J-POP to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads
Ballad-style songs often weave warm messages and heartrending stories, and there are so many that really pierce the heart! Such bittersweet yet beautiful ballad songs pair perfectly with the delicate tones of the piano.
Performing them as piano solos without vocals brings out subtle changes in melody and harmony, letting you feel a different kind of beauty from the original.
In this article, we’ll introduce Japanese ballads that are perfect for piano performance.
We’ve picked a variety of songs—from tear-jerkingly poignant to beautifully cleansing—so please take your time and savor them.
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J-POP You’ll Want to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (71–80)
leap day personRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS is a four-piece rock band acclaimed not only for their cutting-edge musicality as a band but also for their film scores that closely accompany each work.
Uruubito, included on the soundtrack for the film The Last 10 Years, is a song whose poignant lyrics—intertwined with the film’s story—stir the heart.
Its ensemble, featuring a sentimental piano tone, may bring tears to your eyes even if you haven’t seen the movie.
With dynamic strings that add impact, it’s a ballad remarkable for its beauty and grandeur.
LetterSHE’S
Among introductions to poignant piano ballads, SHE’S “Letter” is an unmissable track.
The gentle piano accompaniment blends with Ryoma Inoue’s whisper-like vocals to create a moving sound.
The poetic lyrics, which read like a single story across the whole song, are irresistible as well.
The calm, tender resonance of the piano lets you feel the lyrics more deeply.
On top of that, the harmony parts that quietly nestle up to the main melody add a nice touch.
The way your ears naturally gravitate toward these subtle details may be one of the charms of piano ballads.
Tears of Mulan ~acoustic~Stardust Revue
Stardust Revue is a four-member band that made their major debut in 1981 with “Sugar wa Otoshigoro.” Their “Mokuren no Namida ~acoustic~” is an acoustic cover they recorded in 2005 of their own 1993 release “Mokuren no Namida.” The original is a mid-tempo, mellow number, but this version, which begins with a piano intro, slows the pace even further, highlighting the song’s poignancy—one of its key attractions.
The plaintive piano tone draws out the beauty of the melody, which resonates deeply with Japanese sensibilities, and it truly tugs at the heartstrings.
J-POP You’ll Want to Play on Piano: A Curated Selection of Soul-Cleansing Beautiful Ballads (81–90)
Mikuni Stationaiko
Released in 2005 as the 17th single, it’s a gentle piano ballad.
The title and lyrics are sprinkled with nostalgia, and you may find yourself reminiscing about your hometown or the school you once attended.
Aiko’s clear, expansive vocals are soothing.
pure whiteBikkeburanka
This song by Vickeblanka, a singer-songwriter from Aichi Prefecture, was released in 2018 and used as an insert track in the TV drama “We Can’t Become Beasts.” The following year, in 2019, a Chinese-language version was released.
Centered on Vickeblanka’s piano-and-vocal performance, he stands out as a noteworthy male singer-songwriter who accompanies himself on piano.
His high-tone voice and the raw sound of the piano create a poignant track that tugs at the heart.
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
Moonlight is Chihiro Onitsuka’s second single, released in 2000.
It was featured in TV Asahi’s Friday Night Drama TRICK and became a long-running hit, staying on the charts for as long as ten months.
The powerful lyrics, which yearn for liberation from oppression, are deeply striking and resonate all the more when paired with Onitsuka’s intense, almost haunting expression in the music video.
The exquisitely well-placed piano accompaniment is also superb, making it a perfect piece to practice—so be sure to give it a try!
Letter Paper SongKuramubon
It’s a heartwarming, energetic love ballad that passionately sings of unadorned feelings for someone you truly love—sure to make your heart swell.
It’s a song by the band clammbon, also known for “Kumoyuki” and “Surround,” included on their third album, Dramatic, released in 2001.
The lyrics are wonderful, as if they directly project the words rising from the depths of the heart! I’m sure you, too, have someone who makes you feel this way.
