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.

Playlist

Popular J-Pop Ballad Song Rankings [2026]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Happy Endingback number		A ballad that portrays the poignancy of heartbreak and the resolve to say goodbye
2	PrologueUru		Uru’s clear, translucent singing voice touches the heart
3	First LoveUtada Hikaru		The bittersweet memory of an unforgettable first love
4	KanadeSukima Suichi		Sukima Switch’s poignant classic ballad
5	Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi		A ballad that heals the heart with Aoi Teshima’s clear, transparent voice
6	One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi		The poignant masterpiece 'Kanade' that longs for someone lost
7	Wherever you areONE OK ROCK		Let's sing 'Wherever You Are' in falsetto.
8	moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro		A fleeting masterpiece like moonlight, resonating in the heart.
9	Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi		Kazuyoshi Saito’s love song, a heart-touching masterpiece
10	HOWEVERGLAY		GLAY’s signature song, with heartrending lyrics and a beautiful melody
11	planetariumOtsuka Ai		A ballad imbued with the bittersweetness of love under the starry sky
12	bow knotAimer		Aimer’s “Butterfly Knot,” a moving masterpiece
13	LemonYonezu Kenshi		Vocal Technique Guide to Kenshi Yonezu’s Long-Running Hit Songs
14	budKobukuro		A moving song that celebrates a mother's love and bond
15	366 daysHY		HY’s heartrending heartbreak ballad, a movie theme song
16	I want to hug you.Mr.Children		A gem-like love ballad by Mr.Children
17	EverythingMISIA		Theme song of 'Yamato Nadeshiko,' a moving masterpiece
18	Goodbye, my beloved.Hana＊Hana		Hanahana’s signature song that expresses the sorrow of parting
19	balladKetsumeishi		Ketsumeishi’s ballads are captivating!
20	Because you are hereUru		A moving ballad filled with Uru’s love and message
21	Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi		Kenshi Yonezu’s “Eine Kleine” is a masterpiece that sings of the anxieties of love.
22	Spot the differenceSuda Masaki		An inspiring song that finds the meaning of life
23	A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru		A song by Hikaru Utada that resonates with the heart
24	secret base 〜What You Gave Me〜ZONE		ZONE's hit song “secret base”
25	Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako		A wistful piano ballad that mourns the end of summer
26	HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number		A bittersweet unrequited-love birthday song, a love that cannot come true
27	Maplesupittsu		A ballad depicting the protagonist accepting the pain of parting and moving forward.
28	crescent moonayaka		A masterpiece that sings of the poignant feelings of a long-distance romance
29	beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko		One of aiko’s signature songs, J-pop…
30	I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN		DEEN’s debut single was a million-selling hit
31	MPRINCESS PRINCESS		A classic ballad by PRINCESS PRINCESS
32	About meMrs. GREEN APPLE		Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s moving masterpiece that resonates with the heart
33	single bedSha ran Q		A ballad that portrays the feelings of recovering from heartbreak and moving forward
34	catDISH//		Aimyon “Hadaka no Kokoro” — moving and heartrending
35	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		A heartrending ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak
36	The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi		A gem-like ballad portraying rain and parting
37	A melody instead of a bouquetShimizu Shota		A heartwarming love song by Shota Shimizu
38	OH MY LITTLE GIRLOzaki Yutaka		Iconic 90s classics: kayōkyoku beloved across generations
39	The summer you gave meieiri reo		Leo Ieiri’s bittersweet summer classic “The Summer You Gave Me”
40	Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki		Hidetoshi Tokunaga’s smash-hit ballad, belted out at karaoke
41	A Naked Heartaimyon		A heartwarming song that gently envelops the bittersweetness of love
42	Snow BlossomNakajima Mika		Mika Nakashima’s classic: a gem of a ballad to listen to in winter
43	Someday Merry ChristmasB’z		B’z’s classic breakup ballad
44	White LoversKuwata Keisuke		A heartwarming ballad that turns the bittersweet love of winter into a blessing
45	NautilusYorushika		It sinks into my heart in Yorushika’s songs
46	Love StoryAmuro Namie		Namie Amuro’s poignant love song, a heart-stirring track
47	StoryAI		A moving AI ballad that sings of deep love and bonds
48	Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu		A heartbreak love ballad at summer’s end
49	MissingKubota Toshinobu		Toshinobu Kubota’s classic song that sings of the pain of unrequited love
