Recommended ballads for men: classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth.
When you’ve had your heart broken, reached a turning point in life, or are struggling with something…
In times like these, many people want to listen to a touching ballad that stays close to the heart, or belt one out at karaoke, don’t they?
But even when we say “ballad,” there are all kinds: songs with lyrics about love, ones that feel like an anthem cheering on your life, and others that evoke youthful days.
The musical styles vary too—pieces featuring the beautiful tones of piano and strings, rock ballads with a full band sound, and acoustic numbers with just a guitar and voice.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of ballads—picked from among the many out there—that we especially recommend for men!
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- [Touching the Heart] A Collection of Recommended Ballads for Men
- [Karaoke] Classic and Popular Ballad Songs You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke
- Iconic songs men will want to sing! Karaoke tracks recommended for Gen Z
- [Ballads] Hidden gems of Japanese music. Songs that really hit you.
- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.
- A ballad that will definitely make you cry at karaoke
- Nothing but masterpieces! Love songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- [Deeply Moving] A Compilation of Recommended Rock Ballads That Move the Heart
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 20s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- For men in their 30s: Heart-touching breakup songs—masterpieces that can move grown men to tears
Recommended ballads for men: Classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth (71–80)
March 9Remioromen
Originally written for a friend’s wedding, this song has since become popular as a graduation song as well.
The lyrics are wonderful, and the more you listen, the more it draws you in.
We all have people who stir different emotions in us—close friends, beloved partners, unforgettable individuals—and this song conveys a feeling of gratitude for their presence in our lives.
Let’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu
Here is a song by Masaharu Fukuyama that was released in the summer of 2011.
Used as the theme for the wedding magazine Zexy’s TV commercial, it debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
It’s a moving ballad with a wedding motif.
It’s also meaningful that the song was written after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and within its simple lyrics you can find themes of truly loving someone and living together.
Even among Fukuyama’s highly regarded songs, this is a particularly well-received ballad—I highly recommend it.
I love you, but I can’t love you.AAA
AAA, named after the initials of “Attack All Around,” are becoming ever more unmissable, with each member’s solo activities in full swing.
Their upbeat ballad “Aishiteiru no ni Aisenai” (“I Love You, But I Can’t Love”) captures the bittersweetness of love, with lyrics that portray how feelings for someone aren’t eternal and slowly change like the wind.
The dramatic C-melody sung by the female vocalist is a must-hear.
It’s a highly recommended ballad that even brings to mind the saying, “Love makes us forget time, but time makes us forget love.”
cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS
Speaking of RADWIMPS, they’ve created many refreshingly fast-paced, rock band-style songs, but their love ballads—featuring the poignant lyrics written by vocalist Yojiro Noda—are truly wonderful as well! Among them, this is a song that many listeners will likely relate to, the kind that tightens your chest as you listen.
True to Noda’s style, it frequently features high tones, so it’s recommended for those confident in their upper range.
The melody outside the chorus is particularly distinctive, so it’s a good idea to listen carefully beforehand and get a solid grasp of the melodic line.
It always begins with rain.ASKA
Rainy days can make you feel a bit sensitive, can’t they? In times like that, I recommend Aska’s “Hajimari wa Itsumo Ame” (“It Always Begins with Rain”).
It’s a heartbreak song that portrays a date on a rainy day and the breakup that follows.
The sound of rain inserted during the instrumental interlude draws you even deeper into the story told by the lyrics.
It also takes a bit of technique to sing, so it’s great for those who want to show off their skills at karaoke.
By the way, this was the first song with which Aska achieved a million-seller as a solo artist.
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi
Included on Kenshi Yonezu’s major-label debut album and still beloved by fans today is “Eine Kleine.” It’s also known as a karaoke staple.
This song is a bittersweet ballad that voices the fear of a relationship with a loved one falling apart.
It isn’t quite a breakup song; its subtly nuanced lyrics are likely why so many people relate to it.
Incidentally, the title “Eine Kleine” is German and carries the sense of “a girl who is not loved.” Knowing that gives the lyrics’ story a different hue, doesn’t it?
It’s nothing.makaroni enpitsu
This is a song by Macaroni Enpitsu with a captivating development that conveys emotional shifts and a sense of story.
It begins with only the sound of piano, gradually adding instruments, and it’s striking how it transforms into a grand sound in the chorus and interlude sections.
The lyrics portray someone lacking confidence and wondering whether they’re worthy of the other person, yet they progress toward a growing, tender love.
Another appeal of the song is how it expresses indescribable happiness and cherished feelings in a straightforward way.
