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)
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.
AnswerIkuta Rira
Lila Ikuta delivers a heartwarming medium-tempo ballad that gently stays close to the anxieties and uncertainties of one’s future.
Amid a grand, dramatic arrangement, its warm melody stands out—offering the courage to take a step forward toward tomorrow while facing loneliness and pain.
It’s an encouraging song that softly nudges those who are unsure of their path.
Released in March 2021, the piece was also featured as the CM song for Tokio Marine Nichido Anshin Life’s “Disability Income Insurance,” resonating with many listeners.
It’s a moving, tear-evoking track we hope those searching for their own way, or spending days without clear answers, will hear.
White LoversKuwata Keisuke
A gem-like ballad woven from winter’s chill and gentle warmth.
Rather than viewing past love as a failure, it tenderly celebrates those moments of affection, wrapped in the distinctive warmth of Keisuke Kuwata’s vocals.
With imagery like snow quietly piling up and a calm atmosphere shaped by strings and winds, this single was released in October 2001.
Familiar from Coca-Cola commercials and, more recently, UNIQLO’s HEATTECH ads, the song also won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
It’s a heartfelt recommendation for anyone who has gone through a farewell with someone dear and wants to cherish the memories.
New WorldMoriyama Naotaro
This is a ballad that weaves together feelings for one’s father and mother.
It was created as the theme song for Naotaro Moriyama’s documentary film “Where Is This Wonderful World?” and released in March 2025.
The song, which reflects on feelings for a mother lost in early childhood, is marked by a gentle melody carried by acoustic guitar and piano, and a delicate vocal performance.
Describing heaven as a “new world” is such a beautiful sensibility.
Why not give it a listen when you want to reflect on the bonds and love of family?
A poignant ballad song. Masterpieces of tear-jerking Japanese music (131–140)
I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki
A gem-like ballad that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak and the hope of taking a new step forward.
Noriyuki Makihara’s gentle vocals tenderly envelop the protagonist’s complex feelings as they struggle to accept a breakup with their lover.
While carefully depicting the loneliness and confusion felt in everyday life, it also resonates with the positive resolve hidden behind the words “I won’t fall in love anymore.” Released in May 1992, the song was used as the theme for the drama “After the Children Are Asleep,” reaching No.
2 on the weekly Oricon chart and No.
7 for the year.
It’s a song that stands as emotional support, accompanying you through the healing process of a broken heart.
Versailles – Versailles –ayaka
The theme song of the theatrical anime The Rose of Versailles captivates with its sweeping, moving melody and heartfelt lyrics.
Ayaka’s powerful yet delicate vocals elegantly express the emotions of characters who confront fate in pursuit of love and freedom.
Written specifically as the theme for The Rose of Versailles, released in January 2025, the song masterfully captures the film’s world through music.
The dazzling orchestral arrangement and crystalline vocals weave a harmony that further elevates the movie’s majestic atmosphere.
It’s a perfect choice for singing with thoughts of someone dear, or when you want to perform with heartfelt emotion in a calm, intimate mood.
filamentUru
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.