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

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" Official Music Video

This is a poignant song that delicately expresses feelings hidden deep in the heart.

Released in January 2025 as the theme song for NHK General’s special program “Mrs.

GREEN APPLE 18 Festival,” it centers on the importance of staying true to yourself.

While carrying loneliness and anxiety, it conveys gratitude toward those who accept you as you are, resulting in a track that deeply resonates with the emotions of younger generations who grapple with inner pain and conflict.

With an emotive melody that epitomizes Mrs.

GREEN APPLE and a powerful, heart-stirring message, this work is sure to support anyone who seeks to face themselves and move forward.

CROSS ROADMr.Children

Mr.Children – CROSS ROAD

When it comes to the early masterpieces by Mr.Children—the song that catapulted them to stardom—it has to be “CROSS ROAD.” It’s a superb track with a uniquely captivating atmosphere, characterized by a melody that perfectly captured the spirit of its time.

Many fans consider this their favorite among the band’s many songs.

NEW YEAR’S EVEHamada Shogo

NEW YEAR’S EVE Shogo Hamada

A classic ballad by singer-songwriter Shogo Hamada that portrays the gentle parting of two people who have been together for many years.

You can almost see the scene of a New Year’s Eve night when, caring for each other yet choosing different paths for the sake of their respective futures, they decide to part ways.

Listening to this song, some may quietly reflect on a past farewell and wonder, “Did that decision allow us both to take a new step forward?” The track was included on the album FATHER’S SON, released in March 1988, and was later self-covered by Hamada.

For those who have had to make a painful choice, this song may feel like one that gently embraces that decision and gives you the strength to look ahead—an intimate companion to the heart.

I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu

Kotoba Ni Dekinai

A gemlike ballad that gives voice to the ineffable emotions faced at love’s end.

Included on Off Course’s album “over,” released in December 1981, and later issued as their 23rd single in February 1982, this song gently portrays the subtle shifts of feeling that emerge through parting from someone dear.

The “la la la” that threads through the chorus is a striking phrase that reminds us how, at times, it can express the heart more eloquently than words.

Used in a Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercial, it has surely lingered in many listeners’ memories.

It’s a song that stands beside you through life’s many moments, embracing the complex emotions we feel—cherishing someone important, tenderness, and a sense of loss.

Bloom like a rose, fall like a cherry blossom.Matsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda – "Bloom Like a Rose, Fall Like a Cherry Blossom" Music Video (Short Ver.)

Speaking of Seiko Matsuda, she produced numerous hit songs during her idol years.

As for a masterpiece from her later period, it would have to be “Bloom Like a Rose, Fall Like a Cherry Blossom.” It’s a ballad filled with a mature charm that differs from her earlier days.

Blue SnowBEGIN

BEGIN /「Blue Snow」MV

A wistful, blues-tinged Christmas song that blends into the city nightscape.

Released in December 1990 as BEGIN’s second single, it became an early classic, peaking at No.

25 on the Oricon charts.

The track is also included on their second album, GLIDER.

From the lyrics, you can glimpse the solitary figure of the protagonist, standing alone on a glittering street corner with unspoken feelings that never reach their destination.

The melody, which sings of a love that vanishes as fleetingly as snow, brings a quiet poignancy to the listener’s heart.

Perhaps many will relate to those aching emotions that well up unseen precisely because the season is so festive.

spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota

Tsumugu / Tota

Singer-songwriter Tota.

The song that catapulted her name into the spotlight was “Tsumugu.” It also drew attention for being performed on THE FIRST TAKE.

The track portrays the bond between those who have passed away and those who remain, with lyrics that liken their feelings to the wind, sky, and stars—one of its key charms.

If you listen to it by the sea, feeling the breeze and looking up at the sky, it will move you even more.

Its refreshing melody also makes it perfect for moments when you want to feel a sense of openness.

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