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.
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- 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)
What I can do for youGACKT
Singer-songwriter GACKT captivates many fans with his unique musical style and charisma, and is also active as an actor.
His eighth single, chosen as the ending theme for TBS’s music program “COUNT DOWN TV,” was released on White Day, March 14, 2001—a ballad filled with love for his fans.
Its warm lyrics, like drawing close to someone dear in sorrow and gently holding their hand, tenderly embrace the listener’s heart.
It’s a classic of the Heisei era that we hope you’ll listen to when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone important.
Mini Moni. Janken Pyon!Minimoni.
The debut single from Mini Moni, a unit from Hello! Project, released in January 2001.
It topped the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks and became a major hit, ranking 15th on the year-end chart.
The song was featured on numerous TV programs, including TV Tokyo’s “Oha Suta,” and was later included on the album “Mini Moni Song Daijiten Vol.
1,” making it a track that thrilled children at the time.
Most notably, it was produced by Tsunku♂, with unique lyrics themed around rock-paper-scissors and a friendly, easy-to-follow dance routine—an irresistibly fun song you can enjoy without overthinking.
Heisei Song Roundup: Classic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s (31–40)
I’m here saying nothingYaita Hitomi
Singer-songwriter Hitomi Yaida, affectionately known as “Yaiko,” scored a string of hits right after her debut.
This work, her third major-label single released in January 2001, peaked at No.
4 on the Oricon chart and was selected as a Power Play on the music program AX MUSIC-FACTORY.
Its sound, which fuses acoustic guitar with Irish trad, carries a nostalgic yet fresh resonance.
It’s also known for being covered by Swedish singer Meja—a timeless song you’ll want to listen to alone on a wistful night.
save your dreamKahara Tomomi
Tomomi Kahala, who helped define an era in the ’90s under the production of Tetsuya Komuro, is renowned for her clear, soaring high notes and earnest expressiveness.
Released in October 1996, this song became her first to top the Oricon Singles Chart—a true milestone.
It was also featured in a commercial for Lotte’s Sasa chocolate, and many people likely remember it alongside its stylish visuals.
The lyrics, which weave in English, convey a strong determination to protect one’s dreams.
It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to fire yourself up.
Give it a listen and relive the brilliance of those days.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
Speaking of Yo Hitoto’s signature songs, this is the one known as a classic that represents the Heisei era.
It was released in February 2004 and was also used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Tuesday Suspense Theater.” The fact that it was written in the wake of the September 11 attacks adds to the song’s profound meaning.
Yo Hitoto’s clear, pure voice and the lyrics imbued with a wish for peace resonate deeply.
As a ballad that sings of feelings for a loved one, it remains cherished by many to this day.
It’s especially recommended listening for the season when you can feel spring’s arrival.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu
This song, which evokes the arrival of spring, is a masterpiece ballad that artfully sings of the sweet, heartrending memories of a lost love.
Masaharu Fukuyama’s warm vocals stir the hearts of listeners.
Released in April 2000, it was chosen as the theme song for the TBS variety show “Uunnan no Hontoko! Mirai Nikki V.” In its first week, it sold over 750,000 copies, leading the music scene that year.
With lyrics that deeply move the listener while depicting cherry blossoms scattering, its charm is unmistakable.
The secret to its cross-generational appeal lies in its ability to stay close to the listener’s heart.
Be sure to give it a listen while taking in the scenery of spring.
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
The debut single by singer-songwriter Yo Hitoto, who has a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother and continued making music in an a cappella club while attending Keio University.
Released in October 2002, the song reached No.
4 on the Oricon charts without a major tie-in and became a long-running hit, staying on the chart for 70 weeks.
The lyrics, which depict how a friend’s tears set off a chain reaction of emotions, are said to have been inspired by a heartbreak she experienced during her university years.
The striking chorus was crafted so that it can be sung universally using only vowels, creating a unique world where an Oriental, R&B-tinged arrangement and her resilient, powerful vocals blend exquisitely.
In 2003, the song earned her the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and her first appearance on the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, making it the track that defined her career as an artist.