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_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | The End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT | play_arrow | The time in the late ’90s, known as the CD bubble... |
| 2east | ROSIERLUNA SEA | play_arrow | Shaping the visual kei scene since the 1990s… |
| 3east | frecklesJUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | All four of them have distinctive personalities and talents... |
| 4east | Robinsonsupittsu | play_arrow | ...the qualities possessed by Masamune Kusano, who is in charge of writing and composing the songs... |
| 5east | Flowers of EvilBUCK-TICK | play_arrow | Formed as BUCK-TICK in 1985... |
| 6east | Forever LoveX JAPAN | play_arrow | The category that is so-called visual-kei… |
| 7east | WHO’LL BE THE NEXTHi-STANDARD | play_arrow | 90s Japanese punk and melodic core... |
| 8east | Red tambourineBLANKEY JET CITY | play_arrow | 1990s love songs by BLANKEY JET CITY |
| 9east | GLORIAZIGGY | play_arrow | I listened to their songs in 90s variety shows and commercials… |
| 10east | Nameless PoemMr.Children | play_arrow | Mr. Children, also known by the nickname “Misuchiru,”… |
| 11east | Rose of PassionTHE BLUE HEARTS | play_arrow | Even after the 2020s have passed, upon hearing that name... |
| 12east | cream sodaSUPERCAR | play_arrow | Emotions wavering between the transience of youth and the reality before me… |
| 13east | The wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOG | play_arrow | Pause a little from the busyness of everyday life and your… |
| 14east | Primalorijinarurabu | play_arrow | Before dawn on a winter morning, in the silence of falling snow, my beloved… |
| 15east | Nagisasupittsu | play_arrow | A poignant classic that colors the end of summer |
| 16east | Crazy Babyfisshumanzu | play_arrow | A gentle, dreamlike melody and a wistful singing voice touch the heart... |
| 17east | Stay GoldHi-STANDARD | play_arrow | Despite being an indie band at the time, it was unusual... |
| 18east | wishB’z | play_arrow | B’z’s overwhelming musicality and powerful message |
| 19east | Wonderful DaysUNICORN | play_arrow | Riding on a melody that gently embraces farewells and change… |
| 20east | Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisu | play_arrow | A singing voice that seeps into the heart like gentle sunlight, and… |
| 21east | Singin’ in the Rainthe pillows | play_arrow | In May 1991, the pillows... |
| 22east | LOVE PHANTOMB’z | play_arrow | B’z’s intense rock tune shakes the soul. |
| 23east | Transparent GirlNUMBER GIRL | play_arrow | Number Girl, formed in Fukuoka in 1995… |
| 24east | JAMTHE YELLOW MONKEY | play_arrow | Since their 2016 reunion, they have continued to work energetically… |
| 25east | excuseSha ran Q | play_arrow | A quintessential 90s breakup rock ballad |
| 26east | PassionSIAM SHADE | play_arrow | Speaking of SIAM SHADE, “1/3 no Jun…” |
| 27east | RALLYCymbals | play_arrow | A deft melody and a refreshing take on the push-and-pull of romance... |
| 28east | Turn your feet toward the dance hall on 3104th Street.BLANKEY JET CITY | play_arrow | It was a song included on the third album... |
| 29east | BoogieTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT | play_arrow | The album "Chicken Zombie" ranked 10th on the Oricon charts… |
| 30east | You are not aloneDEEN | play_arrow | When talking about the J-POP scene of the 1990s… |
| 31east | Touch and changesupittsu | play_arrow | After the breakthrough of songs like “Nagisa” and “Scarlet”… |
| 32east | HOWEVERGLAY | play_arrow | By now, GLAY being a visual-kei ba… |
| 33north_east | ORIONRAZZ MA TAZZ | play_arrow | Formed in 1994 and, regrettably, in 1999… |
| 34south_east | Let yourself go,Let myself goDragon Ash | play_arrow | Dragon Ash’s groundbreaking turning-point single |
| 35east | Over the rainbowMOON CHILD | play_arrow | Formed in 1995, and by 1996 they had gone major… |
| 36east | Silent JealousyX(X JAPAN) | play_arrow | A masterpiece by X JAPAN that shifts from silence to a gallop |
| 37east | Freeze My LoveGLAY | play_arrow | A single released in 1995. Still before they broke through... |
| 38north_east | BURNTHE YELLOW MONKEY | play_arrow | THE YELLOW MONKEY's 13… |