50	ORIONNakajima Mika		Mika Nakashima’s single “ORION”
51	dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo		Hitoto Yo's classic ballad, a prayerful lyric that touches the heart
52	Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro		A moving theme song that portrays bonds and love
53	homeKiyama Yusaku		A song by Yusaku Kiyama that celebrates parental love and the joys of raising children
54	flameLiSA		LiSA’s smash-hit theme song for Demon Slayer
55	the red threadKobukuro		A love ballad that overcomes the rut and looks forward
56	Ghost in the FlowersYorushika		A wistful song that paints memories of summer
57	DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE		A song about being yourself, gifted for graduation season
58	Lovers AgainEXILE		The ballad techniques in EXILE’s “Lovers Again”
59	GarnetOku Hanako		Okubana's heartbreak songs heal the heart
60	All of the YouthFujifaburikku		A rock band that sings about young people's feelings in a true-to-life way
61	Summer Days of 1993class		A ballad portraying the shift of feelings from friendship to romance
62	TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu		A classic Southern (Southern All Stars) hit: a song about an encounter that changes your life
63	Hello/How are you?nanou		Nano・'s first million-hit song, characterized by a complex melody
64	PreciousItō Yuna		A ballad of resolute faith in the one you love
65	FlowerORANGE RANGE		ORANGE RANGE’s classic song “Hana” is perfect for low-voiced men.
66	Secret of my heartKuraki Mai		A smash-hit song by a supremely talented songstress
67	Dried flowersYuuri		Yuuri’s song gently conveys the feelings of heartbreak.
68	1.15 Million Kilometers of FilmOfisharu Higedan Dism		Keep filming love, as if life were a movie.
69	May it be filled with kindnessJUJU		A classic song that sings of gratitude and love for a cherished person
70	Unrequited loveAimer		Aimer’s moving lyrics and melodies
71	threadNakajima Miyuki		Miyuki Nakajima’s gem of a masterpiece that weaves fate with warp and weft
72	Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS		Sing about the importance of love in the theme song of Weathering With You
73	I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka		Yutaka Ozaki’s classic hit, a ballad popular among men
74	SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE		A moving ballad that sings of the sanctity of life and of hope
75	TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya		Fumiya Fujii’s famous song, a love ballad filled with affection
76	I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci		A husky ... set to a slow-tempo ballad
77	AiHata Motohiro		Motohiro Hata’s masterpiece “Koi,” a poignant love song
78	Because I fell in loveaimyon		Aimerion’s heartbreak ballad song
79	The End of SummerMoriyama Naotaro		End of summer, Moriyama Naotaro’s classic song
80	ALONEB’z		A bittersweet love song at dusk that heals loneliness.
81	#302Hirai Ken		A classic song that sings about memories from karaoke
82	rainbowSuda Masaki		Masaki Suda’s song that heals the heart, a masterpiece of familial love
83	Christmas songback number		Back Number's representative winter song, 'Christmas Song'
84	Sakura (2019)Moriyama Naotaro		The Appeal of Naotaro Moriyama’s Graduation Song “Sakura”
85	Unfit to be a loverKoresawa		An answer song self-covered by Koresawa
86	Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi		Kenshi Yonezu handles the theme song for Children of the Sea
87	tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa		The regret of parting as I search for the warmth that was lost
88	The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell		A bittersweet unrequited-love song, a heart-stirring classic
89	March 9Remioromen		A timeless song filled with the emotion of graduation, resonating in the heart
90	Close your eyesHirai Ken		A classic song that sings of a poignant longing for a lost love
91	Song for…HY		A poignant song portraying a fateful encounter and the barrier of age
92	365 daysMr.Children		A passionate commentary on Mr.Children’s classic song “365 Days”
93	SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism		The theme song of “silent,” a famous track by Official HIGE DANDism.
94	Letter ~Dear fifteen-year-old you~Anjura Aki		Share the emotion with the graduation song “Tegami”
95	Crimson-colored sunsetFujifaburikku		Autumn sunset and nostalgic music
96	I fell in loveaiko		aiko’s romantic ballad used as a movie theme song
97	orionYonezu Kenshi		A masterpiece by Kenshi Yonezu that evokes the winter night sky
98	Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze		A Clumsy Love Story by Shonan no Kaze
99	AitaiKato Miria		Depicting the bittersweet emotions of unrequited love
100	Love LetterMY FIRST STORY		MY FIRST STORY moved by pure romantic feelings