Japanese hit songs from 1990. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
B.B.
Queens, Kome Kome Club, LINDBERG, THE BLUE HEARTS, Hideaki Tokunaga, JUN SKY WALKER(S)…
From among the many classic and popular songs that colored the J-POP hit charts of 1990 (Heisei 2), we’ve selected hit tracks recommended by our studio staff.
It’s a nostalgic playlist that represents the golden age of J-POP.
Japanese hit songs of 1990 (1–10)
ALONEB’z
B’z’s ninth single is a rock ballad that sings of the preciousness of love that shines brightest in loneliness.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Hotel Woman,” it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and became a million seller.
The poignant feelings of a man who can only yearn for someone he cannot meet truly hit home.
The grand sound incorporating piano and synth, along with the emotive, tear-evoking guitar phrases, is unforgettable.
It’s a masterpiece that stays close to your heart when your feelings for someone special grow stronger.
ETERNAL WIND ~A Smile in the Shining Wind~Moriguchi Hiroko
This piece is the song performed by Hiroko Moriguchi as the theme for the film Mobile Suit Gundam F91.
It became her first entry into the top 10 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, peaking at No.
9, and ranked No.
47 on the year-end chart.
Befitting a grand anime set in space, the lyrics carry prayers for peace and a message of hope, also giving it an anti-war dimension.
Though a mid-tempo ballad, its sweeping choruses and strings create a sense of scale that offers a powerful comfort to people living with the anxieties of the times.
It’s an iconic 1990s anime song that makes you want to overlay feelings of parting and reunion with loved ones, and thoughts about the future.
for a long timeKiroro
Kiroro’s debut single overflows with the joy and love of finally being able to express one’s feelings, and with gratitude toward the person who waited.
The harmony woven by Chiharu Tamashiro’s endlessly pure vocals and Ayano Kinjo’s warm piano tones gently wraps around the listener’s heart.
Released in January 1998, the song became a massive hit through word of mouth despite having no tie-ins, ultimately selling over 1.2 million copies.
In the spring of 1999, it was selected as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.
It’s a song that gives you a gentle push when you find it hard to say “thank you” to someone important.
Man & WomanMy Little Lover
Released in May 1995, this was My Little Lover’s debut single, and despite being newcomers, it became a hit with total sales of about 917,000 copies.
Its light, stylish sound reminiscent of French pop blends beautifully with Akko’s translucent vocals.
The song seems to depict the subtle emotional shifts between men and women—the missed connections, and yet the irresistible pull toward one another.
Later included on the classic album “evergreen,” which went on to sell over two million copies, this track captured many hearts.
It’s a song that gently accompanies that slightly sentimental feeling where hope and anxiety mingle just before love begins.
Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu
This is the landmark debut single from Pocket Biscuits, a group that tore through the music scene with a passion that’s hard to believe came from a TV show concept.
Released in April 1996, the single sold over 500,000 copies in total.
Its synth-driven sound, reminiscent of ’80s Western dance music, sticks in your head after just one listen.
The color blue becomes a vessel for youthful impulse and slightly grown-up infatuation, all conveyed through CHIAKI’s soaring vocals.
There’s a famous story that she was so determined to write the lyrics that she brought along a hundred notebooks to plead her case in person—an anecdote that seems to speak to the pure energy poured into this track.
It’s the kind of song that will surely stir your heart when you’re ready to take on a challenge or just want a little spark in your everyday life.
MIND CIRCUSNakatani Miki
Produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto, this work is notable for its urban, weightless sound.
Miki Nakatani’s cool, translucent vocals resonate like a kaleidoscope reflecting inner landscapes, instantly drawing listeners into its world.
Many will likely find themselves deeply absorbed by the song’s almost philosophical lyrics.
Released as a single in May 1996, the track colored the story as an insert song for the drama “Watch Out for Us,” in which Nakatani herself played the heroine.
Its 11-week run on the Oricon charts stands as proof of its appeal.
Why not listen to it on a night when you want to step away from the city’s clamor and have a quiet conversation with your own heart?
I can’t stay a daydreaming girlAikawa Nanase
This is Nanase Aikawa’s debut single, shocking with its razor-sharp intro guitar riff and a powerful shout you’d never expect from such a petite frame.
You can really feel the searing resolve: she refuses to be someone who just keeps dreaming sweet dreams.
The way she sings of the ache of longing for love while vowing to charge through reality without fear of getting hurt must have made a striking impact on the music scene at the time.
Released in November 1995, the song was used as the ending theme for the Fuji TV drama “V no Honō” (Flame of V).
Her first album Red, which includes this track, became a massive hit, selling over 2.45 million copies.
If you’re wishing to break through the status quo and become stronger, listening to it might give you a powerful push forward.