| 39south_east | supercarCASCADE | play_arrow | The programmed beats and fast-paced guitars blend to... |
| 40east | Orange-colored moonMarukoshiasu Banpu | play_arrow | Marcosias Bump was a Japanese gra... in the 1990s. |
| 41east | As I love you selfishly, I won’t hurt anyone but you.B’z | play_arrow | Released as B’z’s 12th single… |
| 42east | Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi | play_arrow | Elephant Kashimashi’s 15th single and… |
| 43east | Until the World Ends…WANDS | play_arrow | A rock band active since 1991, … |
| 44east | Winter,againGLAY | play_arrow | This is GLAY’s 16th single. Intro… |
| 45east | Come see me, I NEED YOU!GO-BANG’S | play_arrow | As GO-BANG’S’ 5th single… |
| 46east | Youth Frenzysanīdī sābisu | play_arrow | Sunny Day Service is Soga on vocal and guitar… |
| 47east | Love Is the Last Fairy Talesukanchi | play_arrow | A band from Osaka led by ROLLY, Sukan… |
| 48east | Kafu TsumuGUNIW TOOLS | play_arrow | Something like rock, something like industrial, bi... |
| 49east | innocent worldMr.Children | play_arrow | Mr.Children’s 5th single and… |
| 50east | Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | Bouncing powerfully, like an energetic game of soccer... |
| 51east | HoneyL’Arc〜en〜Ciel | play_arrow | In 2020, a concert was scheduled for the first time in about eight years... |
| 52east | Kiss me right nowLINDBERG | play_arrow | Released as LINDBERG’s 2nd single, it… |
| 53east | Rusty NailX JAPAN | play_arrow | The enchanting fusion of synth and rock |
| 54east | Noisy NeighborSPARKS GO GO | play_arrow | SPARKS GO, who debuted in 1990 … |
| 55east | CRASHPENICILLIN | play_arrow | Speaking of PENICILLIN, the anime “Sugo…” |
| 56east | Seesaw Game: A Song of Brave LoveMr.Children | play_arrow | Their ninth single, released in August 1995, Mi… |
| 57east | A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE | play_arrow | Released as SIAM SHADE’s 6th single… |
| 58east | I want to shout that I love you.BAAD | play_arrow | A rock vibe packed with the meaning of the ultimate “bad.” |
| 59north_east | summer festivalJITTERIN’JINN | play_arrow | A song released in August 1990 (Heisei 2)… |
| 60south_east | Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu | play_arrow | I can’t believe this came from a TV show concept... |
| 61east | LOVE FLIESL’Arc〜en〜Ciel | play_arrow | Released in October 1999, the drama “Aoi …” |
| 62east | Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN | play_arrow | The fifth release by DEEN, which achieved million-seller status... |
| 63east | TruthFANATIC◇CRISIS | play_arrow | He was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the next-generation visual kei. So... |
| 64east | cherrysupittsu | play_arrow | The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth |
| 65east | Just by you being herekome kome CLUB | play_arrow | 13th single. Released in May 1992... |
| 66east | ALONED-SHADE | play_arrow | D-SHADE, who debuted in the late ’90s… |
| 67east | berangkatTHE BOOM | play_arrow | With the massive hit of “Shima Uta,” their name recognition also rose, and… |
| 68east | Goodbye, Humanitytama | play_arrow | It was released as Tama’s debut single… |
| 69east | Don’t give upZARD | play_arrow | Beie..., which enjoyed explosive popularity in the 1990s, |
| 70east | Romantic Flightkome kome CLUB | play_arrow | Kome Kome CLU, which has released numerous famous songs into the world... |
| 71east | DAYDREAMJUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | An early JUDY AND MARY song. Oricon No. 58… |
| 72east | TrustOBLIVION DUST | play_arrow | OBLIVION DUST has a grunge vibe... |
| 73east | JealousyJUSTY NASTY | ![]() | J… formed in 1987 by Kenichi Fujisaki |
| 74east | Time goes byEvery Little Thing | play_arrow | Eighth single. One of ELT’s representative songs... |
| 75east | Shangri-LaDenki Gurūvu | play_arrow | Released as Denki Groove’s 8th single, “Lily”… |
| 76east | Sorrow hurts.T-BOLAN | play_arrow | Boasting CD sales totaling 17 million copies... |
| 77east | SHADELUNA SEA | play_arrow | Originally, it was LUNA SEA’s indie… |
| 78east | boykuroyume | play_arrow | Started activities in 1991 and in 1999… |
| 79east | YAH YAH YAHCHAGE and ASKA | play_arrow | This is the 31st single. It’s their first-ever double A-side s… |
