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)
Shall we break up?Miyuhan
Some of you may be feeling down even though you were the one who ended the relationship.
“Wakare yokka” speaks on behalf of those feelings.
It’s a song by singer-songwriter Miyuhan, where her signature clear vocals are highlighted by a simple acoustic arrangement.
The lyrics, which portray the wavering of the heart leading up to the decision to break up, will likely feel personally relatable.
Even if that’s not your situation, it’s crafted in a way that you can still empathize with.
A heartrending ballad song. Classic tear-jerking J-pop masterpieces (121–130)
So it wasn’t me, huh.riria.
A heart-stirring ballad by Riria.
that gently embraces the delicate emotions of a woman tossed around by someone’s misleading behavior.
With a tender, translucent voice, she vividly portrays a woman who struggles with helpless longing yet cannot sever her lingering feelings.
Released digitally in October 2021, the song also drew major attention with its music video that premiered the same year.
If you sing it earnestly at karaoke, it’s sure to resonate with anyone who knows the pain of heartbreak.
It’s a song that quietly stays by the side of those facing a farewell with someone dear.
Changing seasonsren
Ren is a singer-songwriter who rose to fame on social media, earning overwhelming support from her generation for lyrics that feel real and relatable.
Her song “The Changing Seasons” is a love song so resonant that anyone who’s been heartbroken will be moved to tears.
Not limited to heartbreak, it captures that universal feeling we all know when we’re down—thinking “the world might as well end”—and expresses it in words that are simple yet beautiful.
The pain of feeling left behind comes through vividly: the seasons change, everything around you keeps moving on, and yet you alone remain standing still.
Tearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzu
A bittersweet yet beautiful melody that seeps into the heart, this ballad delicately portrays the protagonist’s sorrow and lingering feelings as they face a breakup with a lover.
The emotionally rich vocals woven by Southern All Stars, together with a simple instrumental arrangement, convey the pain of heartbreak with striking clarity.
Released in July 1992, it drew major attention as the theme song for the drama “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta.” It became Southern All Stars’ first million-selling single and won the Excellence Award at the 34th Japan Record Awards.
Whether you’re seeking to heal the sadness of parting or reminiscing about past love, this song gently stays by your side—and continues to be a source of comfort for many to this day.
single bedSha ran Q
A melodious ballad that poignantly portrays the feelings of a man who, after heartbreak, can’t bring himself to step into a new love.
The single bed etched with memories of his beloved now stands as a symbol of lonely solitude.
The simple, everyday happiness they once shared, and the aching longing for someone who has now become distant, tighten the chest.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, this song was used as the ending theme for the anime D·N·A² and is also included on the album “Inferiority Complex.” It’s a song that gently supports those who are trying to move forward while looking back on a past love, and those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Tears of MagnoliaSutādasuto☆Rebyū
A love ballad that sings of the profound sense of loss after losing the lover to whom eternal love was vowed.
Using the magnolia—the flower that symbolizes spring—as its motif, it beautifully depicts warm memories with a beloved person and the loneliness felt after their loss.
It was included as the first track on Stardust Revue’s album “SOLA,” released in March 1993, and was later released as a single, selling 150,000 copies.
In 2005, an acoustic version was produced for a Nikka Whisky commercial.
For those who have lost someone precious or who recall bittersweet memories in the spring season, this work will resonate deeply with your heart.
That’s all there is to it.Marushii
Marcy is a rock band popular mainly among listeners in their teens and twenties.
Their gently bittersweet mid-tempo ballad “Tada Sore Dake no Koto ga Sa” is one of their works.
The song depicts the everyday moments spent with a lover, and it sings of the regret of wishing one had cherished those ordinary days more.
Since the story is gradually revealed as it goes, it’s best to listen without spoilers first.
Also, don’t miss the music video featuring actress Rinka Kumada.