A roundup of hit love songs from the ’90s
The 1990s were a decade that produced countless million-selling hits.
TV dramas were also hugely successful, and it wasn’t uncommon for theme songs to sell big alongside the shows themselves.
In this article, we’re shining a spotlight on love songs from that era.
We’ve gathered a variety of romantic tunes: theme songs from blockbuster romance dramas, wedding classics, and timeless love songs cherished across generations.
It’s a lineup that longtime fans who experienced the era firsthand will enjoy—as well as younger listeners who didn’t live through it.
Be sure to check it out!
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- Showa-era love songs: A roundup of timeless love songs cherished across generations
- [Heisei Love Songs] A carefully selected collection of gem-like love songs that continue to be cherished even in the Reiwa era!
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- Love songs recommended for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- Recommended love songs for people in their 90s: A collection of classic Shōwa-era romance songs
- Songs to give to your lover or someone you like. Love songs devoted wholeheartedly to your boyfriend or girlfriend.
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
- Love Hit Song Collection for Gals [A Must-Listen for Heisei-Era Gals]
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Female Singer-Songwriters of the 1990s [2026]
- Winter songs in 90s J-pop: a roundup of popular winter tunes
- Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the ’90s to the 2010s
A roundup of hit love songs from the ’90s (11–20)
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
Masayoshi Yamazaki’s signature song, released in 1997, is a bittersweet yet beautiful ballad.
The yearning for lost love gently seeps into the listener’s heart, carried by Yamazaki’s soaring vocals.
Used as the theme song for the film “The Moon and a Cabbage,” it remained popular for many years thereafter.
It peaked at No.
18 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and achieved the remarkable feat of staying on the charts for 24 weeks.
With its delicate, solo-accompanied melody, the song evokes not only a sense of loss but also a glimmer of hope for the future.
It surely gives voice to the feelings held in the hearts of many.
Time goes byEvery Little Thing
In stark contrast to their upbeat, digitally driven tracks, this is a ballad.
At the time, I remember being shocked when it was released—like, “Wait, this is totally different from the Every Little Thing we’ve known!” In the end, it became their best-selling single and a signature song for Every Little Thing.
The lyrics, which look back on love and relationships from a youthful, perhaps too-young time, fit perfectly with the romance-filled 1990s.
Lots of women even copied vocalist Mochida’s hairstyle! It’s a song packed with nostalgia.
Eiichi Ohtakishiawasena ketsumatsu
One of Eiichi Ohtaki’s signature songs, which drew huge attention as the theme for the massively popular “Getsuku” Monday 9 p.m.
drama Love Generation starring Takuya Kimura and Takako Matsu.
If you watched the show, hearing this track might bring back, as if it were yesterday, the heart‑pounding push-and-pull of their romance.
The lyrics, which exquisitely portray the ever-shifting feelings of a grown woman in love, are superb.
You could even interpret them to suggest that the two met for the sake of a happy ending—how did you hear it? Ohtaki’s song “Let’s Begin with a Happy End” was also used as an insert song in the drama and became a hit.
Highly recommended as well!
Because it’s a cold nightTRF
This is the fifth single by TRF, a five-member co-ed dance and vocal group whose goal is to turn any live venue into a disco just by being there.
It became the group’s first single to break into the Oricon Top 10, and also drew attention when its music video was used in a commercial for Nagatanien’s Hieshirazu-san Ginger Series.
Its brisk dance beat and lyrical melody are quintessential TK sound that dominated the 1990s.
It’s a gem of a love song whose passionate approach—distinct from a ballad—lingers in the ear.
Robinsonsupittsu
Released in 1995, this song is a timeless favorite loved by people of all ages and is one of Spitz’s signature works.
When it came out, it was used as the ending theme for a variety show, and many people probably still strongly associate it with that image.
It carries a touch of bittersweetness, but combined with vocalist Masamune Kusano’s gentle voice, it strikes straight to the heart—a tender masterpiece.
It’s the kind of number you find yourself wanting to listen to when you’re tired, or to send to someone who’s feeling down.
This track became Spitz’s first Top 10 hit and went on to be a massive success, selling over a million copies.