| 80east | Melty LoveSHAZNA | play_arrow | It was released as SHAZNA’s debut single… |
| 81east | Sad Asian BoyTHE YELLOW MONKEY | play_arrow | This song, released as the third single, ... |
| 82east | KOME KOME WARkome kome CLUB | play_arrow | A funk number packed with the charms of Kome Kome Club... |
| 83east | loadTHE toraburyū | play_arrow | Released as a single by THE Toraryu... |
| 84east | Ranchu (a breed of goldfish)tama | play_arrow | Tama is so strongly associated with “Sayonara Jinrui”... |
| 85east | Banzai ~I’m glad I love you~Urufuruzu | play_arrow | Ulfuls 10, released in February 1996… |
| 86east | lipsGLAY | play_arrow | A classic song that sensually portrays a heartrending romance, brimming with passion… |
| 87east | Soulmatesupittsu | play_arrow | I find the meaning of life in the small moments of everyday life... |
| 88east | Erotica SevenSazan Ōrusutāzu | play_arrow | Southern All Stars' 32nd single and… |
| 89east | That’s important.Daiji MAN Burazāzu Bando | play_arrow | Daijiman Brothers Band’s 3rd sing… |
| 90east | suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW | play_arrow | The second shot of FIELD OF VIEW’s sing… |
| 91east | every little thing every precious thingLINDBERG | play_arrow | Centered around Maki Watase, a former idol vocalist… |
| 92east | I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu | play_arrow | When talking about the J-POP scene of the 1990s… |
| 93east | Let’s shoot through the present with a rusty machine gun.WANDS | play_arrow | With vocalist Sho Uesugi and guitarist Hiroshi Shibasaki leaving... |
| 94east | Liar! Liar!B’z | play_arrow | An overwhelming guitar riff and a sound brimming with speed… |
| 95east | For the momentEvery Little Thing | play_arrow | Elegant, translucent vocals and a sophisticated a… |
| 96east | WALKHUSKING BEE | play_arrow | Powerful, catchy, nostalgic, and somehow… |
| 97east | Swaying feelingsZARD | play_arrow | Vocalist Izumi Sakai has passed away suddenly... |
| 98east | HAPPY BIRTHDAYLINDBERG | play_arrow | As LINDBERG’s biggest hit album… |
| 99east | A happy yet embarrassed walk of shame in the morning.DREAMS COME TRUE | play_arrow | The third single, released in September 1989… |
| 100east | I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN | play_arrow | It begins with the feeling of quietly gazing at the cityscape, and then los... |
| 101east | White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S) | play_arrow | A love song about a Christmas breakup |
| 102east | A town where it snowsUNICORN | play_arrow | Capture the scene of a snow-covered town at year’s end with a warm gaze… |
| 103east | TemptationGLAY | play_arrow | In 1999, they were going to hold a concert for 200,000 people, but... |
| 104east | DESIRELUNA SEA | play_arrow | A representative of the ’90s who sang passionately about love… |
| 105east | Endless JourneyMr.Children | play_arrow | Numerous million-sellers in both singles and albums… |
| 106east | Give it some guts!!Urufuruzu | play_arrow | Released as Ulfuls' 9th single... |
| 107east | 18 monthsSha ran Q | play_arrow | This is Sharam Q's debut song. Sharam Q and… |
| 108east | Sly womanSha ran Q | play_arrow | Released as Sharan Q’s 7th single… |
| 109east | My Eyes ~Oh, my eyes~DIE IN CRIES | play_arrow | …that HIDE, formerly of X JAPAN, belonged to… |
| 110east | Poem of SunlightLe Couple | play_arrow | The fifth single overall. Released in May 1997… |
| 111east | LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE | play_arrow | 18th single (double A-side single). 1… |
| 112east | I want to become a rainbow.TUBE | play_arrow | TU with an up-tempo song that has a strong summer vibe… |
| 113east | Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu | play_arrow | This is B.B. Queens' first single... |
| 114east | Thanks.DREAMS COME TRUE | play_arrow | It was released in February 1995. Lyrics by Yoshi… |
| 115east | The decisive battle is on Friday.DREAMS COME TRUE | play_arrow | In September 1992, the 11th single (double… |
| 116east | YELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPoketto Bisuketsu | play_arrow | Nippon TV’s flagship variety show at the time,... |
| 117east | RomancePENICILLIN | play_arrow | As PENICILLIN’s 6th single... |


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