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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Heart-wrenching ballads: Tear-jerking J-pop masterpieces (111–120)
monologueOmoinotake
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.
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNa
A ballad infused with ReoNa’s deep emotions, where a warm melody wrapped in kindness is accompanied by a soul-stirring voice.
It delicately portrays the hardships of living, the small setbacks in everyday life, and the subtle feelings of trying to overcome them.
Included as a track on the single “Nai Nai,” released in May 2021, it has soothed the hearts of many listeners.
This piece, in which the piano’s melody and ReoNa’s vocals blend beautifully, is a gem written and composed by Tota Kasamura.
Her voice, which gently stays close to a weary heart, is perfect for times when you want to be encouraged—or when you want to encourage someone else.
Song of the Actor DogSARD UNDERGROUND
A noble and poignant ballad that weaves a sorrow-tinged tale.
Based on the true story of a stray dog who found success as an actor at a film studio, SARD UNDERGROUND portrays it with warmth and compassion.
Centering on a single dog whose fate shifts from stray to performer, the song tenderly sings of the bonds formed with the studio staff and the love he continued to believe in even after being abandoned for human convenience, set to a gentle, heartrending melody.
Released in September 2023, this piece is a track that firmly embodies SARD UNDERGROUND’s musicality and a message of animal welfare.
It is a gem that resonates deeply in the heart when the desire to cherish the ones you love grows strong.
Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVER
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.
passing by each otherSoala
“Sorechigai” is a song that gives voice to the pent-up emotions of being told goodbye by someone you love.
Released in 2023 by singer-songwriter Soala, who rose to popularity through social media platforms like TikTok, the track blends a rhythmic R&B groove with her emotional vocals.
It portrays a bittersweet love that keeps asking the other person the same questions, even while knowing they are drifting apart.
The song’s structure—spoken, intimate verses that build into a passionate, soaring chorus—conveys an overflowing love, making it a poignant breakup anthem.
ContrastTOMOO
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.
Hitorikarin
Singer Karin, who rose to fame after posting piano-and-vocal videos on TikTok.
The song that really put her on the map, “Hitori,” first drew attention from a single chorus clip.
It sings of a bittersweet love—knowing the two will never be together, yet being unable to stop thinking about the one you love.
Many listeners may relate to the restless thoughts that whirl on solitary nights: wanting them to go away, yet wishing they would stay by your side forever.
With her clear, translucent vocals intertwined with the beautiful tones of strings and piano, the song conveys a pure, straightforward love.