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 Roundup: Classic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s (31–40)
Peach-Colored Unrequited LoveMatsuura Aya
Released in February 2002 as Aya Matsuura’s fifth single, this song was featured in Shiseido’s “Tissera Mune-Kyun Peach” commercial, which also drew attention for Matsuura’s own appearance.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, sold over 220,000 copies, and was included on the album T.W.O.
The lyrics liken the flutter of unrequited love to a peach-pink hue, and the bouncy melody that kicks off with a shouted call is instantly memorable—just listening to it lifts your spirits.
It’s the perfect track for getting hyped at karaoke with friends after school or for those heart-pounding moments when you’re nursing a crush.
Chocolate DiscoPerfume
This song, with its shimmering synth sound and catchy, repetitive phrases, is included on the single “Fan Service [sweet],” released in February 2007.
It’s a poppy electro track that delivers a Valentine’s Day confession of love, lightly portraying the inner worlds of a calculating girl and an expectant boy.
The refined production by Yasutaka Nakata and the three members’ clear, transparent vocals make for an exceptionally pleasing combination.
It was featured in commercials for Toyota and for sweets, and today it’s cherished every year as a Valentine’s Day staple.
Sing it at karaoke with friends and you’re sure to get the crowd going—dance moves included.
It’s the perfect song for when you want to recall those sweet-and-sour feelings or lift your spirits.
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
Centered around Keisuke Kuwata, who also enjoys success as a solo artist, Southern All Stars is a five-member rock band that has remained at the forefront of the J-pop scene.
Their 44th single, chosen as the theme song for the popular segment “Mirai Nikki III” on the variety show “UHNAN no Hontoko!,” was released in January 2000 and became a major hit.
The lyrics, which liken the sorrow of heartbreak to a tsunami, vividly capture the surging waves of emotion.
With a gentle, piano-led melody and richly expansive strings, it’s a timeless masterpiece that resonates deeply with the heart.
StoryAI
Singer-songwriter AI, born in Los Angeles, captivates audiences with a powerful voice honed through gospel.
The lead single from her May 2005 album “Mic-a-holic Ai” is known as an enduring masterpiece of a ballad that brought her name to widespread recognition.
Opening with beautiful piano tones, the song gently stays close to the listener’s heart and delivers a strong message that you are not alone.
Its outstanding lyrics spread into households through radio and other media, and in 2014 it drew renewed attention when it was selected as the Japanese ending theme for the film Big Hero 6.
It’s a defining song of the 2000s that helps us reaffirm our bonds with the people we cherish.
LOVE〜Destiny〜Hamasaki Ayumi
Ayumi Hamasaki, who enjoyed immense popularity in the 1990s as a style icon for junior and senior high school girls and dominated the J-pop scene as the Heisei era’s songstress.
Her seventh single, released in April 1999, was a milestone that earned her first No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It was also featured as an insert song in the Fuji TV drama “Semi-Double.” Written by Ayumi Hamasaki and composed by Tsunku♂, this ballad portrays the helpless, heartrending feelings of two people drawn together by fate.
Her emotionally rich vocals, carried by a beautiful piano melody, deeply move the hearts of listeners.
Heisei Song Roundup: Timeless Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s (41–50)
Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze
This is one of Shonan no Kaze’s signature love songs, a heartfelt tale of a clumsy man’s unwavering devotion that really hits home.
Many people may have discovered them through this track.
From the everyday happiness of being moved by a lover’s home-cooked meal, to the small misunderstandings that create distance, and finally to the raw realization of one’s own immaturity and the renewed appreciation of the person who matters—this straightforward story resonates deeply.
Released in March 2006 as their fifth single, it achieved an astonishing 25 consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Oricon karaoke chart.
Blending reggae’s fiery energy with a catchy pop melody, the song is perfect both as a dedication to someone special at a wedding and for belting out with friends at karaoke.
A Little Love SongMONGOL800
This song is by MONGOL800, a three-piece rock band from Okinawa Prefecture, and is included on their album “MESSAGE,” released in September 2001.
The lyrics, written in straightforward words that convey pure feelings for a loved one, sing of the significance of someone right by your side and the resolve to keep loving unchanged even in difficult times.
Its exhilarating melody and powerful vocals vividly capture the bittersweetness and hope of youth.
Despite not being released as a single, it held the No.
2 spot on the Oricon karaoke chart for 14 consecutive weeks and has become a karaoke staple.
It has also been widely used across media, including as the ending theme for the TV anime “Teasing Master Takagi-san.” In 2019, a film inspired by this song was released, drawing renewed attention.
It’s a rock tune recommended not only for those in love, but also for anyone who wants to reaffirm their bond with someone important.