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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?

Playlist

1991 Japanese Hit Songs | A collection of timeless classics loved across generations!
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastALONEB’z
ALONEB'zplay_arrow
A classic by B’z: a love ballad that colors loneliness
2eastLegendary GirlMizuki Arisa
Legendary GirlMizuki Arisaplay_arrow
Ami Ozaki’s debut song is a big hit.
3eastIn the Sun and the DustCHAGE and ASKA
In the Sun and the DustCHAGE and ASKAplay_arrow
A song about chasing dreams that portrays the struggles of youth
4eastDon’t forget.DREAMS COME TRUE
Don't forget.DREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
A heartfelt DCT ballad that portrays the pain of parting
5eastKISSPRINCESS PRINCESS
KISSPRINCESS PRINCESSplay_arrow
Iconic songs by PRINCESS PRINCESS from the ’90s
6eastWILD HEAVENTMN
WILD HEAVENTMNplay_arrow
A rock love song racing through the night
7eastSilent JealousyX(X JAPAN)
Silent JealousyX(X JAPAN)play_arrow
A masterpiece by X JAPAN that shifts from silence to a gallop
8eastSomewhere in a distant townNagayama Miho
Somewhere in a distant townNagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A heartwarming ballad themed around Miho Nakayama’s long-distance love
9eastBoy in the WindHikaru GENJI
Boy in the WindHikaru GENJIplay_arrow
A wistful song of youth shining in the wind
10eastGoodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro
Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuroplay_arrow
Tatsuro Yamashita’s youth ballad 'Niji' (Rainbow)
11eastETERNAL WIND ~A Smile in the Shining Wind~Moriguchi Hiroko
ETERNAL WIND ~A Smile in the Shining Wind~Moriguchi Hirokoplay_arrow
Hiroko Moriguchi’s Gundam theme song wishing for peace
12eastGraduationWatanabe Misato
GraduationWatanabe Misatoplay_arrow
Misato Watanabe appeared in a Meiji Life (Meiji Seimei) commercial in April 1991...
13eastLove Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasaplay_arrow
The hugely popular show starring Yuji Oda and Honami Suzuki...
14eastI’m glad I met you.Koizumi Kyoko
I'm glad I met you.Koizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
Back in 1991, female artists and idols...
15eastLADY NAVIGATIONB’z
LADY NAVIGATIONB'zplay_arrow
In March 1991, as B’z’s eighth single...
16eastLove Train/We love the EARTHTMN
Love Train/We love the EARTHTMNplay_arrow
It’s a song by TMN led by Tetsuya Komuro. This…
17eastBoyhoodInoue Yosui
BoyhoodInoue Yosuiplay_arrow
Yosui Inoue has by now become a creator of “classic Japanese songs.”
18eastAt all times.Makihara Noriyuki
At all times.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Noriyuki Makihara, released in June 1991...
19eastSAY YESCHAGE and ASKA
SAY YESCHAGE and ASKAplay_arrow
Formed by high school classmates, with a distinctive singing voice...
20eastIt always starts with rain.ASKA
It always starts with rain.ASKAplay_arrow
ASKA’s clear, translucent singing voice resonates deep in the heart.
21eastPIECE OF MY WISHImai Miki
PIECE OF MY WISHImai Mikiplay_arrow
A song that gives me courage because there’s a tomorrow
22eastMetamorphosisKudō Shizuka
MetamorphosisKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
Gained popularity as a member of the Onyanko Club...
23eastLOVE IS ALLTokunaga Hideaki
LOVE IS ALLTokunaga Hideakiplay_arrow
The classic song “Missing,” which portrays the universality of love
24eastLove will winKAN
Love will winKANplay_arrow
There’s nothing more perfect than this song title…
25eastJust time girlKATSUMI
Just time girlKATSUMIplay_arrow
On re-listening, I was reminded of the AOR-style craftsmanship of the songs and the appeal of the high-pitched vocals.
26eastBELIEVE IN LOVELINDBERG
BELIEVE IN LOVELINDBERGplay_arrow
A hugely popular rock band known for its female vocals...
27eastPathetic.Tonneruzu
Pathetic.Tonneruzuplay_arrow
The comedy duo Tunnels also had a major hit this year...
28eastNeo Bravo!!Sazan Ōrusutāzu
Neo Bravo!!Sazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
Southern All Stars sell more every year...
29eastWON’T BE LONGBaburugamu Burazāzu
WON'T BE LONGBaburugamu Burazāzuplay_arrow
Here, at last, dance music is a single...
30eastChristmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuroplay_arrow
I got a bit curious about this song, so I looked into it…
31eastZUTTOMariko Nagai
ZUTTO Mariko Nagaiplay_arrow
If you knew this female artist, 91…
32eastA Love Song I Couldn’t SingOda Yūji
A Love Song I Couldn't SingOda Yūjiplay_arrow
Yuji Oda, who is still active on the front lines as an actor, sa...
33eastMemories of Kujukuri BeachMi-Ke
Memories of Kujukuri BeachMi-Ke
By an idol group, the sort of Showa-era-style flat...
34eastEyes to me / He is a friendDREAMS COME TRUE
Eyes to me / He is a friendDREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
DREAMS COME TRUE have been active and selling for decades, and are such a...
35eastJulianPRINCESS PRINCESS
JulianPRINCESS PRINCESSplay_arrow
Princess, a pioneer of all-female rock bands…
36eastGoodbye, YesterdayTUBE
Goodbye, YesterdayTUBEplay_arrow
They’ve become completely established in people’s minds as a summer band…
37eastGypsyKojima Misan
GypsyKojima Misanplay_arrow
I learned about this female artist’s existence for the first time and…
38eastParody Song MedleyKamon Tatsuo
Parody Song MedleyKamon Tatsuoplay_arrow
About the top 30 in the annual rankings with parody songs...
39eastAn uncool way of getting dumpedŌe Senri
An uncool way of getting dumpedŌe Senriplay_arrow
Thinking that Senri Oe was also in ’91, it really makes me feel like…
40eastShake Hip!kome kome CLUB
Shake Hip!kome kome CLUBplay_arrow
This group called Kome Kome Club also has a long history of activity...
41eastSilent EveKarashima Midori
Silent EveKarashima Midoriplay_arrow
Beloved across generations as a classic winter love song...
42eastSoap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Soap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshiplay_arrow
Even Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, in the 1991 single sales records, …
43eastGingira ParadiseB.B. Kuīnzu
Gingira ParadiseB.B. Kuīnzu
It became popular from a kids’ show or an anime and turned into a hit...
44eastI want to see you.sawada chikako
I want to see you.sawada chikakoplay_arrow
Chikaco Sawada, who sings about moist, mature love…
45eastFutari Shizuka – from Tenkawa Legend Murder CaseNakamori Akina
Futari Shizuka - from Tenkawa Legend Murder CaseNakamori Akinaplay_arrow
These days, they’re treated pretty much like a legendary singer…