[Ballads] Hidden gems of Japanese music. Songs that really hit you.

Love and Be Loved (feat. Moeka Shiozuka [Hitsujibungaku])Ryu Matsuyama

Love and Be Loved (feat. Moeka Shiozuka [Hitsujibungaku])

Amid the ballads etched into many listeners’ hearts, there is one song that nestles closer, more quietly.

That is Ryu Matsuyama’s “Aishite, Aisaré feat.

Moeka Shiozuka (Hitsujibungaku).” Since its release on April 29, 2020, this track has steadily gained support, beautifully expressing the many facets of love.

To be called by name is to become real; to be loved is to be born; to be hated is to truly feel alive.

Such complex emotions are woven into the lyrics.

The gently resonant melody and Moeka Shiozuka’s pure yet powerfully memorable vocals come together to offer a sense of solace—something that feels quietly saving.

It goes beyond a simple love song, carrying a depth that makes you reflect on life itself.

To love someone, and at times to hate—that delicate play of human feeling is here for those who want to sense it.

I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a listen.

A late breakfast on a gentle afternoonHata Motohiro

Yawarakana Gogo Ni Osoi Choushoku Wo

Released to the world by Motohiro Hata in 2010, “A Gentle Afternoon with a Late Breakfast” is truly a ballad that seeps into the heart.

Included as the B-side to his debut single “Synchro,” it’s a celebrated masterpiece beloved by fans.

Hata’s warm vocals intertwine with lyrics that quietly trace the inner self, gently sketching both loneliness and hope in the listener’s heart.

The song’s charm lies in how it offers a moment to pause amid the flow of daily life and reflect in silence.

Listen to it in the afternoon, and its soft light will gently guide you toward a new day.

It’s the perfect track for those times when you want to face yourself in the quiet.

moonlightyuzu

Tsukikage

Yuzu’s “Tsukikage” is a song that gently conveys the warm charm of their folk duo.

It was included as the B-side to their 2002 single “Mata Aeru Hi Made.” Starting from street performances and continuing to capture the hearts of many fans, their music in this track layers softly over the quiet backdrop of night.

Although Yuzu had a major breakthrough in the late ’90s, “Tsukikage” reflects influences from a wide range of genres—folk, pop, and country—its moving melody and lyrics weaving an emotionally rich story that anyone might relate to.

It’s a song like walking under a moonlit sky, carrying a touch of loneliness while seeking a gentle light.

Sung by Yuzu, “Tsukikage” slowly seeps into the heart—one of those songs that lingers.

TokyoKetsumeishi

Tokyo

Ketsumeishi’s mid-tempo ballad “Tokyo” is a song that gently seeps into the listener’s heart.

Featured on their 2005 album Ketsunopolis 4, its heartwarming melody fused with a distinctive hip-hop flavor delivers a deep emotional pull with every listen.

You can feel the delicate sentiments of someone who still thinks of their hometown even after moving to Tokyo.

It captures the emotions that connect the everyday lives and memories of many people in the great metropolis—joy and sorrow alike.

On a quiet night, listening to this resonant track might bring nostalgic days vividly back to life.

Give it a listen when you’re feeling lonely or thinking of someone special!

DecemberMoriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama – December

December, when winter’s chill seeps into your bones.

In a season like this, what resonates with the heart is Naotaro Moriyama’s “December.” With its beautiful melodic line and heartrending lyrics, the song sketches a portrait of a bittersweet love.

Once a hidden gem cherished by fans, it was first released digitally in 2005 and later made its CD debut when a 2016 version was included on his second best-of album, “Daikessakusen.” It’s a track that once again reveals the depth of his lyricism.

Moriyama’s voice carries a warmth and gentleness that suit winter, something that softly wraps around the listener’s heart.

When the cold wind blows, it’s a masterpiece you’ll want to savor in a warm room.

His vocals will stay close to your heart and bathe it in a gentle light.

swallowYamazaki Masayoshi

Tsubame

Tsubame, one of Masayoshi Yamazaki’s early signature songs, is a ballad that carefully portrays everyday life and emotions.

Included on his 1996 album STEREO, it showcases Yamazaki’s world through intimate guitar-and-vocal performance.

With lyrics that think of his mother back home and weave together cityscapes and a swallow, his sensibility is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.

The restrained arrangement further highlights Yamazaki’s warm voice.

This piece, which moves you each time you listen, is perfect for a long night when you want to sink in slowly.

After hearing it, you may feel as if your heart has been gently cleansed.

Ferris wheelMy Hair is Bad

Kanransha

This is a track from the album “boys,” released in June 2019, cherished among fans as a hidden gem.

The lyrics are striking, capturing a poignant feeling as a fleeting glimpse of a Ferris wheel during a drive stirs thoughts of a lover and time that won’t return.

There’s no flashy tie-in, but it’s a song that epitomizes their knack for distilling everyday scenes.

With a gentle tempo that swells into an emotionally charged chorus, the dramatic structure is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.

More than vocal range, this ballad hinges on the singer’s expressiveness, so choose it when you want to savor the story in the lyrics or as background music for a nighttime drive.

It will quietly keep you company on nights when you want to linger in a bittersweet mood.