heart.

AriaAina ji Endo

Aina the End – Aria [Official Music Video]

This is the song released by AiNA THE END as the theme for the NTV Saturday drama “Why Am I the One Giving Divine Sermons?” It’s a mid-tempo ballad co-produced with music producer Shin Sakiura.

With its airy sound and gentle melody line, the lyrics invite deep reflection on one’s way of living and relationships with others.

It’s a warm track that speaks to those searching for their true selves or struggling with connections to others.

more than anyoneBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Stronger Than Anyone -Lyric Video- (Theme song for the film “Hold Me Tighter Than Anyone”)

A poignant longing wrapped in kindness strikes the heart in this ballad by BE:FIRST.

While yearning for closeness with a loved one, the vivid lyrics portray a man’s struggle to keep his distance because of mental illness, along with the feelings that remain unchanged.

The richly expressive vocals of all the members and the melody beautifully color the story’s world.

Included on the single “Spacecraft / Sailing,” released on February 5, 2025, the song was also selected as the theme for the film “Hold Me Tighter Than Anyone,” which premiered that February.

This piece invites deep reflection on the meaning of continuing to care for someone important and on human connection.

It is recommended for those wrestling with feelings for someone they love, or for anyone seeking a touching ballad that resonates with the heart.

KaraBank Band

Bank Band 'Kara'

A soulful work by Bank Band that begins with the quiet resonance of a piano and gradually unfolds into a grand scale.

Its lyrics, interwoven with reflections on the depths of life and sharp insights into society, sound a warning to the modern world.

Released in January 2025, the piece beautifully blends Kazutoshi Sakurai’s emotionally rich vocals with Takeshi Kobayashi’s delicate arrangements.

Aina The End, Mone Kamishiraishi, and Salyu join on chorus, adding a vibrant flourish to the track.

Created for the ap bank fes ’25 performance, proceeds from this work are dedicated to supporting recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake, making it a meaningful contribution to society through music.

It is a jewel-like ballad that sinks deeply into the heart when your emotions are stirred, when you want to look within, and when you wish to connect with someone.

You’re no longer here.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS "You’re Not Here Anymore"

This is a gem of a ballad that sings of the sweet, aching pain of heartbreak.

The farewell scene on the station platform and the memories the two shared are delicately portrayed and delivered with a melody that pierces the heart.

Among FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ works, it stands out for its rich emotional expression.

Released in October 2007, it reached No.

8 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Otona no Shikaku,” earning broad support across generations.

The song is also included on the album “FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 2,” and has been covered by Mariko Takahashi.

It’s a heartwarming track that stays by your side when you sense the end of a romance or go through a farewell with someone dear.