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 heartrending ballad song. Classic tear-jerking J-pop masterpieces (121–130)
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.
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.
A poignant ballad song. Masterpieces of tear-jerking Japanese music (131–140)
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.
Your SongYasuda Rei
One song that has been drawing attention for its strong storytelling is “Kimi no Uta.” This track was released by Rei Yasuda in 2020 and is also known as the theme song for the anime Natsume’s Book of Friends Roku.
The lyrics express a longing for a lover who has passed away.
In the music video, the deceased boyfriend returns to life, and the story depicts the couple spending a brief moment together.
The appeal lies in how viewers of the anime can listen while overlaying its story, and others can become emotionally invested in the MV’s narrative as well.