Popular Ballad Song Ranking [2026]
We’re bringing you the latest rankings from the overall chart of popular ballads, showcased all at once in order of most views!
When you’re feeling down or just want to relax alone, listening to ballads somehow brings a sense of relief, doesn’t it?
Whether Japanese or Western music, this is a must-listen ranking for anyone who simply wants to enjoy all kinds of ballads.
The playlist is updated weekly.
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Popular Ballad Song Rankings [2026] (41–50)
Love StoryAmuro Namie50rank/position
It’s a love ballad in which you can feel the pain conveyed through Namie Amuro’s powerful vocals.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “Reasons I Can’t Find My Love.” The sound has a gentle atmosphere that evokes the image of slowly facing your own heart, and the piano accents seem to heighten the sense of poignancy.
The lyrics express both the growing love within oneself and the regret of not being able to be together.
It’s a moving song that suggests realizing the magnitude of love only after losing it.
Popular Ballad Song Rankings [2026] (51–60)
StoryAI51rank/position
A ballad that sings of the reassurance of having someone precious by your side and of an overflowing, profound love.
It’s a single released in May 2005 by AI, a singer-songwriter who captivates listeners with her husky, soulful voice.
The dramatic melody that begins with a piano intro gently wraps around the listener’s heart.
Also included on the album “Mic-a-holic Ai,” this beloved classic stayed on the charts for over 70 weeks after its release.
It’s also known as the Japanese ending theme for the Disney film Big Hero 6.
Carrying the message that you are not alone, this song is perfect for graduation-season memory videos that express gratitude to friends and mentors.
Be sure to give this warm, moving number a listen.
NautilusYorushika52rank/position
Listening to it makes you feel like you’ve just finished watching a movie.
It’s a song by Yorushika, a band led by composer n-buna and vocalist suis, included on their second album Elma, released in 2019.
The beautiful tone of the piano slowly seeps into your heart.
The dynamic arrangement seems to directly project the emotions held by the song’s protagonist.
Since the album itself is a story-driven work, it might be best to listen to it all the way through.
MissingKubota Toshinobu53rank/position
This is an immortal masterpiece included on the first album “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986.
Although it was never released as a single, it’s widely known as one of Toshinobu Kubota’s signature songs.
It portrays a poignant relationship between a man and a woman who are drawn to each other yet can never be together, rendered through a one-of-a-kind, soulful voice.
The more one wishes to forget, the stronger the feelings grow—the searing emotion tightens the listener’s chest.
On a night when your heart is troubled by an unrequited love, why not listen quietly on your own?
Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu54rank/position
A gemlike love ballad that vividly paints an inner landscape at summer’s end, where bittersweet sorrow melts into luscious scenes.
The lyrics strikingly capture the pain of heartbreak and the lingering passion of a memorable love.
Released by Southern All Stars in July 1990, the song was created as the theme for the film Inamura Jane, directed by Keisuke Kuwata.
It reached No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and earned Platinum certification.
It resonates especially deeply when you’re holding onto feelings of love or melancholy—and it’s a perfect track for the season when summer draws to a close.
Stay With MeSam Smith55rank/position
This is “Stay With Me,” released in 2014 by British singer-songwriter Sam Smith.
The song, which expresses the pain of a one-night affair, resonated with many people and went on to win four Grammy Awards.
What makes this track especially beautiful is the chorus, which incorporates gospel influences rooted in Sam Smith’s background.
The harmonies created by the layered, powerful vocals are stunning, so try listening with that in mind.
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro56rank/position
It’s the theme song for the 3DCG animated film “STAND BY ME Doraemon” and one of Motohiro Hata’s signature tracks.
The song portrays the strong, heartwarming bonds between the characters, expressing that even when they are apart, their hearts remain connected, and its tenderness can easily bring you to tears.
Perfectly harmonizing with the film’s moving story, it captured the hearts of many.
Released in August 2014, it became a major hit, spending a total of seven weeks at No.
1 on Billboard Japan’s Hot Animation chart.
It is also included on the album “Ao no Kokei” (Blue Scenery).
It’s a wonderful song that gently stays by your side when you want to reaffirm the bonds with someone you cherish.