Heisei Song Collection: Iconic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s
During the Heisei era, which lasted from 1989 to 2019, many CDs achieved million-selling hits.
In addition to songs that became such huge hits they could be called social phenomena at the time, there are also many tracks that remain perennial favorites to this day.
In this article, we’ll introduce carefully selected Heisei songs, focusing mainly on J-pop from the 1990s to the 2000s.
These are timeless masterpieces, so please take your time and listen to each one.
We hope this brings back fond memories for adults, and that younger readers will use this as a gateway to discover other classic hits from the Heisei era.
- Heisei-era masterpieces. Hit songs that represent the Heisei period.
- Emotional songs from the Heisei era. Nostalgic tracks that really hit you.
- 2000s: A Collection of Hit Karaoke Classics
- All big hits! A roundup of classic J‑Pop songs that were popular in 2000
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the Heisei era: Let’s look back at iconic songs from the 1990s and 2000s.
- Heisei-era masterpieces: Easy to sing! Carefully selected songs recommended for karaoke choices!
- Resonates across generations! Hit songs that colored the Heisei era, perfect as BGM
- Cool songs of the Heisei era. Hit tracks that energized the times.
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
- Nothing but iconic hits that defined an era! 2000s classics popular on TikTok
- Songs from the Heisei retro era that will get any generation excited! Timeless tracks you’ll want to listen to now.
- Healing songs from the Heisei era that soothe daily fatigue and stress
- A Must-See for the Heisei Generation: Nostalgic Songs That Were Popular in the Heisei Era
Heisei Song Collection: Famous Tracks That Colored the 1990s to 2000s (61–70)
Until the World Ends…WANDS
This is a song by WANDS, a rock band that represents the Being label, used as the ending theme for the anime SLAM DUNK.
The worldview of the work and the lyrics overlap exquisitely, gripping the hearts of fans at the time.
The loneliness and impatience felt in the middle of the city, and the earnest wish to not be separated “until the world ends.” Sho Uesugi’s vocals—like a cry from the soul, with lyrics he penned himself—ride on Tetsuro Oda’s dramatic melody and pierce deep into the heart.
Anyone who has carried emotions with no outlet yet still wished to believe in something will find this song profoundly moving.
A legendary track that continues to shine across generations.
Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho & WANDS
This is a legendary duet song by Miho Nakayama & WANDS, also known as the theme song of a drama that became a major hit starring Miho Nakayama.
Produced by Being and composed by Tetsuro Oda, it was created by a lineup that epitomized the 1990s music scene.
The earnest lyrics about believing in a fateful reunion are deeply moving.
Many listeners were surely captivated by the interplay between Miho Nakayama’s clear, crystalline vocals and WANDS’ Sho Uesugi’s passionate singing.
The chorus, where their voices intertwine, brims with the exhilaration of a miraculous moment.
It’s a timeless, gem-like love song.
Liar! Liar!B’z
This track seizes listeners’ hearts with its overwhelming guitar riffs and high-velocity sound.
Tak Matsumoto’s razor-sharp guitar work and Koshi Inaba’s powerful vocals blend beautifully, and the lyrics—offering a keen perspective on society—are equally compelling.
Released in October 1997 as the lead single from B’z’s ninth album, “SURVIVE,” it reached No.
1 on Oricon’s monthly chart.
It was also featured as the CM song for Perfect TV!’s “MUSIC FREAK TV” and served as the official theme for the NHL’s 1997 Japan Opening Series.
With its aggressive sound and strong message, this song is perfect for moments when you want to fire yourself up or stay true to your convictions.
Soulmatesupittsu
A gem of a song whose delicate lyricism finds meaning in the small moments of everyday life, paired with a universal message that questions the nature of love in modern society.
Released as a single in November 1997, it is known as a work that symbolizes Spitz’s musical evolution.
The striking sound—where the warmth of acoustic guitar harmonizes with new approaches like breakbeats—reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It also drew attention as the theme song for the 1999 film “Whisper of the Moonlight.” Highly recommended for those who want to listen alone on a calm night, or for anyone seeking emotional support at a crossroads in life.
FACEglobe
A gem of a dance-pop tune that fuses Tetsuya Komuro’s exceptional production with KEIKO’s richly expressive vocals.
Released as a single from avex globe in January 1997, its sophisticated sound—woven from electronic rhythms and memorable melodies—captures the heart.
Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Kanojo-tachi no Kekkon” and as the CM song for NTT’s “Multi-Net Fair,” it debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Long cherished as one of globe’s signature tracks, it was also included on the album “FACES PLACES,” selling over 3 million copies.
Its dramatic progression and groovy sound make it perfect for heart-lifting moments or reminiscing about times with someone special.
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki
Like music flowing from a nostalgic radio, a timeless song that seeps into the heart along with memories was created by Hideaki Tokunaga in July 1990.
The track, which overlays the feelings of a boy transitioning from adolescence to adulthood with the image of a broken radio, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Tokai no Mori” (“Urban Forest”) and reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Featuring a grand arrangement by Ichizo Seo and beautifully harmonized with Tokunaga’s delicate vocals, the song artfully blends elements of pop and ballad into a moving piece.
It was also included on the album “JUSTICE” and performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009.
Conveying the transience and passion of youth, as well as a yearning for self-renewal, this work gently embraces the emotional fluctuations everyone experiences while growing up—a resonant song that speaks to the heart.
Island SongTHE BOOM
The BOOM’s classic, which opens with the wistful tones of a sanshin, is a gem of a ballad imbued with the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa and a fervent wish for peace.
On the surface it appears to be a love song about a parting between a man and a woman, yet it was born from Kazufumi Miyazawa’s 1991 visit to the Himeyuri Peace Museum in Okinawa.
Its distinctive sound blends a base in the Ryukyuan scale with elements of contemporary music.
The track was included on the January 1992 album Adolescence and released as a standalone single the following year.
It was featured in a commercial song for Mizuho Distillery’s Ryukyu Awamori Xi.
In 2001, a cover by an Argentine artist became a major hit locally, and the international response was so great that it was even used as a supporters’ chant during the 2002 Japan–Korea World Cup.
It’s a song I particularly recommend for quiet, solitary evenings, as well as to younger listeners who want to experience the diversity of Japanese music.