RAG MusicEmotion
A wonderful, moving song

Emotional songs from the Heisei era. Nostalgic tracks that really hit you.

We’re introducing some emo songs from the Heisei era that feel a bit nostalgic and hit you right in the feels!

The word “emo” has gone beyond the realm of music and come to be used for expressing all kinds of emotions.

Since its boom around 2018—right before the Reiwa era—some people might associate emo songs with the chill vibe of that time.

Here, we’ve picked out tracks released during the Heisei era that carry that emo feel.

We’re featuring songs that saw a revival through social media, tunes that bring back youthful memories, and tracks that wrap you in a sentimental mood.

Be sure to find the songs that match your own sense of “emo.”

Playlist

Emotional songs from the Heisei era. Nostalgic tracks that really hit you.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastSayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOG
Sayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOGplay_arrow
A Heisei-era classic that portrays new beginnings and farewells...
2eastAll of the YouthFujifaburikku
All of the YouthFujifaburikkuplay_arrow
A lyrical story so vivid you can see the scenes unfold…
3eastFirst LoveUtada Hikaru
First LoveUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada’s 1st album “Fir…
4north_eastSolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATIONplay_arrow
The theme song of the film “Solanin,” based on a popular manga…
5south_eastSummer GateSato Chiaki
Summer GateSato Chiakiplay_arrow
Kinoko Teikoku, who announced a hiatus in 2019...
6eastKissORIGINAL LOVE
KissORIGINAL LOVEplay_arrow
An ultra-rich love song, ‘Kiss.’ The cur…
7eastRobinsonsupittsu
Robinsonsupittsuplay_arrow
Spitz’s emo tunes loved by a wide range of generations…
8north_eastWish feat. YU-A (Foxxi misQ)Dōji-T
Wish feat. YU-A (Foxxi misQ)Dōji-Tplay_arrow
Child ... who is active as a hip-hop artist…
9south_eastLove Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasaplay_arrow
Long cherished as a quintessential Heisei-era ballad masterpiece…
10eastTonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji feat. Suchadarapaa
Tonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji feat. Suchadarapaaplay_arrow
The collaboration between Kenji Ozawa and Scha Dara Parr is abo…
11eastTokyokururi
Tokyokururiplay_arrow
Water that evokes the wave of people moving to Tokyo in the early Heisei era...
12eastAliensKirinji
AliensKirinjiplay_arrow
A love that likens two people falling in love to aliens…
13east5%kuriipuhaipe
5%kuriipuhaipeplay_arrow
The frustration of not being able to convey my feelings well to the person I like…
14eastSee you againSEAMO
See you againSEAMOplay_arrow
The sight of the two parting with smiles is just too heartbreaking! Reviews…
15eastfragileEvery Little Thing
fragileEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
The poignancy of love and the warmth of human relationships
16north_eastSee you tomorrow.Every Little Thing
See you tomorrow.Every Little Thingplay_arrow
A gentle love song played on an acoustic guitar
17south_eastlove letterEvery Little Thing
love letterEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
A timeless masterpiece: a gentle ballad that soothes the heart
18eastCircus NightNanao Tabito
Circus NightNanao Tabitoplay_arrow
A warm, soft sound that evokes nostalgia...
19eastfilmHoshino Gen
filmHoshino Genplay_arrow
A kind of unadorned simplicity that seems to gently snuggle up to you...
20eastSong of LoveEvery Little Thing
Song of LoveEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
A ballad with a gentle melody that resonates in the heart
21eastSeventh Avenue of EmotionsFurawā Kanpanīzu
Seventh Avenue of EmotionsFurawā Kanpanīzuplay_arrow
Since their formation in 1989, not a single disbandment to this day…
22eastFar, far awayMakihara Noriyuki
Far, far awayMakihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Gain courage from Noriyuki Makihara's graduation song
23eastPrecious thingsroodo obu mejyaa
Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaaplay_arrow
A classic rock band song that portrays the passion and bonds of youth
24eastMagic of a Summer Nightindigo la End
Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la Endplay_arrow
Also known as a member of Gesu no Kiwami Otome…
