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!

Playlist

1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: classic and hit summer songs
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	ONLY YOUYoshikawa Koji		Songs by Koji Kikkawa that resonate with the heart from the 1990s
2	SUN SUN SUN ’95Urufuruzu		Passion of summer, a hot rock 'n' roll song
3	The Sun Made Me Do It ~Misty Lady~Gō Hiromi		A passionate adult summer love melody
4	MARIAMiyamoto Eiji		A refreshing classic that brightened the summers of the ’90s
5	Summertime BluesWatanabe Misato		A bittersweet summer classic, Misato Watanabe’s signature song
6	An Uncompromising SummerTUBE		A refreshing summer love song, a classic by TUBE
7	EveOkui Masami		A heartfelt song that resonates at summer’s end
8	If I ever meet you somedayNakae Yuri		Melancholic melodies and bittersweet memories of love
9	Dance with MemoriesYoshikawa Koji		Kōji Kikkawa’s passionate memories of a summer romance
10	I won’t forget that summerMorikawa Miho		Miho Morikawa’s classic that sings of the end of summer
11	I love the you who never gives up.Kanno Miho		A song that supports people who don't give up on their dreams
12	anemoneMOON CHILD		MOON CHILD’s summer youth song
13	Baby BabyYoshikawa Koji		Feel energized with Kōji Kikkawa's upbeat songs
14	Your freedomMurata Kazuhito		I feel freedom and strength in Kazuhito Murata’s refreshing songs.
15	vacationNORMA JEAN		A Hawaiian song that portrays a bittersweet summer journey of love
16	Dear My FriendsNagayama Miho		A song whose warm message to a friend resonates in the heart
17	Heart-Pounding Summer DaysHikaru GENJI		Expressing summer love and the brilliance of youth
18	POSTMANYoshikawa Koji		Kōji Kikkawa’s passionate rock number that kindles hope
19	SquallMatsumoto Eiko		Summer love, Eiko Matsumoto’s poignant classic
20	ENDLESS SUMMER NUDEMagokoro Burazāzu		Magokoro Brothers’ summer love song from 1997
21	HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution		T.M.Revolution's signature summer song
22	Only You ~Summer Heartbreak~Sazan Ōrusutāzu		A 1995 heartbreak ballad, a famous song by Keisuke Kuwata
23	Island SongTHE BOOM		THE BOOM’s classic song “Shima Uta,” singing the soul of Okinawa
24	Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY		The 1990s female duo Puffy’s classic summer song
25	Summer Days of 1993class		A famous song known for the summer tune “Close Your Eyes.”
26	Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro		Tatsuro Yamashita’s youth ballad 'Niji' (Rainbow)
27	Summer DayMoritaka Chisato		Singing about a summer day of Chisato Moritaka, memories of love, and feelings
28	summer festivalJITTERIN’JINN		Fleeting, bittersweet memories and music of the summer festival
29	Nagisasupittsu		Spitz’s summer song “Maboroshi no Natsu” is a masterpiece.
30	GOING GOING HOMEH Jungle with T		Summer song of H Jungle with t
31	blue carsupittsu		Spitz’s heartwarming love song, “To the Future”
32	Easy★RiderOkuda Tamio		A refreshing summer travel song by Tamio Okuda
33	Cold KissICE BOX		ICE BOX, a collaborative music unit for frozen desserts by Morinaga Confectionery
34	Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu		Introduce Southern All Stars’ classic song “Manatsu no Kajitsu” (Summer Fruit)
35	fireworksaiko		A bittersweet summer romance painted in a song of fireworks
36	Summer Colorsyuzu		Yuzu’s summer song, a classic that colors the Japanese summer
37	Midsummer MiracleTHE BOOM		A masterpiece that fuses Okinawan music and ska
38	Barefoot GoddessB’z		A summer-like rock number by B’z
39	OverDriveJUDY AND MARY		A classic JUDY AND MARY song that feels like a blue sky
40	Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu		Magokoro Brothers’ refreshing summer hit song
