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: Timeless Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s (41–50)
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
A signature song by Fujifabric that captures the fleeting feel of summer’s end.
Released in November 2007 as their 10th single, it was included on the album TEENAGER.
Inspired by the fireworks at Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi, the hometown of Masahiko Shimura, the lyrics portray the confusion that comes with changes in oneself and one’s surroundings as the seasons turn.
In 2013 it was featured as an insert song in the drama SUMMER NUDE, and in 2018 it was used in a commercial, becoming a classic that remains in many people’s hearts.
With poignant lyrics and a melody that sinks into your chest, it’s the perfect track for looking back on your youth.
cherry blossomMoriyama Naotaro
This is one of Naotaro Moriyama’s signature songs, which likens cherry blossoms—blooming in splendor with the arrival of spring and eventually falling—to farewells and new beginnings in life.
Released as a single in 2003, it was used as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS program “Sekai Ururun Taizaki.” The lyrics depict scenes of friends promising to meet again along a road lined with cherry trees, and saying their goodbyes while accepting the fleeting fate of petals falling, yet holding steadfast to unchanging feelings.
It is a timeless piece that we hope those facing life’s milestones—such as graduation or job transfers—will listen to.
The warm arrangement of piano and strings, together with Moriyama’s clear vocals, resonates deeply with listeners.
ALL MY TRUE LOVESPEED
This is SPEED’s eighth single, which was chosen as the theme song for the 1998 FIVB Volleyball World Championship.
Many listeners at the time likely felt their hearts race with its powerful vocals and energetic sound.
Released in October 1998, the single topped the Oricon Weekly Chart for two consecutive weeks.
With lyrics that sing of unwavering, straightforward love, the song can be heard not only as an anthem for athletes striving for victory, but also as encouragement for anyone devoted to love or pursuing their dreams.
When you’re giving something your all or want to lift up someone important to you, listening to it is sure to give you a push forward!
Close your eyesHirai Ken
Singer-songwriter Ken Hirai captivates listeners with his deep, resonant voice.
This work poignantly yet purely sings of love—bearing the sense of loss after losing a loved one, yet being able to meet them in your heart whenever you close your eyes.
The lingering traces of absence in everyday life intersect with warm memories of the past, evoking a tightness in the chest.
Released in April 2004 as his 20th single, the song was written as the theme for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World” and became a million-selling smash hit.
It is a gem of a ballad that stirs the heart—perfect for nights when you want to immerse yourself in memories of someone precious or quietly let the tears fall.
cherry blossomKetsumeishi
Throughout the history of J-POP, many artists have released songs themed around “sakura,” and this work, released by Ketsumeishi in February 2005, is one of the most iconic.
Although they are a hip-hop group, their style—blending catchy, singable melodies with emotionally resonant rap—won support from a wide audience.
The lyrics depict memories of a lover who is no longer here, evoked by the sight of cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind.
Even though the scenery remains unchanged, the absence of a loved one creates a sense of loss that tightens the listener’s chest.
Despite having no tie-in, this massive hit sold about 210,000 copies in its first week, and its drama-style music video starring Masato Hagiwara and Emi Suzuki further deepens the song’s world.
It’s also perfect as a BGM for a spring drive when you’re feeling a bit nostalgic about the past.
Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose
This is the debut single by singer Chitose Hajime, who is also known as a uta-sha—a bearer of the traditional music of the Amami Islands.
With lyrics that tell the story of “a woman who, in loving someone so deeply, becomes a flower,” and an arrangement that strongly reflects the atmosphere of folk music, the song sent shockwaves through the J-pop scene at the time.
Released in February 2002, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts about two months after its debut.
The distinctive melodic inflections characteristic of Amami folk music and her mystical voice evoke the timeless melodies passed down in Japan since ancient times.
It is a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece, perfect for immersing yourself in the grandeur of nature and the world of myth.
Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu
Released in 1990, this was B.B.
Queens’ debut single that sparked a massive craze.
As the ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan, it played in households across Japan and became a national hit that everyone—from kids to adults—could sing and dance to.
It also drew attention for having lyrics written by the original creator, Momoko Sakura.
In fact, the group was a masked super-unit planned by Being, packed with top-tier talent; the outstanding performances by artists like Fusanosuke Kondo and Yuko Tsubokura underpin the irresistibly upbeat sound.
Its mysterious, whimsical phrases stick in your head after just one listen.
The moment you hear the intro, the excitement of those days comes rushing back—a song that truly defines its era.