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 Songs You’ll Want to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (91–100)
guidelinesUru
“Kokoroe” has also become a hot topic as the ending theme for the drama Kazama Kojin: Kyōjō 0.
It’s a ballad written by singer-songwriter Uru, inspired by the drama’s original novel.
The song portrays the protagonist’s kindness and loneliness—elements not explicitly spoken of in the story.
The lyrics, at once tinged with solitude and warmth, are deeply moving.
As you listen, pay attention as well to Uru’s gentle vocals, which enhance the song’s powerful message.
Days of JewelsAina ji Endo
Aina the End, also known as a former member of BiSH.
Be sure to check out “Hoseki no Hibi” (Days of Jewels), which she created.
It drew attention when it was used as an insert song in the finale of the anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
The song likens the days we’ve lived to jewels and conveys a message of living strongly no matter what happens.
It’s a ballad with heartrending lyrics, but you’ll likely feel uplifted after listening.
Another highlight is how she expresses a range of emotions through humming.
J-POP You’ll Want to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (101–110)
My sincere heartAina ji Endo
A solo track by Aina the End, known as a member of BiSH.
Her husky, expressive vocals match beautifully with the gentle piano accompaniment that creates a jazzy vibe.
The lyrics, which pour out her feelings for a man she wants to truly understand her, are emotional and deeply moving.
It’s also a song worth noting because Yasuyuki Okamura wrote both the lyrics and the music.
The studio recording is, of course, fantastic, but it also makes you imagine how cool it would be to see her perform it live with a full band behind her.
BoyhoodInoue Yosui
Released in 1990, this song gradually became a long-running hit and was certified a million seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan in 1997.
It is one of Yosui Inoue’s signature tracks, featuring a striking piano performance by Takao Kisugi.
Beyond commercials where Inoue himself sings, it’s also often hummed by the actors appearing in them.
With its beautiful yet easy-to-hum melody, it’s a song many find themselves singing along to.
It’s also a crowd-pleaser at karaoke—the cheers start as soon as the intro plays.
A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru
A ballad sung by Hikaru Utada that carries a powerful, summer-memory-evoking feeling.
Built around the piano with strings gradually joining in, its simple yet grand sound seeps into the heart.
Alongside the sound, the vocals are striking, conveying both a strong life force and the fragility of life, making it a song with a strong message.
It evokes the image of strength—continuing forward in life while repeatedly experiencing sorrow and pain, and carrying them along.
setting sunToukyou Jihen
If you want to evoke a mature woman, this song is it.
With Shiina Ringo’s characteristically lyrical, melancholic lyrics and a beautiful, resonant piano, it’s a dramatic ballad.
The title “Rakujitsu” means the setting sun, and the theme is the heartache of losing something precious.
Partings are truly painful, but by facing the warmth of the time you shared and the undeniable presence that was there, sometimes you can overcome the sadness.
Let the lyrics, which shine like a single ray of light, slowly sink in.
tomorrowNoda Megumi
A ballad that portrays a bittersweet state of mind with a voice where gentleness and strength coexist.
The delicate conflict of trying to move forward to protect what’s precious is expressed with nuance.
Woven with a tender, translucent vocal, the melody sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.
Released by Emi Noda in October 2024 as the theme song for the drama “My Treasure,” the track features a sound marked by evocative piano and strings.
It’s a song that gently gives a push to those who, despite their doubts, choose to face forward and live on.
Perfect for moments when you want to convey your feelings to someone important through song, or when you need to rouse your own spirits.