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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Poignant ballad songs: Tear-jerking masterpieces of Japanese music (11–20)
Close your eyesHirai Ken
Ken Hirai’s “Hitomi wo Tojite” was the theme song for the blockbuster film Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World, starring Masami Nagasawa and Mirai Moriyama.
Released as a single in 2004, it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold a million copies, achieving million-seller status.
Its lyrics about parting from a loved one, combined with the film’s story, are heartbreakingly moving.
It’s a classic that has been covered not only in Japan but by artists overseas as well, so definitely give it a listen!
I’m home.Teshima Aoi
The singer Aoi Teshima, known for her one-of-a-kind voice, released her seventh single, “Tadaima,” in 2021.
It was selected as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Heaven and Hell: Psycho Two People,” starring Haruka Ayase and Issey Takahashi.
Following the beautiful piano intro, Teshima’s whispery vocals—almost as if murmured right by your ear—are truly captivating.
The warm sounds of the wood bass and acoustic guitar also resonate deeply as you listen.
Wherever you areONE OK ROCK
A gem of a love song packed with heartfelt feelings for one special person.
Taka’s sweet, wistful vocals resonate deep within the heart.
True to a rock band that’s active on the international stage, the song is filled with straightforward expressions of love.
Japanese ways of expressing affection can be cool or overly indirect, which may leave some partners anxious, wondering if their significant other truly loves them.
If you’re not good at putting love into words, it might be nice to convey your feelings subtly by listening to the song together.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE
DREAMS COME TRUE has many classic ballads and love songs.
Their song “Yasashii Kiss o Shite” is a heartbreaking ballad that portrays a woman who, even knowing her love won’t come true and her feelings won’t be rewarded, stays by his side and devotes herself to him.
Released in 2004 as DREAMS COME TRUE’s 31st single, it also served as a TV drama theme song.
Its very real emotions resonate deeply in the chest, a song so painful that how it’s heard may differ from listener to listener.
Snow, Moon, and Flowersyangusukinii
Have you ever had a fleeting scent suddenly awaken a long-sleeping feeling of love deep in your memory? Using an unforgettable lingering fragrance as the key, Young Skinny’s exquisite ballad vividly portrays unbreakable regrets and attachments.
By deliberately leaving out keyboards and building the arrangement around guitar and Kayu’s vocals, the stripped-back sound underscores the trembling of earnest emotions.
This track opens the EP “Bukiyō na Watashi Dakara,” released in March 2024.
In the music video, award-winning actress Suzuharu Kawashima stars, and its play-like structure drew considerable attention.
It’s a masterpiece that gently stays beside those spending sleepless nights, hearts clenched by memories of past love.
Lovers AgainEXILE
Lovers Again by EXILE is a beloved winter love song and a classic favorite.
Released in 2007, it was EXILE’s 22nd single.
Since it was featured in a commercial, it’s a track widely known across generations.
It’s a heartbreak song—a sorrowful love ballad that perfectly suits snow and cold weather.
Listening to it while watching the snow fall quietly might just bring you to tears.
It’s a song that makes you remember an unforgettable person and past love.
A poignant ballad song. Tear-jerking masterpieces of Japanese music (21–30)
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
Fumiya Fujii’s “TRUE LOVE” is also known as the theme song for the drama Asunaro Hakusho, which was a massive hit at the time of its release.
It became the biggest hit of Fujii’s solo career after the breakup of The Checkers.
It was incredibly popular—a wistful ballad that you still often hear today.