1991 Japanese Hit Songs | A collection of timeless classics loved across generations!
In 1991, when Japan was shaken as the bubble economy began to collapse, music continued to soothe people’s hearts amid anxieties about changing times, and a stream of hit songs was born.
In this article, we’re spotlighting Japanese songs that became hits in 1991! From timeless ballads cherished across generations, to positive anthems that encouraged the Japanese people, to poignant love songs that tug at the heart, we’ll cover a wide range.
Why not look back on “who you were back then” alongside these gem-like masterpieces?
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1991 Japanese Hit Songs | A collection of timeless classics loved across generations! (1–10)
Somewhere in a distant townNagayama Miho
Miho Nakayama’s 23rd single, released in November 1991, was written as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Aitai Toki ni Anata wa Inai…” in which she herself starred.
The lyrics, which echo the drama’s long-distance romance storyline, are distinctive.
They warmly express the growing longing and anxieties for a lover living far away.
The song peaked at No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and became a major hit, selling over 670,000 copies.
It’s a ballad that resonates with those who have experienced long-distance love or who are spending Christmas apart from someone special.
Boy in the WindHikaru GENJI
This is the 12th single released in February 1991 by Hikaru GENJI, the group that gained popularity with their style of singing and dancing on roller skates.
As the title suggests, the lyrics vividly depict the sparkle of a fleeting moment shining in the wind and the bittersweetness of youth.
It expresses the emotions of a boy torn between friendship and budding romance, set to a refreshing melody.
It reached No.
2 on the weekly Oricon chart and was also included on the album “(333) Thank You.” Taking a step beyond their early, high-speed performances, this work attempts a more emotionally rich expression, making it a song that showcases Hikaru GENJI’s growing maturity.
It’s a great pick when you want to revisit memories of your youth.
Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro
Tatsuro Yamashita’s 21st single, released in May 1991, is a classic inspired by his own high school experience of being caught in a sudden shower at an amusement park pool and seeing a rainbow after the rain.
It beautifully captures the bittersweet feeling at summer’s end and the tender emotions of first love before adulthood.
The song was also used in a commercial for Dai-ichi Life and released as an advance single from the album “ARTISAN.” It reached No.
12 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and was certified Gold.
It’s a quintessential summer ballad recommended for those who want to relive their youthful memories or nostalgically revisit the delicate romances of those days.
1991 Japanese Hit Songs | A Collection of Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (11–20)
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.
GraduationWatanabe Misato
Released in April 1991 as a theme song for a Meiji Life commercial, this track by Misato Watanabe sets an unquenchable, never‑giving‑up love to Tetsuya Komuro’s delicate melody.
Though set during the spring graduation season, its lyrics—saying that “there are loves you can’t graduate from”—are poignantly moving and likely resonate with many.
The song reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and was included on the album Lucky.
It’s a number that stays close to those facing springtime farewells or wishing to look back on cherished memories of the past.
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
A monster single selected as the theme song for the smash-hit drama “Tokyo Love Story,” starring Yuji Oda and Honami Suzuki, selling over 2.5 million copies.
It set a new record for single CD sales in Japan at the time.
This representative work by Kazumasa Oda portrays a heartrending, mature romance.
Even decades after its release, it remains a timeless classic with undiminished popularity.
I’m glad I met you.Koizumi Kyoko
This is a song by Kyoko Koizumi, who was so popular in 1991 that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was the top-selling female artist and idol of the time.
It was used as the theme song for the drama “Papa to Nacchan,” in which Koizumi starred and delivered a powerful performance as the daughter opposite Masakazu Tamura.
Although she had long been associated with a delicate idol image, this song showcases her presence as a fully fledged artist.