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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Hit Japanese songs representing 1997. Recommended classics (41–50)
Princess MononokeMera Yoshikazu
Theme song of the animated film Princess Mononoke.
Bolstered by the film’s record-breaking box-office success in Japan at the time, it became a major hit, selling over 400,000 copies despite peaking at only No.
13 on the Oricon charts.
The song brought attention to the countertenor—a male singer with a high, female-like voice—and YOSHIKAZU MERA, who sings Princess Mononoke, became widely known!
Hit Japanese songs representing 1997. Recommended classics (51–60)
Love SomebodyOda Yūji
This is Yuji Oda’s 13th single.
It’s a signature song that became a major hit after being used as the theme for the drama “Bayside Shakedown.” Different arrangements were released around the time of the drama’s film releases, so I imagine many people had frequent chances to hear it.
The track has a very light and cheerful feel.
Refrain of SoulsTakahashi Yoko
It’s the theme song for the 1997 animated film “Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth.” The song’s theme is “a return to the womb,” which I think fits this anime perfectly.
Since it’s been covered by various singers and even featured in pachinko machines, quite a few people may have heard it unexpectedly.
A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE
This song became a major hit as the opening theme for the anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story and is one of SIAM SHADE’s signature tracks.
It’s a straightforward, powerful piece that sings about clumsy yet honest feelings of love.
It has remained popular over the years and has been covered by many artists.
Let’s dance in a circle (Wasshoi)V6
Hugely popular across a wide range of generations.
This is a song covered by V6 that originally aired on the NHK TV program “Minna no Uta” in 1997.
When it was broadcast on NHK at the time, it debuted as a new song for April–May, but it received an overwhelming number of requests and became such a big hit that it was re-aired in August–September.
Theme of Eccentric Boy BowieEkusentorikku Shōnen Bōui Ōru Sutāzu
This is the theme song of a unit that was born from a segment of the hugely popular comedy sketch show at the time, “Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji.” The song is styled with a tokusatsu hero vibe, but its lyrics retain the playful feel characteristic of a sketch comedy show.
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
A song by Namie Amuro that ranked No.
1 for the month of March 1997, No.
1 for the year, and went on to sell over 500,000 copies the following year as well.
It remains very popular today and is frequently used at weddings.
The video features a newly recorded vocal for her 5th best album, “Ballada,” and a collaboration with Taro Hakase, well known from the TV program “Jounetsu Tairiku.”