Ken Hirai Ballad Songs: Popular Song Rankings [2026]

You are my friend.Hirai Ken8rank/position

Ken Hirai 'Kimi wa Tomodachi' MUSIC VIDEO

Ken Hirai wrote the song “Kimi wa Tomodachi” around the theme of friendship.

Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Wonderful Life,” it’s a moving piece that expresses heartfelt feelings for a dear friend.

Let’s laugh together and cry together—if anything happens, I’ll always come to be by your side.

Hearing someone say that would make anyone happy.

Listening to this song, I feel the warmth of caring for others, and that true friendship is not just about relying on each other but about mutual support.

When you have to part from a close friend due to transferring schools or moving on to a new stage, why not send them this song?

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sasashina

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Before our feelings overlap…Hirai Ken9rank/position

Ken Hirai “Before Our Feelings Overlap…” MUSIC VIDEO

From the very beginning, Ken Hirai’s beautiful singing voice resonates in this song.

It’s a 2004 track that was used in a TOYOTA Corolla Fielder commercial and also served as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “The Truth of Tsugumi Kuzushi.” The lyrics make it a ballad that feels both like singing and like speaking to someone, so it’s a song you can really get into and sing calmly.

I often point out Ken Hirai’s singing characteristics to my students, so please use them as a reference! First, while it’s memorable that he sings with his eyes closed, in reality, closing your eyes can cause unnecessary tension and make it harder to stay on pitch.

However, Hirai raises his eyebrows and uses his hand to track the pitch while he sings.

He compensates in other ways so that singing becomes more natural and easier.

This gesture also makes it much easier to produce falsetto, so definitely give it a try!

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Kubota Mami

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Before our feelings overlapHirai Ken10rank/position

Ken Hirai – Before Our Feelings Overlap (Live)

It’s a song sung by a man with a very beautiful voice.

Kenshi Hirai is wonderful at creating an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re looking at a painting on a canvas, and his ballads that draw you in are all truly moving.

It’s a song I’d like to listen to while gazing at the sea alone at dusk.

Dear daysHirai Ken11rank/position

Ken Hirai 'Dear Beloved Days' MUSIC VIDEO

Produced by Kiyoshi Matsuo for the first time in ten years to cap off the 15th anniversary, this exquisite ballad, tinged with sadness yet evoking hope for the future, was released on May 4, 2011 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama JIN: The Final Chapter.

The song spans a very wide vocal range from G#2 to C5, with a clear structure where the range gradually rises from the A verse to the B verse and then the chorus.

The low notes in the A verse are pitches you don’t often use, so be careful not to let your voice get muffled.

Take a deep breath and project your voice forward, letting the air flow.

The start of the chorus uses phonemes that make falsetto easy to produce, so if you really let your head voice resonate, you should be able to hit the notes without any problem.

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Kubota Mami

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I love you.Hirai Ken12rank/position

Ken Hirai “Aishiteru” Music Video

A fragile, gentle ballad produced by Seiji Kameda that sings of the sorrow and love of losing someone dear, it served as the theme song for the film “Ghost: Mou Ichido Dakishimetai,” released on November 10, 2010.

A dramatic signature song commemorating the 15th anniversary of his debut, its music video features Ken Hirai himself giving a powerful performance as a deceased man, resulting in a deeply moving work.

The song’s overall vocal range is E3–D5, roughly two octaves, and as long as you can produce low notes and falsetto without strain, it shouldn’t pose much difficulty.

Try projecting your voice as if pulling it toward the back of your head—you may find it a bit easier to sing.

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Kubota Mami

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ParadiseHirai Ken13rank/position

Paradise (Ken Hirai) / Ayano

This “Rakuen” is Ken Hirai’s eighth single, released in 2000.

The song was a hit, wasn’t it? I think it was one of the tracks that sparked his breakthrough.

With R&B elements and a very mature, seductive melody, it was a song that matched Hirai’s image perfectly.

RingHirai Ken14rank/position

Ken Hirai “Ring” MUSIC VIDEO

It’s the theme song for the NTV Wednesday drama “Psycho Doctor,” and Ken Hirai commented that he created it with the thought, “Maybe everyone is hurting in some way.

Rather than running away from those emotional wounds, it’s important to take your time and love them.” It’s a touching ballad that many people say has saved them.

The tempo is relaxed, making it easy to sing calmly, which is a nice point.

It may not be a very famous song, but the melody line is simple, so I think it’s easy to remember.

There’s a key change before the last chorus that raises the vocal range, so be careful with that part.

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Kubota Mami

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