RAG MusicHit Song
Lovely hit song

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.

Playlist

Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastThe End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT
The End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANTplay_arrow
The time in the late ’90s, known as the CD bubble...
2eastROSIERLUNA SEA
ROSIERLUNA SEAplay_arrow
Shaping the visual kei scene since the 1990s…
3eastfrecklesJUDY AND MARY
frecklesJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
All four of them have distinctive personalities and talents...
4eastRobinsonsupittsu
Robinsonsupittsuplay_arrow
...the qualities possessed by Masamune Kusano, who is in charge of writing and composing the songs...
5eastForever LoveX JAPAN
Forever LoveX JAPANplay_arrow
The category that is so-called visual-kei…
6eastFlowers of EvilBUCK-TICK
Flowers of EvilBUCK-TICKplay_arrow
Formed as BUCK-TICK in 1985...
7eastRed tambourineBLANKEY JET CITY
Red tambourineBLANKEY JET CITYplay_arrow
1990s love songs by BLANKEY JET CITY
8eastWHO’LL BE THE NEXTHi-STANDARD
WHO'LL BE THE NEXTHi-STANDARDplay_arrow
90s Japanese punk and melodic core...
9eastGLORIAZIGGY
GLORIAZIGGYplay_arrow
I listened to their songs in 90s variety shows and commercials…
10eastNameless PoemMr.Children
Nameless PoemMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr. Children, also known by the nickname “Misuchiru,”…
11eastRose of PassionTHE BLUE HEARTS
Rose of PassionTHE BLUE HEARTSplay_arrow
Even after the 2020s have passed, upon hearing that name...
12eastThe wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOG
The wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOGplay_arrow
A gemlike melody that cherishes time spent facing your heart
13eastcream sodaSUPERCAR
cream sodaSUPERCARplay_arrow
Feelings wavering between youth and reality
14eastWonderful DaysUNICORN
Wonderful DaysUNICORNplay_arrow
UNICORN’s 1993 farewell ballad
15eastCrazy Babyfisshumanzu
Crazy Babyfisshumanzuplay_arrow
A love song thinking of my lover
16eastStay GoldHi-STANDARD
Stay GoldHi-STANDARDplay_arrow
Despite being an indie band at the time, it was unusual...
17eastPrimalorijinarurabu
Primalorijinarurabuplay_arrow
A love song that is one of ORIGINAL LOVE’s signature tracks
18eastRALLYCymbals
RALLYCymbalsplay_arrow
Expressing romantic mind games through breezy pop
19eastPassionSIAM SHADE
PassionSIAM SHADEplay_arrow
Speaking of SIAM SHADE, “1/3 no Jun…”
20eastTransparent GirlNUMBER GIRL
Transparent GirlNUMBER GIRLplay_arrow
Number Girl, formed in Fukuoka in 1995…
21eastJAMTHE YELLOW MONKEY
JAMTHE YELLOW MONKEYplay_arrow
Since their 2016 reunion, they have continued to work energetically…
22eastSingin’ in the Rainthe pillows
Singin' in the Rainthe pillowsplay_arrow
the pillows Youth Song Searching for Myself in the Rainy Town
23eastTurn your feet toward the dance hall on 3104th Street.BLANKEY JET CITY
Turn your feet toward the dance hall on 3104th Street.BLANKEY JET CITYplay_arrow
It was a song included on the third album...
24eastYoung PeopleSanīdēi Sābisu
Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisuplay_arrow
A representative work that gently portrays the delicate emotions of youth
25eastHOWEVERGLAY
HOWEVERGLAYplay_arrow
By now, GLAY being a visual-kei ba…
26eastWinter,againGLAY
Winter,againGLAYplay_arrow
This is GLAY’s 16th single. Intro…
27eastBoogieTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT
BoogieTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANTplay_arrow
The album "Chicken Zombie" ranked 10th on the Oricon charts…
28eastFreeze My LoveGLAY
Freeze My LoveGLAYplay_arrow
A single released in 1995. Still before they broke through...
