Popular ballads. Band ranking [2026]

Summer loverSHISHAMO78rank/position

SHISHAMO 'Summer Lover'

Among the songs by SHISHAMO, one of the quintessential all-female bands, there are several that sing about summer, but when it comes to summer ballads, this one is unmissable.

Asako Miyazaki’s vocals here aren’t her usual high-energy style; instead, they have a calm, supple quality that perfectly suits the song’s relaxed tempo.

Coupled with the poignant lyrics about choosing to end a fleeting summer romance, you’ll feel a gentle tremor in your heart as you listen.

The whole track sinks in deeply, but the a cappella part Miyazaki sings in the latter half is especially unmissable.

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Hane Keisuke

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OrangeSPYAIR79rank/position

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

This is a heartwarming song that celebrates the fleeting nature of youth and the importance of friendship.

Its melody, symbolizing bittersweet memories, and lyrics woven with a gentle yet powerful message evoke farewells and new encounters with cherished friends.

The track is included on SPYAIR’s EP released in February 2024 and was selected as the theme song for the film Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle.

Capturing the hearts of many listeners, it ranked 8th on the streaming chart published on February 28.

The limited-time production edition also features a jacket with newly drawn artwork from the movie.

It’s a perfect song to listen to with dear friends during the season of graduation and partings.

I will love you for the next 100 years.Sonar Pocket80rank/position

Sonar Pocket “I Will Love You for 100 Years”

It’s a tear-jerking, genuine love ballad by Sonar Pocket—while showcasing a poppy, catchy sense of style, its heartfelt lyrics resonate and are easy to embrace across a wide audience.

With a moody track approach, it’s a standout song that reliably puts you at ease.

sly personTETORA81rank/position

TETORA - Cunning Person (Official Music Video)

This is a song by TETORA that vividly portrays the emptiness of being suddenly dumped by someone you loved—a deeply unfair situation.

The unadorned three-piece sound paired with vocals that feel like sobbing turns those aimless emotions straight into sound, leaving a strong impression.

In just about two minutes, the very moment a romance ends is condensed.

The track was included on the single “East Hills,” released in April 2019, and later featured on the acclaimed album “From a Corner of the Classroom,” which won the Tower Records Recommen Award 2019.

If you’re carrying the pain of an unforgettable love, this song will speak for your feelings.

On a quiet night when you want to linger in your own melancholy, why not give it a listen?

Island SongTHE BOOM82rank/position

THE BOOM “Shima Uta (Original Version)” Official Music Video

The BOOM’s classic, which opens with the wistful tones of a sanshin, is a gem of a ballad imbued with the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa and a fervent wish for peace.

On the surface it appears to be a love song about a parting between a man and a woman, yet it was born from Kazufumi Miyazawa’s 1991 visit to the Himeyuri Peace Museum in Okinawa.

Its distinctive sound blends a base in the Ryukyuan scale with elements of contemporary music.

The track was included on the January 1992 album Adolescence and released as a standalone single the following year.

It was featured in a commercial song for Mizuho Distillery’s Ryukyu Awamori Xi.

In 2001, a cover by an Argentine artist became a major hit locally, and the international response was so great that it was even used as a supporters’ chant during the 2002 Japan–Korea World Cup.

It’s a song I particularly recommend for quiet, solitary evenings, as well as to younger listeners who want to experience the diversity of Japanese music.

JAMTHE YELLOW MONKEY83rank/position

THE YELLOW MONKEY – JAM

Here is THE YELLOW MONKEY’s, aka “Yemon,” passionately charged ballad number, “JAM.” In an interview, vocalist Yoshii once said he admired David Bowie and was heavily influenced by him.

You can catch glimpses of that influence in the costumes and throughout the music video.

Although the song was released in 1996, it feels perfectly suited to the vaguely stifling mood of the Reiwa era.

Even if you’ve heard it before, I hope you’ll give it another listen.

The way the lyrics push back against that “something you can’t be satisfied with” exudes Yemon’s distinctly seductive rock spirit.

TILL LOVE HER (Lost Landscape)TM NETWORK84rank/position

TM NETWORK / 「Still Love Her（from LIVE Blu-ray / DVD TM NETWORK 30th 1984〜 QUIT 30 HUGE DATA）」

“STILL LOVE HER (Ushinawareta Fukei)” is a song included on the 1988 album “CAROL.” Recently, it was announced that a new City Hunter anime film will be released, and this song was also used as the ending theme.

While “GET WILD” is famous, this one is a masterpiece as well.