[J-Pop] Debut songs by male solo artists from the 1990s
An artist’s debut single is a precious testimony—packed with raw impulses, determination, and all kinds of intentions.
Listeners from later generations are often surprised or convinced when they hear the debut songs of artists with long careers.
There’s something you can only sense in a first work—this isn’t limited to music.
This article spotlights male solo artists in Japanese music who debuted in the 1990s, the golden age of J-pop when CDs sold the most in Japan, and introduces their memorable debut tracks.
Including artists who launched solo careers after being in bands, enjoy the unique charms of debut songs—from mega-hits to hidden gems!
- 1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- [J-Rock] Timeless masterpieces that colored the 1990s. Nostalgic hit songs.
- Debut song of a 90s visual kei band
- Popular Nostalgic Songs: J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking]
- Male singers with great voices: a collection of cool, seductive vocals
- A roundup of hit love songs from the ’90s
- Recommended love songs sung by male artists for the yutori generation
- Looking back at the gem-like debut songs of female singers who debuted in 1990
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
[Japanese Pop] Debut Songs by Male Solo Artists from the ’90s (1–10)
NGMakihara Noriyuki
A debut single by singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, who has released countless well-known masterpieces such as his signature song “Donna Toki mo” and “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana,” which he wrote for SMAP.
Released on October 25, 1990, alongside his first album “Kimi ga Warau Toki Kimi no Mune ga Itamanai You ni,” the track is memorable for its intro that carries a wistful atmosphere.
While Makihara himself has said that “as the title suggests, its sales were NG,” you can already feel that his distinctly bittersweet worldview and gentle melodies were firmly in place from his debut.
It’s a hidden gem that marked the start of a rare singer-songwriter who would later dominate the J-pop scene.
The Beatles I saw were inside the TV.Saitō Kazuyoshi
The debut single by singer-songwriter Kazuyoshi Saito, who has created timeless hits that almost everyone has heard at least once, such as “Utautai no Ballad” and “Aruite Kaerou.” Released on August 25, 1993, this song had already been performed since the time he achieved five consecutive wins on the audition program “Saturday My Family TV: Miyake Yuji’s Tenka Gomen ne!” the previous year.
The melancholy of the acoustic guitar over a shuffle beat, combined with lyrics that satirize his own situation and society, conjure up scenes filled with a sense of anxiety and stress.
It’s a piercing number that captures the universal feelings of youth, even as the times change.
La Boum ~Because MY BOOM IS ME~Kajihadeki
Dubbed “Mr.
Sweden” for his breezy, buoyant musical style, singer-songwriter Hideki Kaji became a central figure in the Shibuya-kei movement that flourished in the 1990s.
This is his debut single, released on January 6, 1997, the year after his debut mini-album MUSCAT E.P., and it was featured in a Kewpie Half mayonnaise commercial.
Its invigorating, weightless melody set over sprightly piano perfectly evokes Swedish pop.
It’s a track that vividly reflects Kaji’s musical sensibilities and mentality—one you’ll want to play on a leisurely day off.
Be pureOno Masatoshi
The major debut single by singer-songwriter Masatoshi Ono, who is active in a wide range of fields that leverage his vocal skills—such as serving as the vocalist for the metal band GALNERYUS and as a vocal school instructor.
Released on May 21, 1992, this track lets you enjoy his trademark high-tone voice right from the opening.
The ethereal ensemble blends with his crystal-clear vocals, creating a pop sound that still carries a sense of grandeur.
It’s a hidden gem that reaffirms Masatoshi Ono’s overwhelming vocal prowess and presence.
Far awayInaba Hiroshi
This is the first single by singer-songwriter Koshi Inaba, who debuted as the vocalist of the rock unit B’z and drew attention in 2022 for his first voice-acting role in the Japanese dub of the animated film “Sing 2.” Released on December 16, 1998, the track follows the trajectory of his first solo album “Magma,” which came out the previous year, and is known as the debut single of solo artist Koshi Inaba.
The ensemble, with its dramatic shifts in arrangement throughout the song, exudes a charm distinct from the direction of B’z.
It’s an emotional rock tune that fully warrants its numerous tie-ins.