25eastI’m glad I met you.Koizumi Kyoko
I'm glad I met you.Koizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
Kyoko’s Heartwarming Song to Her Father
26eastHIT NUMBER – EVISBEATS and PUNCH REMIXokamoto emi
HIT NUMBER - EVISBEATS and PUNCH REMIXokamoto emiplay_arrow
He is also active as a member of Friends and Kagaku Tokusoutai...
27eastPRIDEImai Miki
PRIDEImai Mikiplay_arrow
Miki Imai’s ballad of love and independence
28eastLOOPSIRUP
LOOPSIRUPplay_arrow
The singer gaining attention with a number of sophisticated tracks…
29eastA Lonely ToothbrushSakuraba Yuuichirou
A Lonely ToothbrushSakuraba Yuuichirouplay_arrow
Tomoya Nagase’s poignant heartbreak song: feelings imbued in a toothbrush
30eastNo way to sayHamasaki Ayumi
No way to sayHamasaki Ayumiplay_arrow
Ayumi Hamasaki’s 31st single
31eastNagisasupittsu
Nagisasupittsuplay_arrow
A poignant classic that colors the end of summer
32eastDearestHamasaki Ayumi
DearestHamasaki Ayumiplay_arrow
The appeal of Ayumi Hamasaki’s classic song “Seasons”
33eastNight of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku
Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikokuplay_arrow
The poignant autumn song by Kinoko Teikoku resonates in the heart.
34eastSAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru
SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada “Sakura Drops”
35eastBlue BenchSasuke
Blue BenchSasukeplay_arrow
A moving work about heartbreak and songs of memories, touching generations
36eastIf you are with meKahara Tomomi
If you are with meKahara Tomomiplay_arrow
Tomomi Kahala’s moving ballad: the presence of someone precious
37eastBaby, I love youTEE
Baby, I love youTEEplay_arrow
A sincere love song, a heart-touching ballad
38eastHeroineback number
Heroineback numberplay_arrow
A bittersweet winter romance that portrays the sorrow of unrequited love
39eastMarch 9Remioromen
March 9Remioromenplay_arrow
A graduation song beloved by the Yutori generation
40eastbudKobukuro
budKobukuroplay_arrow
A song of feelings for a precious person and hope for the future
41eastChronostasiskinoko teikoku
Chronostasiskinoko teikokuplay_arrow
A heartwarming song for lovers walking through the city at night
42eastHappy endingOhtaki Eiichi
Happy endingOhtaki Eiichiplay_arrow
Eiichi Ohtaki’s first love song in 12 years. A major hit with 970,000 copies sold.
43eastcherry blossomKetsumeishi
cherry blossomKetsumeishiplay_arrow
A poignant masterpiece themed around cherry blossoms, depicting memory and a sense of loss
44eastWhen you’re by my sideKahara Tomomi
When you're by my sideKahara Tomomiplay_arrow
A grand love ballad, a song of gratitude and love
45eastKanadeSukima Suichi
KanadeSukima Suichiplay_arrow
Sukima Switch’s poignant signature ballad
46north_eastBlown by the windElefanto Kashimashi
Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
A classic song depicting a youthful farewell and a new journey
47north_eastThe summer you gave meieiri reo
The summer you gave meieiri reoplay_arrow
A wistful summer love song: Lea Ieiri's timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart
48north_eastI’ll be by your side.Aoyama Teruma ft. SoulJa
I'll be by your side.Aoyama Teruma ft. SoulJaplay_arrow
A classic by Thelma Aoyama that captures the loneliness of a long-distance relationship.
49south_eastNight Sky (feat. HAZZY)miwa
Night Sky (feat. HAZZY)miwaplay_arrow
A poignant collaborative ballad of love and farewell
50eastFeel My HeartEvery Little Thing
Feel My HeartEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
A song that gives you the courage to live honestly
51eastcherrysupittsu
cherrysupittsuplay_arrow
The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth
52eastcream sodaSUPERCAR
cream sodaSUPERCARplay_arrow
Feelings wavering between youth and reality
53eastNonfictionHirai Ken
NonfictionHirai Kenplay_arrow
A moving ballad born from a friend's death
54eastSwaying FeelingsZARD
Swaying FeelingsZARDplay_arrow
“Don’t Give Up” is a classic of youth, resonating in the heart
55eastI want to hug you.Mr.Children
I want to hug you.Mr.Childrenplay_arrow
A gem-like love ballad by Mr.Children
56eastLetter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoiplay_arrow
A gentle ballad that evokes Aoi Teshima’s hometown
57eastTo the futureKiroro
To the futureKiroroplay_arrow
A moving song depicting the love and hope of a mother and child