[Touching the Heart] A Collection of Recommended Ballads for Men

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.
Composer/arranger, guitarist, and bloggerSaitō Ayumu
I started playing guitar in elementary school, and in junior high and high school I played the horn in the concert band. In college I became engrossed in composing and began using DTM. These days, I provide songs to artists as a composer, run a blog under the name “Sakki,” and post music lesson videos on YouTube. My musical roots are in rock, but I also love dance music!

When work is tough and mentally exhausting, or when you’re hurting from a breakup, many men probably turn to music for comfort.

At times like these, ballads that stay close to your heart are a perfect fit.

In this article, we’ll introduce ballad songs recommended for men.

We’ve picked out everything from timeless classics known across generations to the latest tracks by rising artists.

If you’re going through something difficult and want to be healed by the power of music, be sure to check them out.

[Heart-Touching] Recommended Ballads for Men (141–150)

LIFE is…Hirai Ken

Ken Hirai “LIFE is… ~another story~” (cover) / Mami Hatanaka

LIFE is…Hirai Ken

“LIFE is…” is one of Ken Hirai’s signature ballads.

It portrays the complexities of love—putting on a brave face, trying to show only your best side.

While looking back on that kind of relationship, you realize you’re still living your life, yet remembering it still brings a pang of sadness.

It’s a masterful ballad that delicately captures these shifts of the heart and delivers them with a tender, soulful performance.

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monologueHata Motohiro × Matayoshi Naoki

Motohiro Hata × Naoki Matayoshi “Hitorigoto” Official Lyric Video

monologueHata Motohiro × Matayoshi Naoki

The collaborative work ‘Hitorigoto’ by Naoki Matayoshi—an Akutagawa Prize–winning author and comedian—and singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata.

With lyrics by Naoki Matayoshi and music by Motohiro Hata, the piece is distinguished by a profound worldview uncommon in typical Japanese pop music.

The melody is rendered with a very delicate touch, kept at a slow tempo and within a relatively narrow vocal range.

The pitch movements are also gentle, making it easy even for men with lower voices to sing.

Be sure to sing it with feeling.

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PearlGosuperāzu

The Gospellers “Pearl” Music Video

PearlGosuperāzu

This gem-like song is a gift from The Gospellers, a five-member male vocal group, celebrating their 30th anniversary.

The lyrics, which liken an eternal bond with a loved one to a pearl, are truly moving.

All members wrote and composed the song, infusing it with gratitude for their 30-year journey.

It’s included on the EP “Pearl,” released on November 13, 2024.

This work is filled with the full charm of The Gospellers.

When you want to feel the ties you share with a longtime friend or partner, give it a listen—it’s sure to warm your heart.

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Before our feelings overlapHirai Ken

Ken Hirai – Before Our Feelings Overlap (Live)

Before our feelings overlapHirai Ken

It was released in 2004 as Ken Hirai’s 22nd single.

The song was used in a Toyota Motor Corporation “Corolla Fielder” commercial and became his third single to reach No.

1 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

With its heartrending melody that truly resonates, it could be called a quintessential ballad.

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sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI

Sakanaction “Sazanka”

sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI is known for many fantasy-style songs with a unique worldview.

Their song “Sazanka,” released in 2018 as the band’s 12th single, was the theme song for NHK’s coverage of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and Paralympics.

There are times when, despite pushing yourself every day, you suddenly feel anxious or emotionally worn out.

This is a gentle number that softly resonates with the heart—one that can bring you to tears when you listen to it at such times.

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1.15 Million Kilometers of FilmOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – 1,150,000 Kilometers of Film [Official Live Video]

1.15 Million Kilometers of FilmOfisharu Higedan Dism

This is a song included as the first track on Official HIGE DANDism’s first full-length album, “Escaparade,” released in 2018.

As the title includes the word “Film,” the song likens the couple’s past experiences, the life they will walk together from here on, and their shared history to a movie captured on film.

It’s a track packed tightly with a tender happiness that makes you think how wonderful it is to have someone who feels this way about you—or to be able to feel this way about someone—and it really touches the heart.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced plenty of gem-like ballads recommended for men! Every song had melodies and lyrics that truly resonate, right? From the latest hits everyone’s talking about to timeless favorites loved across generations, there was something for everyone—so be sure to find the ballad that suits you best and let it soothe your tired heart!