A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.

Last LoveKato Miria

Miliyah Kato 'Last Love'

The work she created is a breakup song that perfectly fits the phrase “a heartbreakingly sad love ballad.” Through lyrics she wrote herself, it portrays with striking realism the aimless sense of loss and the lingering attachment that won’t fade after losing the one you love.

The grand, beautiful strings only seem to accentuate the loneliness at heart, and the clear, translucent vocals resonate as if asking a question—so achingly bittersweet.

Released in June 2010 as her 18th single, the track was later included on her acclaimed album HEAVEN, which became her first to top the charts.

When you’re carrying the pain of an unforgettable love, this song gently stays by your side in your helplessness.

Liar MoonYorushika

Liar

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

Yorushika – Moonlight Bath (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

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

Toshinobu Kubota – Missing [Official Video]

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

Unchanging Things

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.

SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] SAY YES / CHAGE and ASKA

Speaking of CHAGE and ASKA’s “SAY YES,” it’s a well-known classic.

It’s a ballad that enjoys enormous support not only in Japan but across Asia, especially in Taiwan.

It was also the theme song for the hugely popular drama “101st Proposal.” Just hearing the song brings back various scenes from that show.

flameLiSA

LiSA “Homura” -MUSIC CLIP-

Demon Slayer became a major movement.

This song, Homura, which is also a massive hit as the theme for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, is a deeply moving track that conveys the film’s worldview.

While the anime opening Gurenge was also a huge hit, this number has a completely different atmosphere.

Even those who haven’t seen the movie will be moved—it’s a ballad that resonates across generations.

It’s a song that can bring tears as you remember someone dear to you, or someone you can no longer meet.

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