[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.
- [1998 Japanese Hit Songs] A roundup of timeless classics that still live on in people’s memories!
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- Hit J-Pop songs of 2008: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- Japanese Music of the 2000s: Revival Included! A J-POP Hit Song Special
- [Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics.
[1998 J-Pop Hit Songs] A Roundup of Classic Tracks That Still Resonate Today! (21–30)
Just one wishKomatsu Miho
Miho Komatsu’s third single, which peaked at No.
8 weekly and No.
81 for the year.
Following her debut single “Nazo,” it was also tied in with the anime Detective Conan as an ending theme.
With total sales of 300,000 copies, it became her second best-selling single.
The teasing key change right before the last chorus elevates the finale.
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.
wanna Be A Dreammakerglobe
The 13th single by globe, which debuted at No.
1 and ranked 47th for the year.
It was the first release in a four-single consecutive series labeled “BRAND NEW globe 4 SINGLES,” and the limited first edition was sold in a special package designed to hold all four singles.
Additionally, the theme of the music videos for all four songs in this project is “nightmare,” and this particular song is said to be based on a nightmare experienced by vocalist KEIKO.
AutomaticUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada’s debut single, released in December 1998, brought a genuine R&B breeze into the world of J-pop.
Depicting feelings so strong that your body moves unconsciously when a call comes from a lover, the song blends a mature groove with the purity of teenage years to perfection.
Remarkably, this debut achieved double million sales.
Those who experienced that impact in real time likely remember it vividly.
Even now, its stylish sound hasn’t faded at all—an enduring classic that’s perfect for moments when you want to bask in memories.
DestinyMy Little Lover
That transparency—My Little Lover hasn’t changed at all since back then.
Even just the arrangements don’t sound dated in the slightest.
The faint, almost vanishing vocals, the literary and feminine lyrics (though they’re written by Kobayashi), the strings and brass arrangements, and the flowing melodies still wash away the grime from my heart.