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: Masterpieces that colored the ’90s and 2000s (21–30)
Feeling great!!mihimaru GT
When you just want to get pumped up for the night, this dance tune is essential! It’s the signature track by the male-female duo mihimaru GT, released in May 2006 as their ninth single.
It was featured in the commercial for Dariya’s “Palty” and as the ending theme for the variety show “Skibara,” becoming a huge hit especially among Heisei-era gals.
The lively beat, rapid-fire rap, and soaring vocals make you forget your everyday frustrations in an instant.
Even if every day isn’t perfect, letting yourself sink into the sound will lift your spirits.
It’s the perfect anthem for those times you want to cut loose with friends on a drive or at karaoke, no explanations needed.
ButterflyKōda Kumi
A dance number sung by Kumi Koda that expresses the strength and beauty of women.
Like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis and soaring into the sky, the lyrics capture the joy of setting yourself free and living openly.
The sultry vocals and Latin-infused sound make you feel like you’ve become a confident, irresistible woman just by listening.
Released as a single in June 2005, it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama Ai no Gekijo: “Cosme no Mahou 2.” It won the Japan Record Award the same year and became a classic that also contributed to the massive success of her best-of album BEST ~first things~.
Seesaw Game ~A Brave Love Song~Mr.Children
One of Mr.Children’s signature songs, it features an upbeat, breezy rock sound sprinkled throughout with homages to Elvis Costello, whom Kazutoshi Sakurai greatly admires.
The lyrics, which liken the push-and-pull and frustration of romance to a seesaw’s sway, probe human nature while retaining a touch of comedy, and just listening to it naturally lifts your spirits.
Released in August 1995, it achieved an astonishing total sales figure of 1.812 million copies despite having no tie-in.
It is also known that the proceeds from this single were donated as relief funds for the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
Paradoxw-inds.
w-inds.
is a dance-vocal unit that made a striking debut in the early 2000s.
This early signature track is a dance number that fuses a four-on-the-floor beat with a wistful melody.
The lyrics, depicting missed connections and inner contradictions, reflect the honest emotions of teenagers and resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in October 2001 as their third single, the song’s success earned them the Best New Artist Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to immerse themselves once again in the world of Heisei-era hit songs.
DearestHamasaki Ayumi
A singer-songwriter who reigned at the pinnacle of the J-POP scene as a “charismatic icon for high school girls,” Ayumi Hamasaki released her 24th single in September 2001.
Widely beloved as the ending theme for the TV anime Inuyasha and as a song for Tu-Ka commercials, it is a renowned ballad that won the 43rd Japan Record Award.
Set to a grand melody woven by piano and strings, the lyrics convey a heartfelt resolve to accept parting and loss while continuing to wish for the other person’s happiness.
It’s a gem of a number you’ll want to listen to while thinking of someone dear, as the season begins to carry a hint of winter.
FlowerORANGE RANGE
Released in 2004 as the theme song for the film “Be With You,” this track became one of ORANGE RANGE’s signature songs.
Its lyrics, which reflect on the transience and beauty of life and the preciousness of love, are memorable, and the song is marked by a catchy melody that anyone can hum along to.
Though gentle in tone, it has a powerful ability to resonate deeply with listeners.
It has been cherished across generations, even topping the Oricon Karaoke Chart for 42 consecutive weeks.
It’s a song that stays close to your memories with loved ones and to the turning points in life.
Why not take a relaxed listen while savoring the lyrics that truly touch the heart?
【es】～Theme of es～Mr.Children
A majestic rock ballad that portrays the inherent frailty, desires, and conflicting emotions of humanity, posing profound questions to the listener’s heart.
The lyrics, which sing of the resolve to survive in an unpredictable era while carrying unresolved feelings within, are quintessential Kazutoshi Sakurai.
Released as a single in May 1995, it was used as the theme song for the band’s documentary film “[es] Mr.Children in FILM.” Its weighty message—said to have been influenced by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake—has not faded with time.
It’s a masterpiece to listen to slowly on nights when you feel anxious or lost and want to face yourself.