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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Nostalgic 1990s Japanese Bands: Classic and Hit Songs (51–60)
A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE
Released as SIAM SHADE’s sixth single, it was used as the ending theme for the Fuji TV anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story.
As a tie-in with a popular anime, it became their biggest hit.
The song has been covered by many artists.
I want to shout that I love you.BAAD
This is a signature song by BAAD, a rock band whose name carries the meaning of the ultimate “bad.” It’s also an important point that they were signed to Being, a record label essential to any discussion of 1990s J-pop.
Set to a straightforward band sound, the lyrics deliver love directly, conveying the momentum and bittersweetness of youth.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime SLAM DUNK and has long been cherished as one of the songs that symbolize the series.
It was also memorable that the 2022 release of the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK brought renewed attention to these classic theme songs.
summer festivalJITTERIN’JINN
This song was released in August 1990.
It is the fourth single.
Jinta Haya wrote and composed it.
It serves as a chance theme for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
It is also frequently used as a cheer song in high school baseball and corporate league baseball (Yamaha’s corporate hardball baseball team).
Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu
This is the landmark debut single from Pocket Biscuits, a group that tore through the music scene with a passion that’s hard to believe came from a TV show concept.
Released in April 1996, the single sold over 500,000 copies in total.
Its synth-driven sound, reminiscent of ’80s Western dance music, sticks in your head after just one listen.
The color blue becomes a vessel for youthful impulse and slightly grown-up infatuation, all conveyed through CHIAKI’s soaring vocals.
There’s a famous story that she was so determined to write the lyrics that she brought along a hundred notebooks to plead her case in person—an anecdote that seems to speak to the pure energy poured into this track.
It’s the kind of song that will surely stir your heart when you’re ready to take on a challenge or just want a little spark in your everyday life.
Classic and Hit Songs by Nostalgic Japanese Bands from the 1990s (61–70)
LOVE FLIESL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
Released in October 1999, this song became beloved as the theme for the drama “Bluebird Syndrome.” It’s a grunge number marked by warped, striking guitars that capture the bittersweetness Ken said he felt during a large-scale outdoor tour.
In the lyrical world woven by Hyde, it portrays a heart swaying between dreams and reality, and the exhilaration of the moment when love spreads its wings and takes flight.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear against a grand backdrop, one that can also be interpreted as singing about the merging consciousness of fans and artist.
Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN
This is DEEN’s fifth single, which became a million-seller and is widely known as a refreshing summer anthem thanks to its use in the “Pocari Sweat” commercial.
The lyrics by ZARD’s Izumi Sakai portray a straightforward plea—“Don’t avert your eyes”—from someone bewildered by a lover’s change.
Many listeners may feel their hearts tighten at that earnest emotion.
Shuichi Ikemori’s soaring vocals resonate over a sparkling melody that epitomizes the Being sound.
Interestingly, Ikemori himself felt a bit embarrassed by the freshness of the song at the time.
Perhaps that very purity is the charm that continues to shine even now.
TruthFANATIC◇CRISIS
They were one of the Big Four of the next-generation Visual Kei scene.
They gained popularity with their looks and pop-leaning songs, but disbanded in 2005.
This track is their first single, released independently.
Though rough around the edges and brimming with youthful energy, it exudes the presence of a future heavyweight.