29eastORIONRAZZ MA TAZZ
ORIONRAZZ MA TAZZplay_arrow
Formed in 1994 and, regrettably, in 1999…
30eastLike tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
Like tonight's moonElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
Elephant Kashimashi’s 15th single and…
31eastTouch and changesupittsu
Touch and changesupittsuplay_arrow
After the breakthrough of songs like “Nagisa” and “Scarlet”…
32eastwishB’z
wishB'zplay_arrow
B’z’s overwhelming musicality and powerful message
33eastNagisasupittsu
Nagisasupittsuplay_arrow
A poignant classic that colors the end of summer
34eastUntil the World Ends…WANDS
Until the World Ends…WANDSplay_arrow
A rock band active since 1991, …
35eastBURNTHE YELLOW MONKEY
BURNTHE YELLOW MONKEYplay_arrow
THE YELLOW MONKEY's 13…
36eastAs I love you selfishly, I won’t hurt anyone but you.B’z
As I love you selfishly, I won’t hurt anyone but you.B'zplay_arrow
Released as B’z’s 12th single…
37eastKafu TsumuGUNIW TOOLS
Kafu TsumuGUNIW TOOLSplay_arrow
Something like rock, something like industrial, bi...
38eastYouth Frenzysanīdī sābisu
Youth Frenzysanīdī sābisuplay_arrow
Sunny Day Service is Soga on vocal and guitar…
39eastinnocent worldMr.Children
innocent worldMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr.Children’s 5th single and…
40eastHoneyL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
HoneyL'Arc〜en〜Cielplay_arrow
In 2020, a concert was scheduled for the first time in about eight years...
41eastKiss me right nowLINDBERG
Kiss me right nowLINDBERGplay_arrow
Released as LINDBERG’s 2nd single, it…
42eastSeesaw Game: A Song of Brave LoveMr.Children
Seesaw Game: A Song of Brave LoveMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Their ninth single, released in August 1995, Mi…
43eastOrange-colored moonMarukoshiasu Banpu
Orange-colored moonMarukoshiasu Banpuplay_arrow
Marcosias Bump was a Japanese gra... in the 1990s.
44eastNoisy NeighborSPARKS GO GO
Noisy NeighborSPARKS GO GOplay_arrow
SPARKS GO, who debuted in 1990 …
45eastYou are not aloneDEEN
You are not aloneDEENplay_arrow
When talking about the J-POP scene of the 1990s…
46eastCome see me, I NEED YOU!GO-BANG’S
Come see me, I NEED YOU!GO-BANG'Splay_arrow
As GO-BANG’S’ 5th single…
47eastOver the rainbowMOON CHILD
Over the rainbowMOON CHILDplay_arrow
Formed in 1995, and by 1996 they had gone major…
48eastexcuseSha ran Q
excuseSha ran Qplay_arrow
A quintessential 90s breakup rock ballad
49eastA third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE
A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADEplay_arrow
Released as SIAM SHADE’s 6th single…
50eastShangri-LaDenki Gurūvu
Shangri-LaDenki Gurūvuplay_arrow
Released as Denki Groove’s 8th single, “Lily”…
51eastCRASHPENICILLIN
CRASHPENICILLINplay_arrow
Speaking of PENICILLIN, the anime “Sugo…”
52eastLove Is the Last Fairy Talesukanchi
Love Is the Last Fairy Talesukanchiplay_arrow
A band from Osaka led by ROLLY, Sukan…
53eastLOVE PHANTOMB’z
LOVE PHANTOMB'zplay_arrow
B’z’s intense rock tune shakes the soul.
54eastsummer festivalJITTERIN’JINN
summer festivalJITTERIN'JINNplay_arrow
A song released in August 1990 (Heisei 2)…
55eastKujira No. 12JUDY AND MARY
Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
JUDY AND MARY's sports cheer song
56eastJust by you being herekome kome CLUB
Just by you being herekome kome CLUBplay_arrow
13th single. Released in May 1992...
57eastALONED-SHADE
ALONED-SHADEplay_arrow
D-SHADE, who debuted in the late ’90s…
58eastTruthFANATIC◇CRISIS
TruthFANATIC◇CRISISplay_arrow
He was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the next-generation visual kei. So...
