A coming-of-age song that was a hit in the ’90s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
“SAY YES,” “Tomorrow never knows,” and “Nani mo Ienakute… Natsu”—
The youth songs of the ’90s hold treasured memories hidden in everyone’s heart.
The bittersweet love of CHAGE and ASKA, the hope for the future from Mr.Children, the summertime melancholy of THE JAYWALK.
It’s as if we’ve boarded a time machine, and those shining memories of back then come flooding back.
Shall we look back on that page of youth engraved in our hearts, together with those nostalgic songs?
Ah.
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- An anthem for your 30s. Beloved and popular songs that are both heart-pumping and heart-fluttering.
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
- Coming-of-age songs for your 50s: heart-thumping × heartwarming classics and popular tracks [2026]
- [Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics.
- Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories.
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- [Hit Songs of the 1990s] The Best Uplifting J-Pop Hits!
- A youth song with great lyrics. A lovely message that stays with your heart.
- [J-Rock] Timeless masterpieces that colored the 1990s. Nostalgic hit songs.
- Relive those feelings from back in the day! Youth anthems recommended for the Yutori generation
Coming-of-age songs that were hits in the ’90s: Classic and popular Japanese tracks (11–20)
School HeavenKoizumi Kyoko
This is a song themed around youth and student life.
It kicks off with high-energy chants that bring back the excitement of our school days.
Wanting the goddess of fate to turn her gaze toward you—didn’t we all feel that way at some point?
DEPARTURESglobe
A love song that defined the ’90s, where a heart-stirringly beautiful melody and gentle vocals resonate deep in your chest.
Through the faint hopes and anxieties born from sharing the same days, and the eventual parting and new beginnings, this single—released in February 1996—lovingly captures the memories the two protagonists walked together.
Its familiar dance tune and bittersweet romantic feelings lead you into a breathtakingly dramatic progression.
Featured in JR East’s ski campaign “JR ski ski,” it was etched into many people’s hearts alongside the striking visuals of Yutaka Takenouchi and Makiko Esumi.
An eternal classic from globe, dedicated to everyone setting out on a new path.
The Reason We Set Out on a JourneyOzawa Kenji
When those dazzling horns ring out in the intro, your heart starts to race and you feel a touch of bittersweetness, don’t you? The lyrics, sprinkled with words like “Tokyo Tower” and “airport,” are full of a tenderness that seems to affirm even the loneliness of parting.
Included on the classic 1994 album LIFE and later released as a single in 1996 as the theme song for the drama Shota no Sushi, this track also features a memorable phrase borrowed from a Paul Simon song, and it continues to be loved as a signature Shibuya-kei anthem.
It’s perfect for listening while thinking of friends or lovers far away, and it’s sure to give a fresh, gentle push to anyone setting off on a spring journey!
Nameless PoemMr.Children
Mr.Children, a four-piece rock band emblematic of the 1990s music scene.
Their 1996 release “Namonaki Uta” was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Pure.” With its vivid melodic line, it’s the kind of song that makes you want to hum along.
The guitar’s distinctive strumming and the vocals of Kazutoshi Sakurai are also captivating.
Above all, what is indispensable when discussing this song is its philosophical lyrics, filled with phrases to cherish in life.
Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
A signature song by The Elephant Kashimashi, it sublimates the wavering emotions between everyday emptiness and hope with striking beauty.
The dramatic melody and Hiroji Miyamoto’s wholehearted vocals sink deeply into the listener’s heart.
Released by Pony Canyon in July 1997, the track was used as the theme song for the drama “Because the Moon Shines at Night.” It became the band’s first entry into the Oricon weekly Top 10 and a major hit, selling a total of around 800,000 copies.
When you’re worn out by relationships or work, listening to this song lets you feel the presence of someone who struggles just like you, yet still tries to face forward and live on.
Like gentle moonlight, it’s a song that stays close to your heart.
Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki
This piece is distinguished by a warm melody that gently embraces the feelings of those who have left their hometowns.
In this song, Noriyuki Makihara weaves his thoughts for friends far away, portraying the universal desire to stay connected despite the distance, and it tenderly resonates with listeners.
It was included on the June 1992 album “Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono” and later drew renewed attention when it was used in a 2006 NTT East Japan commercial.
The song expresses the wish to have people back home see how one is striving in a new place, while celebrating the importance of unchanging bonds amid personal change.
It is sure to strike a deep chord with those starting a new chapter in life or those who have experienced being separated from dear friends.
Coming-of-age songs that were hits in the 90s. Classic and popular J-pop tracks (21–30)
Like a white cloudsaruganseki
A gemlike ballad that beautifully captures the feelings of a traveler gazing at distant clouds.
Anxieties and hopes about an unseen future are conveyed through a delicate melody.
The poetic worldview, likening a freely moving figure in the wind to white clouds, resonated with many.
Released as Saruganseki’s debut in December 1996, the song ultimately became a million-seller with 1.131 million copies.
It was also used as the image song for Kadokawa Shoten’s World Walker and as the theme song for the film I Want to Play All My Life.
It’s a track that gently gives you a push as you try to take a new step forward.