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 (101–110)
hugiri
Set in a world where snow dances, this piece captures the feelings that surface when we suddenly revisit memories of the past.
iri’s distinctive vocals beautifully color the musical landscape.
Written as the JR SKISKI 2023–2024 campaign song, it was released digitally in January 2024.
Known for albums like “Groove it,” iri is a seasoned artist, and this track showcases her unique style—fresh yet tinged with nostalgia.
Highly recommended for fans of sentimental ballads.
Be sure to enjoy it on piano as well.
It’s nothing.makaroni enpitsu
A song by Macaroni Empitsu whose gentle piano tones seep into the heart.
Hattori’s clear, translucent vocals carefully paint the small joys of everyday life.
The lyrics, which sing of the preciousness of ordinary moments with a loved one, are sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
Included on the album “Expectations for a Happy Ending,” released in January 2022, this track also secured tie-ins with films and anime.
It’s a piece that gently accompanies quiet moments spent with a partner or someone dear.
remainingYoshizawa Kayoko
A song that delicately portrays subtle emotions, with the gentle tones of the piano soaking into the heart.
On a morning still holding last night’s warmth, it carefully weaves shifting feelings alongside the changing seasons.
The lyrics feel close to the listener’s heart, and Kayoko Yoshizawa’s soft vocals are especially memorable.
Released in October 2017, it’s also interesting that it was turned into an audio release in response to strong fan demand.
Perfect for those carrying the pain of heartbreak or thoughts about time slipping by.
It’s a song that soothes the soul on nights when you want to listen quietly, alone.
A flower of no colorUtada Hikaru
A song whose translucent vocals and profound lyrics resonate with the heart.
Its exploration of human purpose and the power of love blends beautifully with the drama’s worldview.
Showcasing Hikaru Utada’s delicate expressive power, this work was released in February 2024 and drew major attention as her first drama theme song in about 23 years.
It’s a poignant yet beautiful love song that further enriches the world of Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kuretakara” (Because You Gave Me Your Heart).
It’s a track we especially hope will reach those who feel lonely or struggle to put their feelings for someone important into words—one to savor slowly, particularly through a piano performance.
The thing I wanted mostMakihara Noriyuki
“The Thing I Wanted Most” is a self-cover that Noriyuki Makihara released in 2004 with new Japanese lyrics for “THE GIFT,” a song he originally provided to the British group Blue.
It was used as the theme song for the NTV drama “Last Present: The Final Summer Living with My Daughter.” The song beautifully conveys human kindness, and its lyrics leave you with a warm feeling.
The piano performance carries a powerful, gospel-like intensity, offering many standout moments.
Be sure to listen with a focus on the piano!
J-Pop to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (111–120)
graceful wavinessNoda Yojiro
Yojiro Noda, known for his ballads that feel like they cleanse the heart with their warm messages, is truly captivating.
This piece was written in February 2024 as the theme song for the Netflix film Parade.
Noda’s delicate choice of words and the lyrically dramatic storytelling leave a strong impression.
The lyrics, which weave together the film’s themes of loss and reunion from Noda’s unique perspective, are deeply moving.
The beautiful, piano-forward arrangement further enhances the lyrical world.
Please enjoy this work—so achingly full of devotion to a loved one—as a piano solo as well!
In loveHY
Even if you weren’t the one they chose, the fact that you loved doesn’t change… A bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment runs through this touching HY ballad.
Written as the theme song for the film “366 Days,” released in January 2025, the track is positioned as an answer song to their 2008 classic “366 Days.” It beautifully portrays emotional growth—rising from the pain of heartbreak and embracing even that experience as a cherished memory—and is also included on the album “TIME.” Set across Okinawa and Tokyo, the film unfolds a pure love story spanning 20 years, and this song superbly captures its worldview.
For those who have reached the end of a romance, or who are about to take a new step forward, this is a song that will gently give you a push.