Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
The 1990s were an era when countless bands across a variety of genres were thriving.
Starting with the Being-kei bands, many visual-kei bands also emerged, and it was around the mid-90s that the melodic hardcore scene really took off in Japan.
Among them, quite a few bands are still active on the front lines today.
In this article, we’ll introduce classic songs by 90s bands that anyone who lived through that era will likely find “so nostalgic!!”
Of course, there are plenty of songs that feel nostalgic, but many of them are still beloved as timeless staples even now.
Please enjoy these tracks packed with the unique charm of that era.
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Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s (71–80)
DAYDREAMJUDY AND MARY
An early song by JUDY & MARY.
Although it only reached No.
58 on the Oricon charts and didn’t sell particularly well, they would go on to have a major breakthrough afterward.
Composed by Yasuhito Onda, who has a background in the visual kei scene and drew heavily on those roots, it’s an unusually tense and dark track for JUDY & MARY.
TrustOBLIVION DUST
OBLIVION DUST is a band that was active in the late 1990s and was popular for its grunge-influenced sound.
The central figure, KAZ, also performs in VAMPS, a unit with HYDE from L’Arc-en-Ciel.
Their Western-oriented sound was unusual for the time, and this song, too, showcases a sensibility that feels distinctly non-Japanese.
JealousyJUSTY NASTY
Formed in 1987 by Kenichi Fujisaki, JUSTY-NASTY had established themselves as a mid-tier band even amid the band boom.
This is their second single, and it offers classic beat rock—the quintessential band sound of that era.
Time goes byEvery Little Thing
The eighth single.
It has become one of ELT’s signature songs.
It was the theme song for Fuji TV’s Thursday 10 p.m.
drama “Amai Kekkon” (Sweet Marriage).
In 2012, it was also used as a SoftBank Mobile commercial song.
The jacket was reportedly shot by renting out a theater in Kichijoji.
Shangri-LaDenki Gurūvu
Released as Denki Groove’s 8th single, it was used as the ending theme for NHK-FM’s “Music Square” and as the song for Nissan’s Terrano commercial.
The title “Shangri-La” means a utopia.
The song’s theme is love in a broad sense.
Sorrow hurts.T-BOLAN
T-BOLAN is a big-name band that truly represents the 1990s, boasting CD sales totaling 17 million.
This song is their debut single.
The lyrics and composition are by Daria Kawashima, with arrangement by Masafumi Nishida of Earthshaker—both from the hard rock camp—but the song itself has a calm, kayōkyoku-style feel.
SHADELUNA SEA
Originally, this single was released on cassette tape during LUNA SEA’s indie era.
It was later included on their first indie album and was re-recorded in 2011.
Among their many songs, this uptempo two-beat track holds a special place in the members’ hearts.