A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era
Ballad songs featuring piano, acoustic guitar, and strings have produced timeless classics in every era.
Whether they express feelings for someone, depict heartbreak, or paint a grand, expansive world, countless hit songs have emerged that resonate with listeners of their time.
Here, we introduce standout ballads born in the Reiwa era.
Give them a listen when you want to immerse yourself in music.
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- When you want to immerse yourself in music alone! Tear-jerker songs released in the Reiwa era
- Just listening will surely warm your heart! A love song of the Reiwa era.
- A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs
- Ballad songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular hits.
- Ballad songs perfect for autumn. Timeless mellow hits for the fall season.
- Guaranteed to move your emotions! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era
- A selection of classic love ballads, from the latest hits to timeless favorites.
- Also great for karaoke with friends! Youthful songs that hype up the Reiwa era
- A masterpiece piano ballad
- Everyone must have heard it at least once! A quintessential ballad number representing the Showa era.
- Masterpieces of the Reiwa Era: Hit Songs That Define the Times
- [2026] Latest Masterful Ballads | A Curated Selection of Heartfelt Love Songs and Uplifting Anthems
A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era (11–20)
chameleonKing Gnu
King Gnu’s fifth single showcases their knack for distilling songs with advanced musicianship and skillful arrangements into J-pop, a sense that’s been taking the music scene by storm.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Mystery to Iu Nakare,” this track captivates from the opening with its urban yet nostalgic arrangement.
The complex, high-register melodic progression makes it challenging, but mastering it will make you a karaoke hero.
Despite being a ballad, it has a thrilling atmosphere that’s downright addictive.
horizonback number
A song by back number whose gentle vocals and the harmony of piano and acoustic guitar resonate comfortably.
It carries a message that stands by people bearing lost hopes and setbacks, and was created as a support song for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After being surprise-released on YouTube in August 2020, it was officially released in August 2021 and topped streaming charts for nine consecutive weeks.
By November 2021, total streams surpassed 100 million, winning strong support from many listeners.
It’s a track that gently nudges forward those who try to face ahead despite their sorrow and struggles.
If I had been living aloneSUPER BEAVER
This song, which celebrates the importance of human connection, was also selected as the theme song for the film “Water’s Edge Flight.” It portrays the emotions and experiences gained through life’s hardships and joys, emphasizing the significance of bonds with friends and loved ones.
Released in June 2020, the track reflects the experiences and feelings following SUPER BEAVER’s return to a major label, expressing the strength and hope that come from the simple truth that “you are not alone.” It sings about how the difficulties of living, the value of challenges, and the strength to overcome pain and setbacks can be found through relationships with others.
I miss youRADWIMPS
This ballad was produced in March 2021, a major milestone marking ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
RADWIMPS, who have continued to release works every March 11 with thoughts for the affected areas, placed this song at the end of their concept album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” which serves as a culmination of those prayers.
The simple yet profound longing that Yojiro Noda reached after many years presses upon the heart, carried by delicate melodies of piano and strings.
Although it has no specific tie-in, it can be described as a number that gently stands beside those who carry feelings beyond words.
Please give it a listen on nights when you want to quietly recall someone dear, or when you want to face the emotions deep within your own heart.
Two People in a Fading CitySazan Ōrusutāzu
This is a gently melancholic song that evokes a twilight cityscape and seeps into the heart.
It’s included on the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH,” released in March 2025 by Southern All Stars, the rock band that has led the Japanese music scene for many years.
The lyrics portray a man and woman in a delicate, not-quite-lovers relationship, with only time slipping by—a sense of helplessness conveyed through Keisuke Kuwata’s tenacious, resonant vocals.
The track also serves as the theme song for the film “Sunflower on the Board,” enveloping the story in a lingering afterglow.
I especially recommend it to anyone seeking a ballad that quietly stays by your side at the end of the day when you’re alone, or when you’re carrying feelings that are hard to put into words.
Something like a miracleKamishiraishi Mone
It’s a sweeping ballad that quietly reminds us how precious those ordinary, everyday moments really are.
Written as the theme song for the anime film “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise,” set to be released in December 2025, this track is performed by Mone Kamishiraishi and was released in November 2025.
The lyrics were penned by Kiyosaku of MONGOL800, and together with a melody by Kazuyo Suzuki, they convey the passing of the baton of life and the sanctity of living.
This work helps us realize that the everyday is itself a miracle.
Why not listen to it carefully on a night when you want to calm your heart?
A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era (21–30)
openJO1
Formed through the audition program PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, JO1 is a global boy group that continues its remarkable rise.
Known for their powerful dance tracks, they unveiled a new side of their appeal with a song released in August 2025.
Written specifically for them by singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata, this medium-tempo ballad weaves hopes for growth and heartfelt feelings for a loved one—like a small bud dreaming of the day it blooms in its own color.
Serving as the theme song for the film “Mt.
Fuji, Coffee, and the Equation of Happiness,” it warmly accompanies the story.
It’s a gentle work that softly lights a lamp in your heart when you take a new step forward.