59eastGoodbye, Humanitytama
Goodbye, Humanitytamaplay_arrow
It was released as Tama’s debut single…
60eastI want to shout that I love you.BAAD
I want to shout that I love you.BAADplay_arrow
BAAD's SLAM DUNK theme song
61eastTime goes byEvery Little Thing
Time goes byEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
Eighth single. One of ELT’s representative songs...
62eastsupercarCASCADE
supercarCASCADEplay_arrow
The programmed beats and fast-paced guitars blend to...
63eastSilent JealousyX(X JAPAN)
Silent JealousyX(X JAPAN)play_arrow
A masterpiece by X JAPAN that shifts from silence to a gallop
64eastboykuroyume
boykuroyumeplay_arrow
Started activities in 1991 and in 1999…
65eastSad Asian BoyTHE YELLOW MONKEY
Sad Asian BoyTHE YELLOW MONKEYplay_arrow
This song, released as the third single, ...
66eastcherrysupittsu
cherrysupittsuplay_arrow
The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth
67eastLet yourself go,Let myself goDragon Ash
Let yourself go,Let myself goDragon Ashplay_arrow
Dragon Ash’s groundbreaking turning-point single
68eastDon’t give upZARD
Don't give upZARDplay_arrow
The Appeal and Influence of ZARD’s Signature Song “Makenaide”
69eastRomantic Flightkome kome CLUB
Romantic Flightkome kome CLUBplay_arrow
Kome Kome Club’s “Roman Hikō” is trending
70eastDAYDREAMJUDY AND MARY
DAYDREAMJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
An early JUDY AND MARY song. Oricon No. 58…
71eastTrustOBLIVION DUST
TrustOBLIVION DUSTplay_arrow
OBLIVION DUST has a grunge vibe...
72eastberangkatTHE BOOM
berangkatTHE BOOMplay_arrow
With the massive hit of “Shima Uta,” their name recognition also rose, and…
73eastJealousyJUSTY NASTY
JealousyJUSTY NASTY
J… formed in 1987 by Kenichi Fujisaki
74eastKOME KOME WARkome kome CLUB
KOME KOME WARkome kome CLUBplay_arrow
A funk number packed with the charms of Kome Kome Club...
75eastSHADELUNA SEA
SHADELUNA SEAplay_arrow
Originally, it was LUNA SEA’s indie…
76eastloadTHE toraburyū
loadTHE toraburyūplay_arrow
Released as a single by THE Toraryu...
77eastRanchu (a breed of goldfish)tama
Ranchu (a breed of goldfish)tamaplay_arrow
Tama is so strongly associated with “Sayonara Jinrui”...
78eastBanzai ~I’m glad I love you~Urufuruzu
Banzai ~I'm glad I love you~Urufuruzuplay_arrow
Ulfuls 10, released in February 1996…
79eastDon’t avert your eyes.DEEN
Don't avert your eyes.DEENplay_arrow
DEEN’s refreshing summer song
80eastRusty NailX JAPAN
Rusty NailX JAPANplay_arrow
The enchanting fusion of synth and rock
81eastYAH YAH YAHCHAGE and ASKA
YAH YAH YAHCHAGE and ASKAplay_arrow
This is the 31st single. It’s their first-ever double A-side s…
82eastMelty LoveSHAZNA
Melty LoveSHAZNAplay_arrow
It was released as SHAZNA’s debut single…
83eastErotica SevenSazan Ōrusutāzu
Erotica SevenSazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
Southern All Stars' 32nd single and…
84eastSorrow hurts.T-BOLAN
Sorrow hurts.T-BOLANplay_arrow
Boasting CD sales totaling 17 million copies...
85eastThat’s important.Daiji MAN Burazāzu Bando
That's important.Daiji MAN Burazāzu Bandoplay_arrow
Daijiman Brothers Band’s 3rd sing…
86eastRapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu
Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsuplay_arrow
Pocket Biscuits' debut song was a big hit
87eastLOVE FLIESL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
LOVE FLIESL'Arc〜en〜Cielplay_arrow
A grunge number used as a TV drama theme song
88eastWALKHUSKING BEE
WALKHUSKING BEEplay_arrow
Powerful, catchy, nostalgic, and somehow…
89eastSwaying feelingsZARD
Swaying feelingsZARDplay_arrow
Vocalist Izumi Sakai has passed away suddenly...
