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

Even with countless new songs being released, plenty of ballads are born.

What kind of ballads do you like? When it comes to ballads, we often think of massive hits that anyone can sing, but sometimes you want to discover those hidden gems that only a few people know.

In this article, we’ve selected ballad songs that have been talked about as underrated masterpieces—along with tracks by popular artists in recent years—that feature lyrics that really hit home.

Enjoy exploring the many charms of different ballads!

Playlist

[Ballads] Hidden gems of Japanese music. Songs that really hit you.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	MOONHimuro Kyosuke		The album released in ’91, “Higher Se…
2	Forget-me-notOzaki Yutaka		Included in the 1985 album “Through the Broken Door”…
3	Still love her (Lost Scenery)TM NETWORK		The album released in ’88, “CAROL ~A …
4	belovedRyokushokushakai		A fresh yellow-green that’s striking for its gentle piano intro…
5	equalOfisharu Higedan Dism		Higedan’s “Equal” is a hidden gem that conveys equality and values.
6	verbal promiseiScream		With an unforgettable melody and touching lyrics, lis...
7	indigoSukima Suichi		It starts with a wistful guitar phrase in the intro and...
8	umbrellaMrs. GREEN APPLE		A hidden gem that reveals new charms of ballads…
9	That’s all there is to it.Marushii		A heartbroken woman looks back on her happy days
10	summer vacationwacci		Wacci’s “Summer Vacation” is a summer tradition...
11	Let the flowers in your heart bloom.ikimonogakari		Ikimono-gakari’s album “My song…”
12	Love and Be Loved (feat. Moeka Shiozuka [Hitsujibungaku])Ryu Matsuyama		Among the ballads etched into the hearts of many listeners, …
13	The holeKing Gnu		King ..., released in January 2019
14	I’m beat.sumika		Band sumika's 'Maitta' is 201…
15	Bye-byeKAN		Baibaibai is a farewell song.
16	A late breakfast on a gentle afternoonHata Motohiro		The song that Motohiro Hata released to the world in 2010, '…
17	moonlightyuzu		Yuzu’s “Tsukikage” is their folk du…
18	swallowYamazaki Masayoshi		“Ts…” is one of Masayoshi Yamazaki’s early signature songs.
19	DecemberMoriyama Naotaro		December, when the winter cold seeps into your bones. In such a season...
20	Ferris wheelMy Hair is Bad		The poignancy of love and the passage of time as seen from a Ferris wheel
21	TokyoKetsumeishi		Ketsumeishi’s medium-tempo ballad “Tokyo” is...
22	Heart of GoldT-BOLAN		T-BOLAN’s gem-like ballad gently embraces life.
23	About Fuwarinekoto		A gentle piano ballad by Negoto
24	Crescent Moon and MeNii Akino		A poignant song that quietly accepts lost love
25	OrangeSMAP		A classic SMAP song: a beautiful ballad that colors parting with gratitude.
26	The True Nature of TearsSUPER BEAVER		A heartwarming song that embraces loneliness and inner conflict
27	Shige-chanSabasusutā		Sabashi-ster’s gemlike ballad singing about love for stuffed animals
28	tomorrowNoda Megumi		A ballad that portrays a heartbreaking emotion with a gentle singing voice
29	LetterSHE’S		A soul-stirring song that depicts growth through dialogue with oneself
30	hugiri		Set in a snow-swirling world, reflecting on memories of the past…
31	Hide-and-seekYuuri		Yuri's debut song that depicts the pain of heartbreak