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 I Want to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (51–60)
Sakura (2019)Moriyama Naotaro
One of the classic spring songs that has been sung across generations.
Its heart-tugging, bittersweet melody and emotionally rich lyrics captivate listeners and never let go.
Spring brings many encounters and farewells, but this is a song that gives you the courage to take a step toward the future.
It was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV Wednesday drama “Synchronous Sakura.” The piano arrangement differs from the version released in 2002, revealing a new side of “Sakura.”
cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS
A song that exquisitely captures the vague, frustrating fluctuations of feelings between a man and a woman.
The protagonists—“I” and “you”—are clearly aware of each other yet nothing ever really happens, stuck at that almost-but-not-quite-there distance.
The way “you” act suggestively while the protagonist can’t grasp your true feelings—and wrestles with all kinds of inner conflict—is portrayed with striking realism.
The gentle yet heartrending piano intro sets the tone for the entire piece.
Be sure to check out the music video as well, which vividly brings the lyrics to life!
Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceRyuichi Sakamoto (Sakamoto Ryūichi)
Ryuichi Sakamoto, affectionately nicknamed “the Professor,” boasts a wide-ranging musical background centered on classical music while embracing folk and popular traditions.
His piece Merry Christmas, Mr.
Lawrence—also known from the film of the same name—is likely a tune everyone has heard at least once.
Its oriental-tinged melody and classical ambience create such a powerful impression that vivid scenes come to mind even though it’s an instrumental with no lyrics.
The delicate piano phrases soothe the heart, making it a timeless masterpiece you’ll want to listen to again and again.
Forever loveX JAPAN
Released in 1996 as the 14th single, this piano ballad became a massive hit and has continued to be sung in a variety of settings.
Its sweeping beauty needs no further explanation.
It has even been covered by overseas artists, including Mr.
Big’s Eric Martin.
Truly, a great song crosses borders.
J-Pop You’ll Want to Play on Piano | A Curated Selection of Beautiful, Soul-Cleansing Ballads (61–70)
We’re evenHanaregumi
A love ballad that gently sings of the happiness of being loved—and the faint guilt that follows—leaving you with a mysterious feeling.
It’s a song by Hanaregumi, the solo project of Takashi Nagazumi, who also performed as the vocalist for SUPER BUTTER DOG, included on the sixth album “What are you looking for,” released in 2015.
As the track progresses into the latter half, it unfolds into an ambient sound, drawing you into its floating atmosphere.
Perhaps that’s why the natural, unpretentious vocals slip so effortlessly into your ears.
I don’t like it.yangusukinii
Young Skinny is a four-piece rock band formed around Kayayu—who had been posting acoustic self-performances as a singer-songwriter on YouTube and TikTok—together with members recruited through social media.
Their final indie single, “Suki Janai yo,” draws you in from the layered intro of guitar, piano, and strings.
Its world depicting a sentimental heartbreak, paired with tear-jerking phrases, is sure to pierce the heart.
It’s a modern ballad with a beautiful, wistful melody.
FINAL DISTANCEUtada Hikaru
Many of you might know it because it was used in a docomo commercial.
It’s a song by Hikaru Utada, one of the singers leading the Japanese music scene, released in 2001 as her eighth single.
The beautiful harmony of piano and strings is moving on its own, and Utada’s vocals can bring you to tears.
Listening to it together as a couple might help you rediscover how important your partner is.
Be sure to sit down and really listen to it.