90eastHAPPY BIRTHDAYLINDBERG
HAPPY BIRTHDAYLINDBERGplay_arrow
Vocal performance commentary on LINDBERG’s “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”
91eastsuddenlyFIELD OF VIEW
suddenlyFIELD OF VIEWplay_arrow
The second shot of FIELD OF VIEW’s sing…
92eastLiar! Liar!B’z
Liar! Liar!B'zplay_arrow
B’z’s guitar rock brimming with a sense of speed
93eastFor the momentEvery Little Thing
For the momentEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
Every Little Thing's signature ballad
94eastlipsGLAY
lipsGLAYplay_arrow
A poignant love song by GLAY from 1997
95eastTemptationGLAY
TemptationGLAYplay_arrow
In 1999, they were going to hold a concert for 200,000 people, but...
96eastevery little thing every precious thingLINDBERG
every little thing every precious thingLINDBERGplay_arrow
Centered around Maki Watase, a former idol vocalist…
97eastDESIRELUNA SEA
DESIRELUNA SEAplay_arrow
A representative of the ’90s who sang passionately about love…
98eastEndless JourneyMr.Children
Endless JourneyMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Numerous million-sellers in both singles and albums…
99eastI should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu
I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsuplay_arrow
When talking about the J-POP scene of the 1990s…
100eastSoulmatesupittsu
Soulmatesupittsuplay_arrow
A gem of a song by Spitz that questions love and life
101eastI want to take only you away just like this.DEEN
I want to take only you away just like this.DEENplay_arrow
DEEN’s debut song, singing about the heartache of a broken romance
102eastWhite ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)
White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)play_arrow
A love song about a Christmas breakup
103eastA town where it snowsUNICORN
A town where it snowsUNICORNplay_arrow
A classic song that warmly portrays a year-end snowy landscape
104eastGive it some guts!!Urufuruzu
Give it some guts!!Urufuruzuplay_arrow
Released as Ulfuls' 9th single...
105east18 monthsSha ran Q
18 monthsSha ran Qplay_arrow
This is Sharam Q's debut song. Sharam Q and…
106eastSly womanSha ran Q
Sly womanSha ran Qplay_arrow
Released as Sharan Q’s 7th single…
107eastMy Eyes ~Oh, my eyes~DIE IN CRIES
My Eyes ~Oh, my eyes~DIE IN CRIESplay_arrow
…that HIDE, formerly of X JAPAN, belonged to…
108eastA happy yet embarrassed walk of shame in the morning.DREAMS COME TRUE
A happy yet embarrassed walk of shame in the morning.DREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
The third single, released in September 1989…
109eastPoem of SunlightLe Couple
Poem of SunlightLe Coupleplay_arrow
The fifth single overall. Released in May 1997…
110eastLet’s shoot through the present with a rusty machine gun.WANDS
Let's shoot through the present with a rusty machine gun.WANDSplay_arrow
With vocalist Sho Uesugi and guitarist Hiroshi Shibasaki leaving...
111eastLOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE
LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
18th single (double A-side single). 1…
112eastI want to become a rainbow.TUBE
I want to become a rainbow.TUBEplay_arrow
TU with an up-tempo song that has a strong summer vibe…
113eastOdoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu
Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzuplay_arrow
This is B.B. Queens' first single...
114eastThanks.DREAMS COME TRUE
Thanks.DREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
It was released in February 1995. Lyrics by Yoshi…
115eastThe decisive battle is on Friday.DREAMS COME TRUE
The decisive battle is on Friday.DREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
In September 1992, the 11th single (double…
116eastYELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPoketto Bisuketsu
YELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPoketto Bisuketsuplay_arrow
Nippon TV’s flagship variety show at the time,...
117eastRomancePENICILLIN
RomancePENICILLINplay_arrow
As PENICILLIN’s 6th single...