Popular J-Pop Ballad Song Rankings [2026]
We’re presenting the latest rankings from the Popular Ballads [J-Pop Rankings], all at once, ordered by most plays! Ballads often express sentimental or heart-wrenching feelings, don’t they? Japanese ballads carefully capture the subtle emotional shifts unique to Japanese sensibilities, and many of them are easy to relate to, don’t you think? The playlist is updated weekly.
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Popular Japanese Ballad Song Rankings [2026] (71–80)
PreciousItō Yuna71rank/position
This is a song by Yuna Ito released in 2006.
It graced the film “LIMIT OF LOVE: Umizaru,” which became a major hit, as its theme song.
Yuna Ito’s powerful yet gentle vocals make this piece work beautifully as a ballad.
A single phrase in the chorus pierces the heart and can move you to tears.
Debuting in 2005, Yuna Ito had an impeccable combination of looks and voice from the start, earning high popularity.
She is one of the artists who shone in the 2000s and could be called a symbol of that decade.
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka72rank/position
A masterpiece among love ballads and one of Yutaka Ozaki’s signature songs.
Although it was released in 1983, it’s been used in commercials and covered by various artists, so many younger people know it as well.
Needless to say, this song is a tear-jerking, classic ballad, but it’s also highly recommended for men to sing at karaoke.
In addition to being in a comfortable key for the average male singer, the range from the lowest to the highest note isn’t very wide, making it a song you can sing pleasantly.
Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS73rank/position
A song by RADWIMPS about someone special to them.
It was written as the theme song for director Makoto Shinkai’s animated film Weathering with You, released in July 2019.
The lyrics, which beautifully capture the film’s worldview, and the enchanting ensemble woven by piano and strings leave a strong impression.
In true RADWIMPS fashion, the profound lyrical world explores philosophical themes that reexamine the power of love and the meaning of life.
This work is a moving ballad that reminds those of us living in modern society of the importance of loving.
SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE74rank/position
An emotionally stirring ballad that sings of the sanctity of life, driven by grand, heart-tugging strings.
As Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s 10th single, released in November 2022, this song was written as the theme for the film “From Siberia With Love.” The lyrics portray unwavering hope in the face of any hardship and a powerful devotion to a loved one.
Many listeners may find their tears welling up at its profound message.
It’s a track that, when you’re worn down by daily life or on the verge of losing heart, lights a warm glow within you and guides you toward tomorrow.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya75rank/position
A signature song by Fumiya Fujii released in 1993, this love ballad still shines in the J-pop scene.
It was released after The Checkers disbanded, as a solo work for which he wrote both the lyrics and the music himself.
Though the lyrics are simple and compact, they overflow with a straightforward devotion to the woman he loves.
With its slow-tempo ballad style and beautiful melody line, it should feel wonderfully comfortable to sing at karaoke.
It’s a piece that moves the heart even more when you sing it while thinking of someone special.
I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci76rank/position
A husky vocal line set against a slow-tempo ballad, emotive guitar tones, dynamic, ebb-and-flow drumming—this wacci smash hit is packed with highlights.
Its greatest charm lies in the lyrics that so many listeners relate to.
The theme—still hung up on an ex and unconsciously comparing him to a current boyfriend—sparked mixed reactions, but it was precisely the honest, straightforward expression of feeling that resonated with so many.
Released in November 2018, the song became a major topic on social media and catapulted wacci to fame.
It’s a moving track that’s perfect for anyone wrestling with complicated feelings of love.
AiHata Motohiro77rank/position
Hata Motohiro’s ninth single, released in 2010.
It’s a classic that has been covered by various artists, including Chris Hart and Hitoto Yo.
Hata’s mellow, gentle vocals and the carefully strummed acoustic guitar resonate with a poignant tenderness, wrapping you in a feeling of affection.
It’s perfect for when you want to reflect on the flutter of a fateful encounter that makes you feel love in an instant, and on those irreplaceably happy moments—please give it a listen.
