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)
Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō
Many people probably still vividly remember it from the refreshing visuals of the Pocari Sweat commercial, don’t they? Sung by Tetsuro Oda himself—the legendary hitmaker who underpinned the Being boom—it became his first song to top the Oricon charts.
The glittering sound that follows the wistful saxophone captures the bittersweetness and exhilaration of summer to perfection.
While the lyrics may sound like a breezy love song, there’s an anecdote that they actually carry his feelings for his late brother.
Knowing that background makes the phrase “unchanging love” resonate even more deeply, turning it from a simple love song into something profoundly moving.
Heisei Song Collection: Classic Hits that Colored the ’90s and 2000s (51–60)
YOU DON’T GIVE UPKahara Tomomi
A gentle, heartwarming single by Tomomi Kahala where piano and strings softly embrace the listener—her tenth single.
Originally a recut from the acclaimed 1997 album “storytelling,” it was released as a single in April 1998.
The song’s appeal lies in its warm message of encouragement, as if gently nudging someone you care about forward.
Kahala’s vocals express this with delicate yet resolute strength.
It was also featured in a Kanebo Cosmetics commercial and reached No.
7 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s the kind of anthem that gives you the courage to face tomorrow, whether you want to cheer someone on or need support when you feel like you might falter yourself.
If you are with meKahara Tomomi
This is a moving ballad released in September 2004, marking Tomomi Kahala’s 30th birthday and her step into a new stage.
Its pure and powerful message—that the world shines simply because someone precious is by your side—deeply resonates.
The piece is a Japanese cover of a song by the Korean band Weather Forecast.
A magnificent piano-based arrangement melds with her rich, expressive vocals to gently envelop the listener.
This beloved song, which won the Gold Prize at the 46th Japan Record Awards, is also included on the commemorative album “NAKED.” It’s the perfect track for expressing gratitude to someone special or for quietly filling your heart on a solitary night.
suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW
A massive hit by FIELD OF VIEW from the golden Being duo: lyrics by ZARD’s Izumi Sakai and music by Tetsurō Oda.
Just hearing the guitar riff in the intro is enough for many to picture blue skies and that Pocari Sweat commercial.
Yūya Asaoka’s endlessly soaring high-toned voice captures the sparkle and exhilaration of a love that arrived, just as the title says, “suddenly.” The strikingly straightforward lyrics about love are enough to make your heart burn just by listening.
It’s an unfading anthem that makes you feel as if a scene from your own youth is coming back to life, reminding you of those bittersweet emotions you’d forgotten.
Swaying FeelingsZARD
This is ZARD’s signature song, featured in a Pocari Sweat commercial and certified a million-seller.
Even among the tracks that drove the Being boom, this one stands out for its refreshing feel.
The moment the intro starts, you can almost see the dazzling summer sunshine.
Izumi Sakai’s straight, crystalline vocals beautifully capture the thrill of a budding romance, winning the hearts of many.
The wavering emotions of longing for someone—sweet, a little frustrating—make the pure lyrics deeply relatable.
As a timeless classic, it continues to color the youth of countless listeners even today.
POWER OF LOVEJUDY AND MARY
This is JUDY AND MARY’s major-label debut single, released in September 1993, where YUKI’s airy vocals and the deliberately sparse arrangement create a unique sonic world.
Its experimental structure, markedly different from their later hits, likely left many listeners puzzled at the time.
The unadorned lyrics sing of the impatience and loneliness felt in a corner of the city, yet quietly affirm the latent energy within the listener.
Although it debuted modestly at No.
95 on the Oricon chart, it stands as the band’s origin, later included on their first album, “J•A•M.” When you’re hesitating to take a step forward or want to trust your authentic self, this work is sure to gently nudge you from behind.
Flavor Of LifeUtada Hikaru
Many of you may have been reminded by this work that words of gratitude, more than words of farewell, can actually deepen the ache.
This is a song by Hikaru Utada, written as an insert track for the drama Hana Yori Dango 2 (Returns) starring Mao Inoue.
It resonates in the chest with a tender warmth tinged with helplessness—the feeling of cherishing not only the sweetness of a relationship, but also the unripe, fruit-like frustration and faint bitterness.
Released in February 2007, the song topped the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks.
When you can’t quite escape the magical world called love, this is a track that gently validates that complicated state of mind and stays by your side.
It’s a song that surely anyone can relate to and easily make their own.