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!
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Recommended ballads for men: classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth (91–100)
Hide-and-seekYuuri
This song, which tells a heartbreak story about a girlfriend who used to live with him but is now gone, is a signature track by the singer-songwriter Yuuri.
He gained significant attention after his street performance led to an appearance at a MY FIRST STORY concert.
In the song, he compares her absence to a game of hide-and-seek, but the protagonist knows she isn’t hiding—she’s left.
Still, he can’t accept that reality, and the lyrics portray his struggle.
It’s an experience many people can relate to, so you might find yourself in tears as you listen.
Magic CarpetKawasaki Takaya
A signature song by singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, known for his charming husky voice.
After going viral on TikTok, it drew attention across various streaming services.
The lyrics convey straightforward love for someone important, and many listeners likely felt a sense of sincerity.
Rather than a melody line that keeps pushing the energy higher throughout, it maintains a calm atmosphere—so try singing it with emotional engagement.
It’s especially recommended for men with lower voices.
Recommended ballads for men: Classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth (101–110)
Your FriendWEAVER
It’s a warm, encouraging song that gives you a push as you walk toward your dreams.
It’s a track by the three-piece piano rock band WEAVER, released in 2010 as their fifth single.
The piano’s tone has a charm that makes you want to keep listening forever.
It was chosen as the support song for the 89th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament and became a hot topic.
The end of love comes surprisingly quietly.Ketsumeishi
“Koi no Owari wa Igai to Shizuka ni” (The End of Love Is Surprisingly Quiet) is a song included on Ketsumeishi’s fifth album, Ketsuno Police 5, released in 2007.
It’s a beloved ballad among Ketsumeishi fans, perfectly matching lead vocalist RYOJI’s sexy, heartrending voice.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu
When it comes to songs you want to listen to at life’s milestones like graduation, “Sakurazaka” comes to mind.
Everyone knows that famous chorus, right? By the way, it was originally written as the theme song for the romance reality show “Future Diary V,” and the filming location was Sakurazaka.
It’s said that Masaharu Fukuyama composed the lyrics while picturing the scenery of Sakurazaka.
Those lyrics can soothe the heart not only at life’s turning points but also after a breakup.
Also, in the instrumental version included on the same single, you can discover a different kind of charm.
Blue BenchSasuke
This song is the debut single by the male vocal duo Sasuke, and it became a huge hit from its release in 2004 through 2005.
If you were born before the 1990s, you may well have heard it in real time back then.
The lyrics describe the narrator revisiting his feelings for the girl he liked in his school days, as a class reunion approaches some time after graduation.
Sung with a plain, straightforward voice over a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar and harmonica, the bittersweet emotions in the lyrics come through directly to the heart.
It’s a song that can’t help but move you when you’re feeling nostalgic, recalling an old romance.
The way homeOAU
It makes me feel nostalgic.
It’s a song by the acoustic band OAU, short for OVERGROUND ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND.
It was released as a single in 2019.
The gentle timbre of the instruments is soothing.
It’s the kind of song you somehow want to listen to on a summer evening.
It was used as the opening theme for the drama “What Did You Eat Yesterday?”