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

rootKing Gnu

King Gnu – Root

This song paints a hope for life nestled within a quiet melody.

Created by King Gnu as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “The Diamond Sleeping in the Sea” in October 2024, it’s crafted as a mid-tempo ballad characterized by the graceful tones of piano and strings.

While understated, it powerfully portrays the act of living, likening it to a plant that firmly takes root in the earth, and it deeply questions what it means to live true to oneself for someone else.

It also gently sings of accepting past pain and memories, yet still choosing to face forward with resolve and hope.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you’re thinking of someone dear or when you’re unsure of your own self-worth.

To new loversback number

back number – To the New Lovers

This song delicately portrays bittersweet emotions buried deep in the heart.

Released in 2024 by back number, it was written as the theme for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama “Umi no Hajimari” (The Beginning of the Sea).

Set to a melody that resonates, it expresses the weakness of a self that can’t quite grow up, a yearning for the innocent faces of children, and hopes for the next generation.

With lyrics that contrast light and shadow and a clear, translucent vocal, the piece achieves beautiful harmony and offers comfort to anyone carrying unspoken, aching feelings for someone.

It’s a recommended track for those who wish to feel the sense of loss and regret that comes with living, as well as hope for the future.

Only a single voicerokudenashi

Rokudenashi “Just One Voice” / Rokudenashi – One Voice [Official Music Video]

It’s a poignant song that empathizes with people carrying the pain of heartbreak and the struggle of living.

Released in December 2021, it delicately portrays the loneliness and inner conflict of young people today, accompanied by the gentle tones of the piano.

The emotions expressed by Rokudenashi reflect the image of people who, though hurt by everyday words, still try their best to smile.

The song resonated across borders, reaching No.

1 on Hong Kong’s Spotify Viral Chart and moving many hearts.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to those who can’t quite put their feelings into words or who are wrestling with worries alone.

Its tender melodies and vocals will surely stay close to your heart.

monologueOmoinotake

monologue

An emotional mid-ballad that delicately portrays parting from a loved one was released by Omoinotake in April 2025.

It expresses the emptiness of being left alone and the feelings left unsaid that day through oriental-tinged sounds and repeated key changes.

Written as the ending theme for the second cour of Season 2 of the TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries,” the song harmonizes beautifully with the anime’s world while giving voice to universal emotions.

For those carrying deep grief or lingering regrets from the past, it is sure to be a song that stays close to your heart.

Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Unrequited Love” MV

This emotional rock ballad, powerfully voicing the ache of unrequited love, is a quintessential work from SUPER BEAVER.

Centered on the universally relatable theme of one-sided love, it conveys both frustration and profound affection, resonating deeply alongside the band’s gentle yet powerful melodies.

The commanding guitar sound and expressively charged vocals create a sonic world that grips listeners and won’t let go.

Included on the single “Kataomoi / Namida no Shoutai,” released in March 2025, the song was featured within the NHK General late-night drama Vanila na Mainichi.

Praised for complementing the drama’s atmosphere and enriching its storytelling, it’s a track for anyone struggling with love—and, truly, for anyone who can relate to the feeling of caring for someone.

ContrastTOMOO

TOMOO – Contrast [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Woven together with a simple piano tone, this moving song showcases TOMOO’s delicate emotional expression.

It carefully depicts the uniquely adolescent swings of feeling, vividly portraying the interplay of conflicting emotions.

With an intimacy akin to reading a diary, it gently traces the subtleties of a heart in love.

Released in January 2024 and chosen as the ending theme for cour 2 of the TV anime Ao no Hako, the track aligns beautifully with the anime’s world, adding depth to the story.

It’s a recommended listen for those who want to empathize with the feeling of being in love or sink into memories of their youth.

filamentUru

[Official] Uru “Filament” – Theme song for the film “When You Cry Because It’s Delicious”

This is a song whose transparent vocals and deep emotion strike straight to the heart.

Released in April 2025, it’s a ballad created as the theme song for the film “When It’s So Delicious You Cry.” Written and composed by Uru herself, it features an evocative, delicate arrangement woven from piano and guitar.

The layered, gentle melody carries a palpable strength—an urge to keep the light of hope burning.

Please listen while thinking of someone precious to you.