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 Cry-Inducing Tracks (31–40)
suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW
For those who spent their youth in the 1990s, Field of View is a rock band filled with nostalgia—very much evocative of the heyday of trendy TV dramas.
“Totsuzen” is a single that could be called one of their signature songs.
It was a hit.
threadNakajima Miyuki
While vividly weaving in the image of threads spinning together, this song makes you once again feel the meaning of living and the importance of people supporting one another.
Many artists cover it now, and it’s become a staple wedding song.
Still, I feel that Miyuki Nakajima’s original version resonates the most.
BOY MEETS GIRLTRF
The 1990s were truly Tetsuya Komuro’s era, and leading the charge in that popularity was TRF.
Their song “BOY MEETS GIRL” is a tearjerker that anyone who knows the ’90s can’t listen to without crying.
It’s a classic.
LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu/Naomi Campbell
Toshinobu Kubota is truly a singer-songwriter active on a global scale.
This song, “LA LA LA LOVE SONG,” became a mega hit as the theme song for the popular TV drama “Long Vacation.” It was also released as a single in the United States.
My Room, My Dress Shirt, and MeHiramatsu Eri
Eri Hiramatsu’s “Room, Y-Shirt and Me” became a huge hit as a song that truly symbolizes the 1990s.
Its striking lyrics, the hallmark of a true singer-songwriter, are a major part of its appeal.
Even today, it’s still frequently played on TV and radio.