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. Timeless tear-jerking Japanese classics (41–50)
leap day personRADWIMPS
Written by RADWIMPS in March 2022 as the theme song for the film “The Last 10 Years,” this piece portrays the love of two people confronting a finite life.
In lyrics crafted by Yojiro Noda after thoroughly studying the screenplay, he tenderly conveys how miraculous and irreplaceable a loved one’s presence is.
The heartfelt wish to keep living together—even if it meant giving away half of one’s own life—deeply moves us.
Beginning with a piano melody and gradually unfolding into a gentle orchestral arrangement, the song fills the heart with both wistfulness and warmth.
It is a profoundly resonant love song meant for everyone who holds someone dear.
kissORIGINAL LOVE
Speaking of ORIGINAL LOVE’s “Kiss,” it’s a ballad that was a massive hit when it was released and astonished us with its stylish sound.
Even now, years after its release, it remains a timeless classic that hasn’t faded at all.
I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN
DEEN’s debut single “Konomama Kimi Dake o Ubaisaritai,” released in 1993.
The song, which was a big hit at the time, was also used in a commercial.
It’s a sad love song from a man’s perspective, the kind that makes a wave of heartache surge over you.
Was he rejected by the woman he can’t forget, or does she already have someone important in her life? The man’s love and feelings for her are deeply sorrowful, and his unfulfilled longing is poignantly expressed.
beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko
Since her debut, Aiko has always stood by girls, consistently singing love songs that are easy to relate to.
She has many hit songs, but “Kabutomushi” is definitely one of her signature tracks.
Released in 1999 as her fourth single, this love ballad is packed with the aching feelings of a young woman.
It’s also a very popular karaoke choice.
No matter the listener’s age, it’s a love ballad with a sorrow that tightens the chest and makes it ache just a little.
evening primroseNovelbright
This work portrays a poignant state of mind: unable to forget a once‑beloved person, the protagonist can’t help but keep chasing their lingering shadow as memories of days gone by well up.
Vocalist Yudai Takenaka’s delicate high-tone voice gently envelops the pain of a protagonist who cannot accept the breakup.
The grand sound centered on piano and strings is another highlight.
It’s a song to listen to when you want something to stay close to the pain of heartbreak, or when you can’t take a step into a new love.
Another SaturdayHamada Shogo
Speaking of Shogo Hamada, especially for men, hasn’t everyone been obsessed with him at least once? For men, it’s almost like a rite of passage—you inevitably fall under the spell of this charismatic singer.
“Another Saturday” is his quintessential, universally acclaimed masterpiece.
I love youback number
Written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Soar High! (Maiagare!),” this track by back number was released digitally in October 2022.
Through everyday, modest scenes, the lyrics gently prompt us to reflect on our feelings for someone precious.
The pure, self-questioning desire—how can I bring more smiles to someone important?—is something almost anyone can relate to.
It’s a perfect number for those thinking of someone far away or wanting to reaffirm what truly matters amid the busyness of daily life.