[1998 Japanese Hit Songs] A roundup of timeless classics that still live on in people’s memories!
GLAY, T.M.Revolution, L’Arc~en~Ciel, MISIA, Morning Musume…
1998 was a year when a stream of timeless hits were born from artists who still enjoy enduring popularity today.
In this article, we introduce standout classics from the 1998 J-POP hit charts—songs that earned overwhelming support from listeners and fans, and continue to do so even now.
Enjoy this nostalgic playlist that still shines in vibrant color.
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[1998 J-Pop Hit Songs] A Roundup of Timeless Classics Still Remembered Today! (11–20)
I can’t even breatheZARD
This ZARD classic sets the chest-tightening, heart-racing moment of falling in love to a driving rock sound.
It captures a straightforward love so consuming that you can’t think of anything but the other person.
The lyrics sparkle with the early stages of romance, and Izumi Sakai’s vocals—combining clarity with strength—leave a lasting impression.
Released in March 1998 as their 24th single, it became widely known as the opening theme for the anime “Chuuka Ichiban!” and reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
Listen to it as a fight song when you’re about to take on something new, and you’ll surely feel courage welling up from deep within.
LOVE AFFAIR ~ Secret DateSazan Ōrusutāzu
Even knowing it’s a forbidden love, you can’t help but be drawn to it.
This Southern All Stars piece can be heard as a song about that dangerous longing, or as the anguish of having your heart stolen by someone else while you already have someone important.
Released in February 1998 as their 41st single, it also served as the theme song for the TBS drama “Sweet Season.” Set against the nightscape of Yokohama, the protagonist’s wavering feelings will deeply resonate with anyone who has ever harbored an impossible love.
If you listen on a night when you feel like surrendering to a sweet hell, it might gently envelop those complicated emotions.
HeartFukuyama Masaharu
This is Masaharu Fukuyama’s 12th single, marking his return after roughly two and a half years on hiatus.
Released in April 1998, it remains memorable to many as the theme song for the TBS drama “Meguriai,” in which he also appeared.
True to its title, the song sings directly from the “heart,” carried by the warm tones of an acoustic guitar.
The lyrics, which portray feelings that remain unchanged over time, blend beautifully with its gentle melody.
It’s a heartwarming love song that accompanies those moments in everyday life when you want to dwell in tender feelings for someone.
DRIVE TO BLUEL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
An alternative rock number bursting with a sense of speed, driven by piercing, vibrant synthesizer tones.
Released in March 1998 as the lead single from the album “HEART,” it topped the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks.
The lyrics are said to capture the distinctive early-morning atmosphere felt in boyhood and a liberating sense that you could go anywhere.
At the same time, they convey a certain peril, like plunging into the color blue, offering a depth that can resonate as either hope or despair depending on the listener’s state of mind.
It’s a song that will firmly push you forward when you’re ready to break through your current situation and step into a new world.
DESTINYMy Little Lover
Released in May 1998 as My Little Lover’s 11th single, “DESTINY” also drew attention as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama WITH LOVE.
It reached No.
4 on the Oricon weekly chart and No.
46 on the year-end chart, becoming a signature work from their mid-period.
The interplay of the strings in the instrumental break after the first verse is exquisite.
MARIAkuroyume
The band Kuroyume, known for their distinctive musical style and appearance, released their 12th single in April 1998.
Characterized by a punk-influenced sound that incorporates ska rhythms, the track’s simple, masculine arrangement captivated many male fans.
[1998 J-Pop Hit Songs] A Roundup of Classic Tracks That Still Resonate Today! (21–30)
In the distant skyDEEN
DEEN’s 14th single, a song that captures the bittersweet feelings of a long-distance relationship.
Released in February 1998, it was featured in a commercial for Japan Telecom’s “Super LCR,” which drew attention with actress Tomoko Yamaguchi’s appearance.
The frustration of only being able to connect by phone—and the pure longing to hear a loved one’s voice—is delicately expressed through Shuichi Ikemori’s clear, resonant vocals.
On nights when you’re thinking of someone dear who lives far away, lend your ears to this lyrical world.