1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: classic and hit summer songs
The 1990s were a time when million-selling hit songs kept coming one after another, and music clearly served as a common topic across generations.
Naturally, there were plenty of summer-themed hits as well.
In this article, we’ve picked out 90s summer songs that have continued to be loved across eras—not only by those who listened to them in real time back then, but also to the extent that people of all ages have probably heard them at least once.
Younger music fans might even discover, “So this song was sung by this artist?” Be sure to check them out!
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1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: Classic and hit summer songs (71–80)
Let’s dance in a circle (Wasshoi)V6
Formed as image characters for the Volleyball World Cup and known for their dynamic live acrobatics, V6 is a six-member idol group.
Their 7th single, “WA ni Natte Odorou,” a cover of a song broadcast on NHK’s music program Minna no Uta, is also known as one of V6’s signature tracks.
Its catchy, poppy melody and ensemble are perfect for enhancing summertime fun with a crowd.
It’s a timeless number that everyone can sing together at karaoke and get hyped up to, loved across generations.
Stay closest to me.Daikoku Maki
It’s a love song that evokes memories of summer.
MakI Ohguro’s powerful vocals leave a strong impression, and the track was released in May 1995 as her 11th single.
It was also used in a Meiji American Chips commercial and reached No.
2 on the Oricon weekly chart, later becoming a hit with nearly 900,000 copies sold.
The song expresses a wish to remain the closest presence in each other’s hearts without being possessive, while respecting each other’s lives.
It’s best enjoyed while imagining a couple spending time together on a summer beach.
Swaying FeelingsZARD
This is ZARD’s signature song, featured in a Pocari Sweat commercial and certified a million-seller.
Even among the tracks that drove the Being boom, this one stands out for its refreshing feel.
The moment the intro starts, you can almost see the dazzling summer sunshine.
Izumi Sakai’s straight, crystalline vocals beautifully capture the thrill of a budding romance, winning the hearts of many.
The wavering emotions of longing for someone—sweet, a little frustrating—make the pure lyrics deeply relatable.
As a timeless classic, it continues to color the youth of countless listeners even today.
The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children
Mr.Children is a four-piece rock band whose name everyone in the J-pop scene knows, having earned numerous million-selling singles and albums.
Their debut single, “Kimi ga Ita Natsu” (“The Summer You Were There”), was released as a single cut from their debut album, EVERYTHING.
The slide-guitar-driven sound, paired with its heartrending lyrics, evokes images of the summer seaside.
It’s a track that showcases the band’s exceptional sensibility—one you’ll want to listen to in the summertime.
A Midsummer Night’s DreamMatsutōya Yumi
When it comes to Yuming’s summer songs brimming with passion and a bewitching vibe, it has to be Midsummer Night’s Dream! The moment you hear that striking intro phrase, it feels like an invitation straight into a “midsummer night.” Beyond the Latin-scented rhythms and lyrics packed with keywords that evoke a Caribbean summer, the sultry guitar by Shigeru Suzuki—renowned for his work with legendary bands like Happy End and Tin Pan Alley—is unbelievably cool.
At the same time, many people probably also recall Shiro Sano’s overwhelming, chilling performance in the unconventional 1993 drama Dare ni mo Ienai, which used this song as its theme.
Personally, the drama’s imagery looms large for me, so this track also carries a strong impression of a dangerous summer…
survival dAnce 〜no no cry more〜TRF
The 1990s J-POP scene and Tetsuya Komuro’s music are virtually synonymous, aren’t they? TRF was the spark that set off Komuro’s phenomenal run in the ’90s, during which he launched many iconic groups and artists.
In the early days they went by the lowercase name trf, right? “survival dAnce ~no no cry more~,” released in 1994 and a million seller, was one of their massive hits from the trf era.
With a melody line and keyboard phrases that instantly mark it as a Komuro composition, and a rhythm that makes you want to get up and dance just by listening, it’s the perfect track for a hot summer day.
I bet plenty of people use it to practice dance, or listen to it as a companion for their workouts.
For the momentEvery Little Thing
Every Little Thing is a two-member music unit with numerous cross-generational hit songs like “Time goes by” and “fragile.” Their fourth single, “For the moment,” which became their first single to top the Oricon chart, was used in a Morinaga Seika ICE BOX commercial and as the ending theme for the music program COUNT DOWN TV.
Its lyrics, which straightforwardly depict the feelings of love, especially evoke vivid summer scenes.
It’s a gem of a pop tune, marked by the striking contrast between hard-edged guitar sounds and crystal-clear synths.