A roundup of iconic J-pop autumn songs that colored the Heisei era. Let’s listen to autumn tunes that touch the heart!
Among songs that beautifully sing of the changing seasons, those themed around autumn hold a special charm.
During the Heisei era, Japan’s music scene produced many masterpieces that painted vivid autumn scenes.
From bittersweet love stories to the imagery of autumn leaf viewing, these songs express the many faces of fall through music.
In this article, we introduce classic J-POP tracks rich with autumn atmosphere, born during the roughly 30 years of the Heisei period from 1989 to 2019.
Please enjoy these moving autumn masterpieces, together with your fond memories.
- [Autumn Songs] Songs of autumn. Classic tracks and popular favorites you’ll want to listen to in the fall.
- Autumn songs that were hits in the ’90s. Classic and popular tracks in Japanese music.
- Autumn songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic fall tunes and recommended popular tracks.
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- Autumn songs that were hits in the 80s. Classic and popular tracks from Japanese music.
- Ballad songs perfect for autumn. Timeless mellow hits for the fall season.
- [2026] A collection of autumn songs for people in their 50s. Showa-era classics that bring back memories of those days
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- [Reiwa Autumn Songs] Seasonal Melodies That Resonate with the Heart | A Curated Selection of Masterpieces to Enjoy in Autumn!
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- Resonates across generations! Hit songs that colored the Heisei era, perfect as BGM
A collection of iconic J-pop autumn songs that colored the Heisei era: Listen to these heartwarming fall tunes! (21–30)
ginkgoYūsuke
Yusuke, who has produced many hit songs not only as an actor but also as a singer.
This is his third single, released in November 2009, which was used as the commercial song for Marukome’s “Liquid Miso.” Its melody, based on Johann Pachelbel’s Canon, lingers in your ears, and it’s the kind of song whose pleasant sound will likely captivate anyone who hears it.
Centered on the story of a couple in which the girlfriend has been given a terminal prognosis, the lyrics carry a gentle message of saying “thank you” instead of “I’m sorry,” conveying deep love and bonds alongside the sorrow of parting.
It’s a heartwarming love song that makes you want to revisit memories with someone special on a long autumn night.
Moonlight FlowerJanne Da Arc
A song portraying a tender, heartrending autumn romance was released in January 2005.
Its band sound and strings blend beautifully, leaving a deep impression on the heart.
It was also chosen as the opening theme for the anime Black Jack, becoming a memorable classic for many.
The lyrics, which sing of a lost love, are perfect for long autumn nights.
It’s best enjoyed in quiet moments of solitary reflection.
If you want to feel an autumn breeze in your heart, be sure to give it a listen.
Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA
It’s an exquisite love song brimming with the frustration of wanting to say “I love you” but not being able to.
Released in September 2013 as AAA’s 38th single, it was also included on the album Eighth Wonder.
The poignant melody, echoing the early autumn rainy skies, blends with the members’ emotionally rich vocals, and the swelling feelings press upon your heart.
It won the Excellence Award at the 55th Japan Record Awards.
Praised as a remedy for love, this track is perfect for listening on long autumn nights, lost in thought.
BACK TO YOUAMBIENCE
A ballad by AMBIENCE, who were active in the rock scene of the ’90s, perfectly suited to the autumn air.
Its wistful yet beautiful melody evokes images of fallen leaves dancing in the wind and cityscapes, leaving a deep impression.
Through Hiroshi Kitagawa’s heartrending vocals, the protagonist’s emotions—savoring the weight of a lost love—are powerfully conveyed.
This track is included on AMBIENCE, released in December 1993.
On a slightly chilly night, be sure to give it a careful listen.
A Colorful WorldJUDY AND MARY
A quintessential autumn ballad by JUDY AND MARY, a rock band that defined the ’90s.
Released as a single from the acclaimed 1998 album “POP LIFE” in September of that year, it peaked at No.
11 on the Oricon charts.
Its heartrending, tear-jerking melody and YUKI’s expressive vocals perfectly mirror the autumn scenery of turning leaves and swirling foliage.
When you’re in a sentimental mood, this song is sure to keep you company.
loverSHAZNA
A poignant love song by SHAZNA, an indispensable presence when talking about the visual kei scene of the ’90s.
Released as a single in October 1998, the track was featured in a JT “Foaming Café au Lait” commercial and used as a TV program ending theme.
It was also included on the album Pure Hearts.
As the seasons shift from autumn to winter, the feelings one holds for a loved one… that fleeting emotion tightens around the heart.
Listening to it in this season when we long for connection may deepen your feelings for someone special even more.
Shonan SeptemberSazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars are often associated with summer, but they also have plenty of masterpieces perfect for autumn listening.
This track is a bittersweet, AOR-style ballad set in Shonan.
Included on the album “Sakura,” released in October 1998, its distinctly ’90s sound stirs a sense of nostalgia.
The lyrics depict memories of a bygone love—not just a beautiful recollection, but an honest portrayal of desires and humiliation, which makes it all the more poignant.
It’s the perfect number for those moments when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood by the seaside, with the clamor of summer fading into the distance.