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Nostalgic Yet Everlasting: Classic Hits by 1990s Idol Singers

In recent years, 80s idols have often been featured again thanks to the renewed interest in Showa-era pop, but 90s idol singers are incredibly appealing too!

In this article, we’ll spotlight the hit songs and classics by idol singers who were active in the 1990s.

It was a time when Japan’s pop scene grew even more vibrant, right at the peak of CD sales—many of you probably listened to these tracks in your car stereos.

From cute tunes to cool tracks, the catchy 90s vibe really shines through.

There are plenty of familiar hits as well, including debut songs by actresses you still see often in TV dramas today.

Playlist

Nostalgic Yet Everlasting: Classic Hits by 1990s Idol Singers
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastEven when I become an old ladyMoritaka Chisato
Even when I become an old ladyMoritaka Chisatoplay_arrow
Chisato Moritaka’s classic song “Even If I Become an Old Lady”
2eastI’m glad I met you.Koizumi Kyoko
I'm glad I met you.Koizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
Kyoko Koizumi’s 1990s TV drama theme songs
3eastI just feel like crying.Nagayama Miho
I just feel like crying.Nagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A classic song expressing Miho Nakayama’s feelings about marriage
4eastI’ll be by your side.ribbon
I'll be by your side.ribbonplay_arrow
An iconic ’80s anime song from Ribon, a classic sung by Nagasaku
5eastSexy MusicWink
Sexy MusicWinkplay_arrow
A cover of a classic hit by Wink, the unsmiling idol duo.
6eastLOVE MachineMōningu Musume.
LOVE MachineMōningu Musume.play_arrow
Morning Musume’s turning point, choreographed by Mayumi Natsu
7eastHalf-mysteriousCoCo
Half-mysteriousCoCoplay_arrow
The Evolution of Idols and the Allure of Music
8eastto flutter with excitementNishida Hikaru
to flutter with excitementNishida Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Nishida's 'Tokimeite,' a classic song of youth
9eastOnly YouUchida Yuki
Only YouUchida Yukiplay_arrow
Yuki Uchida’s 90s music, composed by Tetsuya Komuro
10eastBE TOGETHERSuzuki Ami
BE TOGETHERSuzuki Amiplay_arrow
A famous classic best known for Ami Suzuki’s cover version.
11eastMiracle LoveMakise Riho
Miracle LoveMakise Rihoplay_arrow
The allure of Riho Makise in the ’90s and city pop
12eastWhite LoveSPEED
White LoveSPEEDplay_arrow
SPEED’s signature song “White Love” and its history
13eastCAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
Namie Amuro’s classic, a masterpiece that symbolizes its era
14eastLegendary GirlMizuki Arisa
Legendary GirlMizuki Arisaplay_arrow
Alisa Mizuki, a classic song written and composed by Ami Ozaki
15eastNO TITLISTMiyazawa Rie
NO TITLISTMiyazawa Rieplay_arrow
Rie Miyazawa’s music and Tetsuya Komuro’s talent
16eastSelf ControlAsaka Yui
Self ControlAsaka Yuiplay_arrow
The allure of 90s music and the spirit of the era
17east5 seconds before I fall seriously in loveHirosue Ryōko
5 seconds before I fall seriously in loveHirosue Ryōkoplay_arrow
Ryoko Hirosue, the nostalgic singing voice from her debut single
18eastLonging, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryoko with t.komuro
Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryoko with t.komuroplay_arrow
The powerful vocals of Ryoko Shinohara and the Komuro sound
19eastI BELIEVEKahara Tomomi
I BELIEVEKahara Tomomiplay_arrow
90s J-pop: Tetsuya Komuro’s masterpieces and Tomomi Kahala
20eastwailing in griefKudō Shizuka
wailing in griefKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
Shizuka Kudo, a bubbly idol of the 1980s
21eastI want to love rather than be lovedKinKi Kids
I want to love rather than be lovedKinKi Kidsplay_arrow
Youth hit song by KinKi Kids, singing about a resolve in love
22eastAphrodisiac from the lipsKudō Shizuka
Aphrodisiac from the lipsKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
Shizuka Kudo: A smash hit that symbolizes her growth
23eastLittle DarlingTamura Eriko
Little DarlingTamura Erikoplay_arrow
Theme song of the anime “Shonen Ashibe”
24eastI won’t cry.Suzuki Ranran
I won't cry.Suzuki Ranranplay_arrow
The debut single “Nakanaizo” has become a hot topic.
25eastA Little LovePucchimoni
A Little LovePucchimoniplay_arrow
Pucchimoni’s first million-selling hit song
26eastBeing just friends is fine.Takahashi Yumiko
Being just friends is fine.Takahashi Yumikoplay_arrow
Theme song of 'Minami-kun no Koibito': Yumiko Takahashi’s big hit
27eastEscalationtomosaka rie
Escalationtomosaka rieplay_arrow
Rie Tomosaka’s debut single was a big hit.
28eastCosmic RendezvousShishido Rumi
Cosmic RendezvousShishido Rumiplay_arrow
Techno idol Rumi Shishido debut single
29eastGive me a ShakeMAX
Give me a ShakeMAXplay_arrow
MAX's hit song 'Give me a Shake'
30eastAzure RabbitNoriko Sakai
Azure Rabbit Noriko Sakaiplay_arrow
Noriko Sakai’s smash hit song “Aoi Usagi” (Blue Rabbit)
31eastSTEADYSPEED
STEADYSPEEDplay_arrow
With a sepia-toned palette, the seaside scene is striking…
32eastGentle RainKoizumi Kyoko
Gentle RainKoizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
In the lyrics that Kyoko Koizumi herself crafted, the city…
33eastno matter whatSakurakko Kurabu Sakura-gumi
no matter whatSakurakko Kurabu Sakura-gumiplay_arrow
The Sakurakko Club song used in a TV commercial
34eastA premonition of a smileHinagata Akiko
A premonition of a smileHinagata Akikoplay_arrow
The debut song “Egao no Yokan” was a big hit.
35eastDear My FriendsNagayama Miho
Dear My FriendsNagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A song whose warm message to a friend resonates in the heart
36eastBirthday boyWatanabe Marina
Birthday boyWatanabe Marinaplay_arrow
A song by Marina Watanabe produced by Kenji Ozawa
37eastSurely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho & WANDS
Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho & WANDSplay_arrow
Miho Nakayama and WANDS’s classic that sings of love and reunion
38eastGraduaterShiina Hekiru
GraduaterShiina Hekiruplay_arrow
A powerful classic by Hekiru Shiina that cheers on youth
39eastI Want to See You ~Missing You~Matsuda Seiko
I Want to See You ~Missing You~Matsuda Seikoplay_arrow
The pain of heartbreak that everyone experiences at least once, and the hope of a reunion…
40eastAfter school is always a partyToukyou Pafōmansu Dōru
After school is always a partyToukyou Pafōmansu Dōruplay_arrow
After school, it's always the commercial song for parties.
41eastIf the sky is on my sideYūki Nae
If the sky is on my sideYūki Naeplay_arrow
Nae Yūki’s popular single, a TV drama theme song