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 poignant ballad song. Timeless Japanese tearjerker classics (91–100)
fireflySazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars is a five-member rock band that has continued to captivate fans since their debut, standing as a quintessential group representing summer in the J-pop scene.
“Hotaru,” included on their 54th single Peace and Highlight, was selected as the theme song for the film The Eternal Zero.
Its lyrics, which evoke farewells with loved ones and prayers for peace, are ones many listeners may find themselves identifying with.
With a gentle yet heartrending message and melody that stir the heart, it’s a ballad that feels sentimental while still conveying a sense of positivity.
Love letterTHE BLUE HEARTS
THE BLUE HEARTS are, needless to say, a charismatic punk band.
Their song “Love Letter” is a very simple ballad stripped of anything unnecessary, and precisely because of that it pierces deeply into the listener’s heart.
It’s especially great when heard as a guitar-and-vocal performance.
Poignant ballad songs: Tear-jerking masterpieces of Japanese music (101–110)
SAY YESCHAGE 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
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.
Love Won’t StopWink
WINK’s “Ai ga Tomaranai” was a mega-hit that instantly made their name known to the world.
It carries a wistful vibe typical of ’90s idol songs.
It’s a wonderful track, and I feel their voices are especially well-suited to ballads.
EverydayJITTERIN’JINN
The band JITTERIN’JINN enjoyed charismatic popularity.
Their song “Everyday” is a poignant ballad about longing for a beloved person you want to see every day but can’t.
Their songs are all simple, yet they somehow linger in your memory.
Until we meet againHirai Dai
Precisely because they care deeply for each other, they choose to walk different paths… It’s a bittersweet yet forward-looking love ballad.
The song, by singer-songwriter Dai Hirai, is included on his third album, “Slow & Easy,” released in 2015.
The warm arrangement, highlighted by gentle strings, pairs perfectly with Hirai’s vocals, bringing both tears and solace.
This work teaches us that a “farewell” isn’t merely a sad event.
