A tear-jerking, hardcore love ballad by a man
When it comes to classic love songs, ballads are the clear favorites.
There are all kinds of ballads, but this time we’re spotlighting tear-jerking love ballads sung by men.
We’ll introduce many timeless Japanese hits that truly move the heart.
It’s also a playlist you can use as a reference for your karaoke song choices.
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A tear-jerking, hardcore love ballad for men (11–20)
I Love YouOzaki Yutaka
It’s a tear-jerking, no-nonsense love ballad by Yutaka Ozaki, who ended his days as a legendary artist with absolute charisma and continues to enjoy enduring popularity.
This universally resonant work has maintained overwhelming support as a renowned masterpiece of Japanese music.
somedaySaucy Dog
A straightforward, honest love song that brings the ache and poignancy of heartbreak right to your chest.
Through real-life scenes—like the deserted park at Tawarayama and the sloping road where you can see the starry sky—the memories woven together vividly portray feelings for a precious person you can never meet again.
Released in May 2017 as a track on the album “Country Road,” this piece gently embraces an unforgettable love with warm lyrics that blend in the local Shimane dialect.
Its softly resonant melody offers quiet comfort to those who want to hold their one-sided love close, and to those who can’t quite put an end to a past romance.
Goodbyeofukōsu
This is a pure love ballad that poignantly portrays the end of a romance, released as an Off Course single in December 1979.
With Kazumasa Oda’s warm yet translucent vocals and a heart-stirring melody, the song richly conveys the sorrow of parting.
Its gentle, relatable lyrics—about a first heartbreak or a bittersweet farewell to someone dear—have made it a beloved classic that quietly resonates with listeners.
It was also featured as an insert song in the first season of the TBS drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B” and later included on the album “SELECTION 1978-81.” As a song that stands by you through the poignant end of love that comes with winter’s chill, it’s especially recommended for those facing a farewell with someone important.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
An ultimate, heart-stirring ballad that vividly portrays a farewell in a rain-soaked city.
Yasushi Nakanishi’s clear, gentle vocals beautifully express the pain of heartbreak and lingering attachment.
This song dramatically captures complex emotions like the fear of losing someone you love and possessiveness.
Released in August 1992, it was used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Hitachi Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” Its popularity steadily grew, ultimately becoming a major hit with total sales of about 900,000 copies by 1998.
It has been covered by numerous artists, including Kumi Koda and EXILE ATSUSHI.
For anyone who has experienced heartbreak, it’s a timeless ballad that resonates deeply and begs to be sung along to at least once.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This song by Ken Hirai features a gentle atmosphere centered on piano tones and a memorable vocal performance.
Written specifically as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” its lyrics evocatively look back on memories with a deceased lover, echoing the film’s themes.
While expressing the sorrow and pain of those left behind, it also conveys a sense of gratitude for the strength gained through that experience.
As the track progresses, the increasingly grand sound underscores the deepening of these emotions.
Why did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinki
How Could I Fall in Love with You? is a ballad whose poignant yet beautiful harmonies are its greatest allure.
In this song from Tohoshinki (TVXQ), the inner feelings of a man who holds a pure yet powerful love are portrayed with both delicacy and dynamism.
It stands beside every man who has experienced an unforgettable love and invites deep empathy.
With lyrics that bare the heart, it’s something anyone who has known heartbreak can relate to.
While wishing happiness for another, uncontrollable emotions overflow—expressed through Tohoshinki’s finely nuanced performance.
Recommended for moments when you want to lay your emotions bare or listen to a searingly passionate ballad.
A Tear-Jerking Man’s True-Love Ballads (21–30)
THE OVERUVERworld
The 22nd single, released in August 2012, was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Kuro no Onna Kyōshi” and reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
The lyrics convey a strong determination to keep moving forward while confronting one’s own weaknesses and insecurities.
When you stumble at work or struggle with relationships, listening to this song gives you the courage to “surpass yourself.” Its sound—woven from heavy guitar riffs and emotional vocals—stirs the listener’s heart, to the point where tears may almost fall.
It’s a song that stands by those who have experienced setbacks or are facing a wall right now.