Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
The 1990s were the era in J-pop history when CDs sold the most, and countless timeless classics were born that are still loved in the 2020s.
It was truly J-pop’s golden age, with artists and bands from a wide range of genres scoring hit after hit—an important period that greatly expanded the possibilities of Japanese music.
From among the dazzling array of brilliant 90s songs, this time we’re highlighting “tear-jerkers”: masterpieces that remain etched in both the record books and our memories.
Whether you lived through that time or you’re a younger music fan who’s recently gotten into 90s Japanese music, be sure to check them out.
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- A roundup of hit love songs from the ’90s
- Tear-jerking songs I want to sing at karaoke
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- A hidden gem among tearjerker songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- A coming-of-age song that was a hit in the ’90s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the ’90s to the 2010s
Tearjerking J-Pop from the ’90s: Hit Songs and Weep-Inducing Tracks (61–70)
5 seconds before I fall seriously in loveHirosue Ryōko
Ryoko Hirosue’s debut single, “Maji de Koi suru 5 Byō Mae,” was a big hit.
For those who remember that time, this song is so nostalgic it might bring you to tears.
Her fresh, youthful presence back then is also a highlight.
WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes You Gotta Make a MovementH Jungle with T
Many people are likely to feel nostalgic when they hear WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Move Your Body Sometimes.
The song is performed by H Jungle with t, a unit formed by Downtown’s Masatoshi Hamada and Tetsuya Komuro.
It’s truly a song that symbolizes its era, having become a record-breaking megahit.
To the futureKiroro
A well-known classic, to say the least! Hearing it at life’s turning points fills my heart, because it’s such a straightforward song of encouragement.
It’s a wonderful piece packed with a strong wish—from parent to child, senior to junior, or friend to friend—for a life of happiness in the days to come.
ALONEB’z
B’z’s ninth single is a rock ballad that sings of the preciousness of love that shines brightest in loneliness.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Hotel Woman,” it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and became a million seller.
The poignant feelings of a man who can only yearn for someone he cannot meet truly hit home.
The grand sound incorporating piano and synth, along with the emotive, tear-evoking guitar phrases, is unforgettable.
It’s a masterpiece that stays close to your heart when your feelings for someone special grow stronger.
Azure RabbitNoriko Sakai
Due to various incidents, this song has unfortunately been associated with a somewhat different image, but it was originally a bittersweet love song.
It was also used as the theme song for a romance drama featuring a protagonist who is deaf, and it explores how one can convey a heartbreaking feeling that can’t be delivered through words.