A classic medium-tempo ballad

MissingKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – Missing [Official Video]

“Missing” is a song included on Toshinobu Kubota’s first album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in 1986.

It was surprising that it wasn’t released as a single.

Many artists still cover it today.

It has undoubtedly become one of Kubota’s signature songs.

Shadows of YouthMoriyama Naotaro

[Chinese-Japanese Bilingual Subtitles] Naotaro Moriyama Covers “Shōshun no Kage” (Silhouette of Youth), Insert Song from the Japanese Drama “Under One Roof” (Japanese: ひとつ屋根の下)

When you think of the classic song Seishun no Kage (Shadows of Youth), it’s Tulip’s signature track.

This time, I’d like to introduce a cover version by Naotaro Moriyama, who possesses outstanding vocal ability.

It’s a wonderful medium-tempo ballad that rivals the original.

Little by littleSARD UNDERGROUND

SARD UNDERGROUND “Little by little, little by little” MV YouTube Size

This medium-tempo ballad by SARD UNDERGROUND breathes new life into previously unreleased words left by Izumi Sakai of ZARD.

The song carefully portrays the delicate process of how our relationships with loved ones—and our own hearts—slowly change.

Many listeners will likely see themselves in the earnest protagonist, who refuses to rush yet steadily strives to move forward.

Vocalist Yua Jinno’s clear, pure voice gently wraps around that single-minded sincerity.

Released in February 2020, the track served as an ending theme for the anime Detective Conan and has been cherished by many fans.

On nights when your heart feels unsteady, listening to it may leave you with a warm feeling, as if someone is softly giving you a push from behind.

Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

Yuri’s debut work, which likens a heartrending unrequited love to a game of hide-and-seek, is a soul-stirring ballad that delicately portrays loneliness and the pain of parting.

In a room left behind after his live-in girlfriend has gone, the man’s feelings—surrounded by objects that still evoke her presence—are woven together by a gentle, translucent voice.

Released in December 2019, the piece is a labor of love born from street performances following the breakup of the rock band THE BUGZY.

The warm timbre of the acoustic guitar closely follows the man’s earnest emotions.

It’s a song recommended for those who wish to soothe the pain of heartbreak—perfect for a nighttime drive or for quietly sipping a drink alone at home.

Why did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinki

Tohoshinki / Why Did I Fall in Love with You?

A gem of a ballad that captures the aching heartbreak and pure love for another, pressing on the listener’s heart.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist watching a bride and groom at their wedding, touching on the subtle emotions woven from a wish for a loved one’s happiness and lingering regret.

Released by Tohoshinki in July 2008, the song’s elegant piano-and-strings arrangement blends beautifully with the five-member harmony, earning it the No.

1 spot on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It also won an Excellent Work Award at the 50th Japan Record Awards, paving the way for the group’s first appearance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

A track that seeps into your heart on night drives, rainy days, or when love is weighing on your mind.

MetronomeYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Metronome

A gemlike ballad that gently captures the subtleties of meetings and partings.

It likens the relationship of two lovers to a metronome, meticulously portraying how hearts that once beat in unison gradually fall out of sync.

Kenshi Yonezu’s delicate vocals and memorable melodic lines convey the ache of love with nothing left unsaid.

Included on the album Bremen, released in October 2015, the song also garnered attention for its distinctive music video composed of hand-drawn illustrations.

It is a track that will surely resonate deeply with anyone suffering the pain of heartbreak or struggling with growing distance from someone dear.

Merry XmasBoA

BoA / Meri Kuri

This heartwarming winter song is a 3/4-time ballad that gently portrays the season’s atmosphere and the deep bond between lovers.

Released in December 2004 as BoA’s 15th single, it was also featured in a commercial for Toshiba’s au CDMA 1X WIN W21T.

In the music video, filmed in Hokkaido, a sudden first snowfall was woven in as a dreamy visual element.

In 2015, a self-cover version titled “Happy 15th Anniversary ver.” was also released.

Depicting lovers growing closer at heart through everyday moments—like dates under the winter night sky and picking out gifts—the song is embraced across generations as a Christmas staple.