A 90s girls' band. A popular Japanese band.
In the 2020s, all-female bands are thriving in Japan across pop, rock, and metal scenes.
Back in the 1980s, during the band boom, groups that dominated the mainstream—like Princess Princess and SHOW-YA—also emerged.
So what kinds of girls’ bands appeared and flourished in the 1990s? While there weren’t as many as there are today, there were a great many distinctive bands.
In this article, we’ll focus on the history of 1990s girls’ bands, including those formed in the late ’80s and those still active today!
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90s girl bands. Popular Japanese bands (21–30)
Pinball PartyThe 5.6.7.8’s
The 5.6.7.8’s are a three-piece girl band known for performances that make you want to dance.
In addition to YOSHIKO’s husky vocals, SACHIKO’s powerful drumming and OMO’s high-caliber bass have earned high praise overseas.
They also appeared in the film Kill Bill, playing the roles of band members.
JulianPRINCESS PRINCESS
PRINCESS PRINCESS is a band that holds a lot of personal memories for me.
The first time I saw them live was before they broke big, when a friend invited me to a show at a live house in Kyoto.
I remember being instantly drawn in by their vocals, performance, and songs, and buying a CD at the merch booth.
After that, they skyrocketed in popularity! I remember how they grew from the band I first saw at a small venue to one that could pack out a solo outdoor show by summer not long after.
In that wave, the band boom of the ’90s took off, and at amateur band events and school festivals back then, there were tons of PRINCESS PRINCESS cover and copy bands.
Compared to bands today, I feel like one of the charms of bands active from the late ’80s to the ’90s was that they weren’t “overproduced.” They’re definitely one of the bands I can confidently recommend as a prime example of girls’ rock!
Girls’ bands of the 1990s. Popular Japanese bands (31–40)
insoluble placeboMasako-san
Masako, who hails from the TV show “Yūji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Heaven,” which has produced many popular bands.
Instead of the guitar—normally indispensable to a band—she uses a taishōgoto, crafting a uniquely original musical world and sound.
MY LITTLE STARACID LOVE
In the early ’90s, on a different horizon from the visual-kei scene, ACID LOVE emerged as a four-woman band delivering simple, straight-ahead rock.
Formed in 1991 around guitarist RANDY, their music fused edgy guitar sounds with melody brimming with pop sensibility, offering an appeal that crossed the boundary between J-pop and rock.
In June 1993, they made their major-label debut with the single “Gyakuten! Love Sensation” on Toshiba EMI’s TM Factory label.
Their subsequent singles and the August 1994 album “A FATAL DOSE” drew attention for being produced by Keitaro Takanami, formerly of Pizzicato Five.
Through TV shows and commercial tie-ins, their songs reached a wide audience, leaving a vivid impression despite their brief period of activity.
As one of the distinctive girl bands of the ’90s, they’re definitely worth exploring.
VoyageANGEL’in Heavy Syrup
Formed in Osaka in 1990, ANGEL’in Heavy Syrup shine with a singular light in Japan’s psychedelic/progressive rock scene.
Backed by Alchemy Records, run by the renowned JOJO Hiroshige, they made their debut on the scene in 1991 with the album Angel’in Heavy Syrup I.
Their musical style distills influences from 1970s Krautrock—especially Amon Düül II—into a one-of-a-kind sound where luscious weightlessness intertwines with heavy riffs.
Their highly acclaimed masterpiece, Angel’in Heavy Syrup III, can be seen as the culmination of that sonic world.
They’ve earned international recognition as well, undertaking a U.S.
tour with GONG, and even scoring the impressive feat of placing 15th on IGN’s list of the “Greatest Progressive Rock Albums of All Time.” In recent years, their early works have been reissued, fueling a renewed reassessment.
If you want to immerse yourself in a profound ocean of sound, this is the perfect band for you!
Melon sorbetGitogito Hustler
Born in Kyoto in 1995, Gitogito Hustler is a Japanese all-female four-piece punk rock band that centers its sound on garage punk and post-punk.
They are known for their energetic, straightforward sound and lyrics that shine with a distinctly female perspective.
After signing with the American indie label Gearhead Records, they released albums such as Gitogito Hustler and Feathered Snake, and performed at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, earning international recognition.
Notable parts of their history include the fact that Yago and Fusa are sisters and a lineup change in 2008.
Their unadorned, passionate performances and simple, powerful sound will captivate listeners seeking real punk.
If you want to experience authentic girls’ punk, be sure to check them out.
Wonder WineShonen Naifu
Formed in 1981 by members who were then company employees, this three-piece girls’ band was scouted while playing in an open field in Osaka.
In a scene where all-female bands are often equated with idols even today, their no-nonsense style—one of the first to break into the global market—has earned high acclaim overseas.
Their sound, clearly influenced by punk rock acts like the Ramones and Buzzcocks, made a strong impression both at home and abroad, to the point that major international bands have covered Shonen Knife’s songs.
Even within Japan’s music scene, which now has many bands active overseas, they remain a beloved, singular presence.
