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 (41–50)
Snow BlossomNakajima Mika
A signature song by Mika Nakashima, whose powerful, husky voice that seems to echo endlessly and deeply emotional performances have made her one of Japan’s leading artists.
It’s a ballad that links the aching longing of unwavering devotion to a beloved partner with the harsh cold of winter.
The song also drew attention as the motif for a film.
Its gently yet poignantly resonant vocals, supported by a piano accompaniment, are captivating.
A track that conveys the strength of emotion in a straightforward way.
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
A signature song by Masayoshi Yamazaki that portrays the poignant sense of loss in endlessly searching for someone who is gone.
Released in January 1997, it became known as the theme song for the film he starred in, “The Moon and a Cabbage,” and enjoyed long-running success with over 300,000 copies sold.
In 2007, it was used again as the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s animated film “5 Centimeters per Second,” bringing it widespread recognition among younger audiences.
With a simple arrangement centered on acoustic guitar arpeggios and piano, the song delicately weaves feelings of lingering attachment and regret.
Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics pair beautifully with the piano’s delicate timbre.
Recommended for those who want to perform it quietly on a calm night while thinking of someone dear.
beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko
Here is Aiko’s fourth single, released in 1999.
In this song, she likens herself to a rhinoceros beetle—the strongest-looking insect yet actually fragile—and from the intro to the ending, the unadorned, acoustic piano fits beautifully and gently supports her vocals.
Speaking of Aiko’s music, her chord choices are so stylish, and those unexpected turns are wonderful too.
It’s even been covered by major artists like Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All Stars.
I wanted to kiss you again.B’z
A song by B’z, the two-piece rock unit that has always been at the forefront of the scene and reigns over Japan’s rock world.
Despite never being released as a single, it’s a ballad that enjoys overwhelming support among fans.
From the piano intro that plays the chorus melody, to the tear-jerking guitar solo that builds the song before the final chorus, to the arpeggiated outro layered with gut guitar, the arrangement lets you fully immerse yourself in its heartrending lyrics and melody—surely making it a masterpiece among ballads.
futureKobukuro
Mirai is a song by Kobukuro, performed by Shunsuke Kuroda and Kentaro Kobuchi, and it was used as the theme song for the Toho film Orange.
Released in 2015, the track reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart and enjoyed a long run on the charts alongside the film’s success.
The lyrics—vowing to support you even though my feelings won’t reach you—are heartbreakingly poignant.
The intro features a distinctive, key-shifting, almost mysterious sound, with the piano performance standing out as well.
If you like it when you listen, try playing it yourself!
This LoveAnjura Aki
A ballad that sings about “true love,” conveying warmth and inner strength.
It’s a song by singer-songwriter Angela Aki, known for the hit “Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~,” released as a single in 2006.
It was featured as an ending theme for the anime BLOOD+.
The dynamic development of the music and Angela Aki’s straight, soaring vocals are in perfect harmony, and the result is wonderful.
First NightYorushika
A heart-stirring song by Yorushika that gently wraps bittersweet memories.
Included on the album Gentō, this track delicately portrays summer scenes and lost love.
n-buna’s poetic lyrics and suis’s crystalline voice seep deeply into the listener’s heart.
Released in April 2023, it draws inspiration from Natsume Sōseki’s Ten Nights of Dreams, blending a literary worldview with music.
Highly recommended for those who want to feel the transience and beauty woven into everyday life.
Its tender, companionable warmth and lingering tinge of sorrow are sure to resonate with many.