Hit Japanese songs that represent 1997. Recommended masterpieces.
Masayoshi Yamazaki, GLAY, Mr.
Children, THE YELLOW MONKEY, L’Arc-en-Ciel, Namie Amuro, SPEED…
From the many classic songs that lit up the J-POP charts in 1997, we’ve selected hit tracks recommended by our studio staff.
It’s a nostalgic J-POP playlist that still shines vividly today.
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Representative Japanese hit songs of 1997. Recommended masterpieces (1–10)
Happy endingOhtaki Eiichi
As the theme song for a Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.
drama, this is a gem of a love song that Eiichi Ohtaki released for the first time in 12 years.
Its gentle, heartwarming melody and lyrics that carefully weave the feelings of a woman in love blend beautifully, leading to a massive hit of 970,000 copies sold since its release in November 1997.
Used in Love Generation, the song also marked Ohtaki’s first-ever Top 10 entry as a solo artist, showcasing his rich musicality to the fullest.
Portraying a sweet yet bittersweet love story, this track is highly recommended for those harboring feelings for someone special or wishing for a happy future with a loved one.
CallingB’z
Ranked weekly No.
1, monthly No.
2 in July, and monthly No.
10 in August, it stayed in the Top 10 for two months and placed No.
16 for the year.
This is B’z’s 22nd single, which became their 14th million-selling release.
Serving as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama Glass Mask, the track was actually created by fusing two different songs, resulting in two distinct choruses.
White LoveSPEED
SPEED’s 5th single, which reached No.
1 for the week, No.
1 for November, and No.
10 for the year.
It was a massive hit with cumulative sales reaching 2 million copies.
It was used in Shiseido’s “Tessera Angel Drop” commercial, and for two consecutive years they led the Red Team at Kohaku with this song.
Hit Japanese songs representing 1997. Recommended masterpieces (11–20)
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
This is one of Masayoshi Yamazaki’s signature songs, which became a hit as the theme song for the film “The Moon and a Cabbage.” In 2007, it was used again as the theme song for the animated film “5 Centimeters per Second,” bringing it back into the spotlight.
It’s a very quiet and heartrending piece that evokes the image of someone unconsciously searching for a distant lover.
HIGH PRESSURET.M.Revolution
It was T.M.Revolution’s 5th single, which ranked 4th on the weekly chart and 22nd on the yearly chart, selling 787,000 copies.
With this song, he made his first appearance on TV Asahi’s Music Station.
The music video features a large-scale outdoor set, and Takanori Nishikawa’s fresh yet flamboyant performance atop it is well worth seeing.
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi
A timeless ballad by Kazuyoshi Saito that transcends generations.
Within its relaxed tempo, it turns straightforward feelings into lyrics with natural expression—a poignant masterpiece that stirs the emotions.
Covered by many artists and cherished by renowned musicians who speak passionately about it, the song enjoys enduring popularity among even the most prominent performers.
HOWEVERGLAY
GLAY’s first million-selling single, which reached No.
1 for a week (two weeks in a row, three weeks in a row, and five weeks in total) and ranked No.
1 for September and No.
9 for the year.
Although it initially had no tie-in, it was later used for the TBS drama “Ryodatsuai: Abunai Onna.” Following this single, they achieved five consecutive million-selling releases, but apparently this song itself was initially very poorly received by the band members.