A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs
The Heisei era, which includes the 1990s—often called the period when CDs sold more than at any other time in human history—gave birth to many hit songs.
In particular, many ballads continue to resonate with listeners’ hearts even as the times change.
With today’s revival boom, more young listeners are becoming interested in hearing the hit songs of that era.
So this time, we’re introducing ballad songs that were hits during the Heisei period!
If you grew up with them, they’ll feel nostalgic; if not, they’ll feel fresh.
Be sure to check them out!
- Ballad songs that were hits in the 2000s
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
- Heisei Song Collection: Iconic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s
- Emotional songs from the Heisei era. Nostalgic tracks that really hit you.
- Just listening will surely move your heart! A moving song that represents the Heisei era.
- Just listening makes you feel happy! Heisei-era mutual love songs
- Cool songs of the Heisei era. Hit tracks that energized the times.
- A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era
- Songs from the Heisei retro era that will get any generation excited! Timeless tracks you’ll want to listen to now.
- Today's recommended ballads: A carefully curated selection of heartwarming, gem-like masterpieces!
- Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: a collection of timeless classics loved across generations
- From bittersweet tracks to heart-wrenching tunes! Heisei-era unrequited love songs
A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs (31–40)
powder snowRemioromen
This is the seventh single by Remioromen, a three-piece rock band that announced a hiatus in 2012.
Released in November 2005, it was featured as an insert song in the Fuji TV drama “1 Litre of Tears,” becoming the band’s biggest hit and signature track.
The song overlays the fleeting nature of snow that disappears the moment you touch it with the emotional distance and frustrating miscommunication between lovers.
Even while knowing they may never fully understand each other, the pure, single-minded feelings for the other person tighten the chest.
The piercing high notes in the chorus—a highlight—are extremely well-known, and the song is widely beloved as a winter karaoke staple.
It resonates even more deeply when you’re going through a bittersweet romance.
Love is…Kato Miria
The grand ballad inspired by the classical masterpiece Canon delivers a straightforward message—no matter what happens, we’ll stay together—that truly resonates.
Even when loneliness and anxiety make it hard to see ahead, there is someone who will never give up on you and keep supporting you.
It sings of the strength and preciousness of such love and bonds.
Released in June 2007 as Miliyah Kato’s tenth single, the song also served as the ending theme for the anime Toward the Terra.
Its inclusion in the best-of album M BEST II shows how it has continued to be loved over time.
A pledge of eternal love, this work is the ultimate love song—one that makes you want to stay with the person you cherish forever.
Love ForeverKatō Miriya × Shimizu Shōta
The golden duo representing the J-POP scene, Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu, have an unmissable duet song.
While celebrating the joy of meeting, its lyrics occasionally hint at an inevitable end, making it achingly bittersweet and tightening your chest.
Told from both of their perspectives, it’s a track that powerfully conveys gratitude toward the person who saved them from lonely days.
Released in May 2009 as a single by Miliyah Kato and included on the classic album “Ring,” the song became hugely popular, with its music video winning an award at MTV VMAJ 2010.
The section in the latter half where their harmonies intertwine is a must-hear.
It’s a masterpiece perfect for nights when you want to bask in the beautiful memories and bittersweetness of love.
crescent moonayaka
Ayaka’s fourth single, released in September 2006.
A love ballad that captures the heartache of a long-distance relationship, it remains a beloved classic for many.
Even when apart, looking up at the same sky connects their hearts, and the resolve to keep moving forward despite loneliness deeply resonates with listeners.
It’s said the song reflects Ayaka’s own feelings when she moved to Tokyo, and that genuine emotion adds depth to her vocals.
It was featured in an au “LISMO” commercial and as a theme song for an NHK program, and it earned her the Best New Artist award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.
It’s a sentimental number you’ll want to listen to alone on nights when you can’t see someone dear to you.
A piece of youKahara Tomomi
This is a moving ballad released in October 2001 as Tomomi Kahara’s 20th single.
As her first ballad after returning from a hiatus, her expressiveness has gained even greater depth.
The lyrics portray a prayer-like resolve: holding on to the memory of a lost loved one while trying to face forward through the heartache.
Kahara’s clear, translucent voice further enhances those delicate emotions.
The song was used as the ending theme for the NHK Friday period drama “Goben no Tsubaki” and was also included on the album “Love Again.” It’s a gem of a track—gentle and embracing—perfect for nights when you want to quietly reflect on precious memories.
A beautiful melody soothes the heart... Heisei-era Ballad Hit Songs (41–50)
Life is BeautifulHirai Dai
A heartwarming song that’s perfect for peaceful moments by the sea.
Dai Hirai’s gentle voice, paired with soothing sounds of ukulele and acoustic guitar, quietly reminds us just how precious the small joys of everyday life are.
The message embedded in this piece—“Life is beautiful”—guides the heart toward those sparkling moments we tend to overlook in our busy days.
Released in June 2016 as the title track of the acclaimed album “Life is Beautiful,” it also became well-loved as the theme for House Foods’ “Java Curry” commercial.
Whether you’re lost in thought on a beach at sunset or standing at a turning point in life, this song is sure to resonate deeply with the listener.
Summer Days of 1993class
This is a gem of a ballad, colored by a refreshing acoustic sound and a melody that lingers in the heart.
It delicately portrays the subtle emotional shifts from friendship to romance, resulting in a song that gently embraces a love that suddenly blossoms.
class released this as their debut single in April 1993, and it was used as the opening theme for “Kimi to Itsumademo” and as a commercial song for Saison Card.
It was also included on the albums “Mellow Prism” and “CLASSIX,” and became a massive hit, selling over 1.7 million copies.
Fifteen years later, in 2008, an answer song—effectively a continuation of the story—was released.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to look back on memories with someone dear, or who resonate with the secret feelings of love held for a long-time friend.