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 poignant ballad song. Tear-jerking J-Pop masterpieces (51–60)
Things that have formShibasaki Kou
It seems to tell us that even if tangible things fade away, memories continue to shine forever in our hearts.
This is the sixth single by Kou Shibasaki, who is active both as an actress and a singer, and it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” which aired in 2004 and became a social phenomenon.
The song portrays the strength and poignancy of thinking of someone you can no longer meet, transforming even sorrow into love.
Her voice, combining clarity and power, melds with the sweeping strings, and together with the drama’s worldview, it really tugs at the heartstrings.
When you are grieving the loss of someone dear, it gently stays by your side and kindles a warm light in your heart.
homeKiyama Yusaku
Yusaku Kiyama’s “HOME” is an achingly sad yet heartwarming song.
Any father with a wife and children who listens to it will surely be moved to tears.
That’s how powerfully it conveys the preciousness of family and the longing to be with them.
NautilusYorushika
Listening to it makes you feel like you’ve just finished watching a movie.
It’s a song by Yorushika, a band led by composer n-buna and vocalist suis, included on their second album Elma, released in 2019.
The beautiful tone of the piano slowly seeps into your heart.
The dynamic arrangement seems to directly project the emotions held by the song’s protagonist.
Since the album itself is a story-driven work, it might be best to listen to it all the way through.
I just wanted to be loved.shizuku
A piano ballad by shizuku that I want those who feel misunderstood in their loneliness or simply long to be loved to hear.
This song seems to portray a pure cry from the heart—a wish to be acknowledged with a “You did your best,” when you can’t find value in yourself.
The delicate piano melodies and the calm yet resilient voice of the musical voicebank KAFU gently speak the feelings that are hard to put into words.
Released in June 2024 and included on the mini-album “Honne,” the track reached 500,000 views on YouTube by September 2025.
Listen to it on nights when you’re tempted to blame yourself or when you need warm words, and the tension in your heart will gently loosen.
It’s a song that wraps your pain in a gentle embrace.
Poignant ballad songs: Tear-jerking masterpieces of Japanese music (61–70)
trace (of someone/something), semblance, vestige; a lingering image or memory of how someone/something used to beNovelbright
When you’re heartbroken and feeling down, I recommend trying to sing “Omokage.” It’s a song released by the rock band Novelbright.
This piano-centered ballad portrays the inability to forget an ex and the longing to see them again.
The high notes are beautifully featured, so if you’re good with higher ranges, you’ll be able to make the most of your voice.
It also seems like a great song to dedicate to a hurt friend—it’s sure to be healing.
rainbowSuda Masaki
This song that brings you to tears right from the opening lyrics is Masaki Suda’s “Niji.” Released in 2020, it’s Suda’s fifth single and served as the theme song for the film “STAND BY ME Doraemon 2.” The lyrics and music were written by singer-songwriter Huwie Ishizaki.
It’s a gentle ballad that wraps you in dazzling happiness and warmth.
It will surely continue to be listened to for years to come and become a timeless staple among ballad numbers.
roomshaitoopu
This is a rock ballad that portrays someone spending the night alone in their room, thinking about an ex.
Released in June 2022 by Shytope, a three-piece band from Kyoto, the song was later included on the album Hors d’oeuvre.
Because Sō Sasaki, who wrote both the lyrics and music, drew from his own heartbreak, the raw, regret-laden words are deeply affecting.
On nights when unattainable wishes circle in your mind, listening to this track might move you to tears.