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
Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s: Hit songs and weep-worthy tracks (1–10)
First LoveUtada Hikaru
The impact when Hikaru Utada burst onto the music scene was so great it made you think you might never again witness the debut of an artist with such talent.
Debuting at just 15, writing and composing her own songs, and wielding a sound that refined and elevated authentic R&B elements into unmistakable J-pop with her innate voice, she amassed a brilliant track record—including the best-selling album in Japanese history—that hardly needs reiterating now.
Speaking of Utada’s early signature ballads, there’s “First Love,” the namesake of her legendary debut album.
Its blend of candid teenage feelings, subtly mature, skillful scene-setting, and a melody overflowing with emotion showcased by her commanding vocals is nothing short of superb.
Listening again as an adult, the hint of nostalgia it evokes is another quiet pleasure.
PRIDEImai Miki
Miki Imai’s biggest hit—and the song best known as both her signature and her personal favorite—is “PRIDE,” released in 1996.
Guided by the gentle guitar tones crafted by Tomoyasu Hotei—who wrote, composed, and arranged the piece and later became Imai’s husband—Imai’s tender, expressive vocals soothe the listener and wrap them in a warm sense of emotion.
The fact that so many artists have covered the song speaks to its universal appeal.
It’s a perfectly crafted ballad that needs no embellishment, yet taking the time to read the lyrics—so skillfully portraying the protagonist’s feelings as she sings that her love for her partner is her “pride”—will bring an even deeper sense of resonance.
Winter, againGLAY
This is the 16th single by GLAY, a four-piece rock band that has set numerous milestones in the J-pop scene, from CD sales to live attendance.
Chosen as the campaign song for JR East’s “JR SKI SKI,” the track features lyrics that vividly evoke the scenery of Hokkaido, the band’s hometown.
Its catchy yet wistful melody and arrangement can still tug at the heartstrings even today.
Among GLAY’s many hit singles, this one achieved their highest sales and stands as an iconic masterpiece of the 1990s.
I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki
This is the fifth single by singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, who has released numerous universally known masterpieces, including his own original song “Donna Toki mo” and the SMAP hit he wrote, “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana.” Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Kodomo ga Neta Ato de,” its brisk yet bittersweet melody tugs at the heartstrings.
While the lyrics can be interpreted as positive, the story that conjures a scene of parting and the poignant melody will likely make many listeners feel sentimental, overlaying it with their own experiences.
Among the many classic songs Makihara has created, this is a particularly tear-jerking number—one that’s hard to listen to without tears.
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
This is the fourth single by Masayoshi Yamazaki, a singer-songwriter from Yamaguchi Prefecture, chosen as the theme song for his first starring film, “Tsuki to Kyabetsu” (The Moon and a Cabbage).
The lyrics, said to reflect his feelings before his major-label debut, vividly evoke scenes where things don’t go as one hopes.
The words, which sing of feelings for a precious person who is no longer by one’s side, are likely to move many listeners to tears in empathy.
It’s a song whose distinctive voice and delicate acoustic sound resonate deeply, continuing to be sung across changing times.