A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.
Let me introduce some heartrending ballads that tighten your chest the moment you listen.
When you part ways with someone important, when a romance fails and leaves you down, or when a sudden memory takes you back to a past you can’t return to…
In the course of life, there are moments when a quiet, melancholy mood washes over you.
In this article, I’ve gathered recommended ballad songs for those very times.
From beloved classics to recent hits, I’ve selected tracks so you can find a song that resonates with your feelings and helps you detox your heart.
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A heartrending ballad song. Classic tear-jerking Japanese hits (71–80)
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
Aoi Teshima, whose gentle, soul-soaking voice can move you to tears—truly one of a kind.
Her song “Letter to Tomorrow” is her fifth single, released in 2016, and it was also the theme song for the drama “Love That Makes You Cry.” As the title includes the word “letter,” the song is sung like a spoken message, as if addressing someone dear.
Listening to it brings back memories of someone you can no longer meet, someone you can’t forget—a heartrending track that stirs bittersweet emotions.
Liar MoonYorushika
This ballad by Yorushika is perfect for autumn, when the hustle and bustle of summer settles down and a certain loneliness sets in.
Delicate piano melodies intertwine with vocalist suis’s clear, translucent voice, seeping deeply into the listener’s heart.
It portrays the loneliness of a protagonist who continues to wait, even as memories of a loved one fade away.
That feeling overlaps with the bittersweetness of summer coming to an end, making it all the more moving.
This beautiful song was produced as the ending theme for the anime film A Whisker Away, released in June 2020, further deepening the story’s emotional afterglow.
On those long autumn nights when you want to reflect on seasons past, it’s a piece to savor alone, slowly and fully.
moon bathingYorushika
As the clamor of summer recedes and quiet nights grow more comforting, there’s a dreamlike song by Yorushika I want you to hear.
Their music is known for its literary worldview, and this piece is a beautiful ballad through and through, layering the feeling of cherishing what matters as time slips by over scenes bathed in moonlight.
Suis’s clear yet powerful vocals deepen the bittersweet, grand atmosphere even further.
Released in October 2023, the song also served as the theme for the feature anime Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage, so many listeners may have immersed themselves in that world as well.
When you’re reminiscing about a joyful summer and feeling a touch lonely, this song will surely stay gently by your side.
MissingKubota Toshinobu
This is a gem of a ballad by Toshinobu Kubota, known for his uniquely groovy style, perfect for an autumn night.
It poignantly conveys, with a soulful voice, the helpless love between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other yet can never be together.
The struggle of wanting to forget but being unable to, and the regret of wishing they had met earlier, really hits home.
The song was included on his debut album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986, and was used as an ending theme for shows like World Pro Wrestling.
Though it wasn’t released as a single, it remains one of his most beloved signature songs.
It feels like a gentle companion to the quiet loneliness that follows the bustle of summer.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako
A piano ballad that lets you sink into a wistful mood, as if longing for the summer that has passed.
The singer is Hanako Oku, a singer-songwriter often praised as someone whose “voice alone can move you to tears.” This work centers on the irreplaceable nature of everyday life and feelings that never fade, even as time goes by.
Its message—yearning to reach someone you may never meet again, transcending time and distance—truly strikes the heart.
Included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, it served as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, heightening the emotion of its climactic scenes.
It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly chilly evening at dusk, as you look back on your summer memories.
Wonderful DaysUNICORN
Among the many songs by the legendary rock band Unicorn, one of the most popular is “Subarashii Hibi.” Its melody is simple, yet it pierces the heart all the more for it.
It’s truly a ballad that represents Unicorn.
Blue amberback number
A ballad that epitomizes back number, fully portraying deep sorrow and complex emotions.
Released in April 2025, this song served as the theme for the drama “From the Day You Were Taken,” aligning closely with its weighty narrative.
Like rare amber that changes color depending on the angle, the piece explores the multifaceted nature of the human heart.
Even when acting with firm resolve, another self is screaming inside—its wavering comes through with piercing clarity.
The grief of being torn apart by inescapable fate and the indelible memories of love are carried by a beautiful melody, drawing you in until you can’t help but empathize.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear on sleepless nights when you’re burdened with feelings you can’t tell anyone.