Ballad Masterpiece Selection Performed by Japanese Girls' Bands

leap day personRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Leap Day Person [Official Music Video]

Written for the album “The Last 10 Years ~Original Soundtrack~,” released in March 2022, this piece is a grand ballad woven from piano and orchestral arrangements.

While it grapples with the heavy theme of death, its lyrics beautifully portray the miracle of meeting a loved one and the preciousness of life, moving listeners to the core.

Created as the theme song for the film “The Last 10 Years,” starring Nana Komatsu and Kentaro Sakaguchi, it also reflects deep immersion in the work—Yojiro Noda reportedly read the script nearly a hundred times before completing it.

It’s perfect not only for lingering in the film’s afterglow but also for those moments when you want to reaffirm the irreplaceable tenderness of everyday life; take your time and listen closely.

DaydreamingBAND-MAID

BAND-MAID / Daydreaming (Official Music Video)

They’re a band often associated with the public image of a striking contrast: a five-piece in maid outfits delivering a metal sound.

However, this song is a ballad that purely sings of love.

It still features BAND-MAID’s signature, hard-hitting performance, making it a track where you can feel the band’s toughness.

Angel Who Calls Themself TimeCymbals

Cymbals – Angels Who Call Themselves Time

I think the title represents an airplane, and being able to express it like that is very poetic.

The sound evokes the time from dusk to night flights.

The final outro, where layers of beautiful noise pile up, is perfect for getting completely immersed.

Tears of RegretSCANDAL

SCANDAL “Namida no Regret” / Namida no Regret ‐ Music Video

Released in 2010 as their seventh single, it was used as the ending theme for Nara TV’s 2010 broadcast of the Nara Prefecture High School Baseball Tournament.

The song feels like a coming-of-age story for junior and senior high school students who aren’t quite adults yet.

Its clumsy honesty is easy to relate to.

Before LoveFINLANDS

FINLANDS - Before Love (Music Video)

It’s a song with lyrics about having nothing to be proud of, seeking stimulation and illusory love, and becoming dependent on a partner.

As a consequence, the woman ends up lavishing gifts on the man and giving him everything—an emotion that’s uniquely feminine yet one anyone can fall into.

It’s a fan favorite.

I think the charm lies in how the voice tightens into a squeezed timbre when the notes go high.

communicationakai kouen

Akaikoen – Communication

A grand work that portrays delusions of grandeur from the perspective of boys and girls—like a nursery rhyme—on a scale comparable to the film E.T.

It’s a cinematic, fantastical song in which they sneak out at night to try to communicate with outer space, fail, yet sing, “Let’s try again” and “Let’s talk.”

Love SongGO!GO!7188

Koi no Uta / GO!GO!7188

It’s a ballad that passionately sings of deep affection at a relaxed tempo.

The emotions poured into the song are intensely powerful, to the point that you can feel a heartfelt plea.

The vocals’ entwining delivery suits it well and strikes a chord with listeners.