41	Sun’s Komachi AngelB’z		B’z’s blazing summer classic with a powerful impact!
42	Those summer fireworksDREAMS COME TRUE		90s hit songs, classic tracks that color the memories of summer
43	Open your heartZARD		The hit of the summer classic song “Makenaide”
44	SEASON of the SunAmuro Namie		Namie Amuro’s refreshing debut song
45	Summer has come!Watanabe Misato		Misato Watanabe’s summer song is passionate and refreshing.
46	Swaying feelingsZARD		The charm of “Makenaide” and Izumi Sakai’s singing voice
47	HIGH PRESSURET.M.Revolution		Introduction to Highly Rated Summer Songs by T.M.Revolution
48	July 7, sunnyDREAMS COME TRUE		A bittersweet love song, the theme for a Tanabata romance movie
49	Yes, SummerdaysGLAY		GLAY’s iconic summer anthem representing the 1990s
50	Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō		Pocari commercial song, a refreshing love song
51	I can’t wait for summerTUBE		TUBE’s summer love song
52	ForeverSorimachi Takashi with Ricchī Sanbora		Gackt Sorimachi’s classic that makes you feel the end of summer
53	Summer is comingDaikoku Maki		Maki Daikoku’s passionate singing and empathy
54	Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN		DEEN's 'Hitomi Sorasanaide' is a classic song from the '90s.
55	White kiteMy Little Lover		The classic song “My Lover” that colors summer memories
56	I love it!Hirosue Ryōko		Ryoko Hirosue’s popular songs are perfect as summer BGM.
57	Can’t Say Anything… SummerTHE JAYWALK		A moving masterpiece of 90s signature summer songs
58	Seesaw Game: A Brave Love SongMr.Children		Mr. Children 'The Summer You Were There,' a classic that colors the summer
59	Body & SoulSPEED		A dance group that made a splash with their youth at the time of their debut
60	Ah, summer vacation.TUBE		TUBE’s summer song “Ah, Summer Vacation”
61	Like when we first metEvery Little Thing		Every Little Thing's representative summer love theme song
62	suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW		Classic summer hit songs from the Being label
63	A Midsummer Night’s DreamMatsutōya Yumi		Yuming’s passionate summer song “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
64	Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARY		Many voices calling for JUDY AND MARY to reunite
65	Swaying FeelingsZARD		“Don’t Give Up” is a classic of youth, resonating in the heart
66	Jet Coaster RomanceKinKi Kids		A classic hit by KinKi Kids, a staple summer song.
67	FlowerKinKi Kids		KinKi Kids’ summer classic “Flower”
68	Sunny Day SundaySENTIMENTAL:BUS		A pop anthem that colors sports and summer
69	Let’s dance in a circle (Wasshoi)V6		V6’s signature song “Let’s Form a Circle and Dance.”
70	Sweet EmotionAikawa Nanase		Nanase Aikawa’s “Sweet Emotion” is fire.
71	The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children		An early song by the million-selling band Mr.Children
72	Summer ResolutionŌe Senri		Summer Memories and Songs of Youth
73	For the momentEvery Little Thing		ELT’s popular single “For the moment”
74	Midnight SunKubota Toshinobu		Summer song by Toshinobu Kubota: Track included on 'Neptune'
75	Love in AugustMoritaka Chisato		Chisato Moritaka’s classic song that evokes a summer farewell
76	Shiny Daykawashima daria		Daria Kawashima’s re-debut single
77	Embracing SummerTUBE		TUBE's iconic summer song, Love and Summer Memories
78	survival dAnce 〜no no cry more〜TRF		Tetsuya Komuro and TRF represent 1990s J-pop.
79	Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi		Elekashi’s classic song “Like Tonight’s Moon” resonates deeply in my heart.
80	Sparkling right in the middle, ChuPokemon Kizzu, Okido Hakase (+ Pikachu)		A nostalgic anime song that sings of summer memories
81	Midsummer SunbeamsMōningu Musume.		Summer love song, Morning Musume’s youth anthem
82	WingChinen Rina		Rina Chinen’s signature song “Wing” is refreshing.
83	Stay closest to me.Daikoku Maki		Maki Ohguro’s classic hit for summer memories
84	You’re my sunshineAmuro Namie		A dance track by Namie Amuro that colors summer love
85	countrysideTamaki Kōji		Koji Tamaki’s masterpiece “Den-en” resonates with the heart.
86	Summer Night TownMōningu Musume.		Morning Musume’s early signature song “Summer Night.”
87	Mermaid of ReminiscenceTHE YELLOW MONKEY		THE YELLOW MONKEY Summer Love Rock
88	love the islandSuzuki Ami		Early J-pop hit songs by Ami Suzuki
89	I want to become the wind.THE BOOM		A samba song of love and hope that colors the summer
90	Pure AsiaPUFFY		PUFFY's signature song, "Asia no Junshin," became a massive hit.
91	Summer Melancholy [time to say good-bye]L’Arc〜en〜Ciel		L'Arc's Summer of Depression is making headlines
92	sunflowerNagabuchi Tsuyoshi		Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s life-affirming song that resonates with the heart