[1998 Japanese Hit Songs] A roundup of timeless classics that still live on in people’s memories!

Beyond the Night SkySMAP

Beyond the Night Sky – SMAP

SMAP’s smash hit “Yozora no Mukō.” Released in January 1998, the song became SMAP’s first million seller.

It has been covered by many artists and even appeared in junior high school textbooks.

Why does this song evoke so vividly that slightly warming season and the feel of the night air? It’s a masterpiece that will remain in the history of Japanese music, never losing its luster even as time goes by.

HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution

T.M.Revolution – HOT LIMIT | Official Music Video

Released in June 1998 as T.M.Revolution’s eighth single, “HOT LIMIT.” The music video, featuring Nishikawa singing in a sexy outfit while taking the wind full-on, is so famous that it’s no exaggeration to say people of all generations know it—not just those who remember the time it came out.

It’s a guaranteed feel-good song to sing at karaoke!

for a long timeKiroro

Kiroro “Nagaimono” Official Music Video

This is the major-label debut song by Kiroro, a duo from Okinawa, whose warm and gentle vocals resonate in the heart.

The simple, airy singing of vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro blends beautifully with the piano melodies played by Ayano Kinjo, gently enveloping the listener.

The song straightforwardly captures, in unadorned words, the steadfast feelings of a protagonist who waits devotedly for the one they love and the joy when that love finally blossoms.

Upon its release in January 1998, its popularity spread by word of mouth, and it became a million seller with total sales exceeding 1.2 million copies.

It’s a song to listen to quietly on nights when you want to reaffirm the tenderness you feel for someone dear.

my graduationSPEED

SPEED / my graduation -Music Video-

While centered on the theme of parting, this is a quintessential ballad by SPEED that conveys not only sadness but also a sense of hope for the future.

Without using the direct word “graduation,” it portrays the tender yet resolute feelings of a girl who, through the end of a romance, takes her first step into adulthood.

Released in February 1998, the song topped the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks and was featured in Nissin Foods’ commercial for Nissin Yakisoba U.F.O.

It’s the kind of song that, when listened to as you face a farewell and set out on a new path, gently nudges you forward with its soothing melody and positive message.

ALIVESPEED

SPEED / ALIVE -Music Video-

With its futuristic sound and grand sense of scale, this moving number by SPEED stirs the listener’s heart.

Even after losing an irreplaceable presence, the powerful message that their soul lives on by your side forever resonates deeply through a bittersweet yet beautiful melody.

Released in July 1998, the song became a major talking point as the theme for the film Andromedia, in which the members themselves starred.

When you’re thinking of someone dear and need the courage to look ahead, it will surely give you a strong push forward.