A collection of nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1980s that still linger in our ears
Speaking of the 1980s, it was a time when countless timeless hits emerged that remain popular even today!
It was also an era filled with artists who influenced many of today’s musicians, and in many ways can be seen as the dawn of J-POP leading up to the explosive million-selling boom of the 1990s.
In this article, we’ll introduce a generous selection of especially recommended songs from the hit-packed 80s.
Please enjoy these nostalgic chart-toppers that are sure to bring back memories of the time.
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- Masterpieces and hit songs of 80s Japanese pop (kayōkyoku)
- [Nostalgic Classics] Hit Japanese Love Songs from the 1980s
- A special feature on classic and hit songs by bands that were active in the 1980s
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- 80s commercial songs. A roundup of Japanese songs from the 80s that have been used in commercials.
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese pop idols of the 80s
- Popular Nostalgic Hits and Classics Ranking [1980s Japanese Music Ranking]
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- A heartbreak song that was a hit in the 1980s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
Hit Japanese Songs from the 1980s: A Nostalgic Collection of Unforgettable Classics (61–70)
The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeHarada Tomoyo
The theme song of the same name from Nobuhiko Obayashi’s “Onomichi Trilogy” film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
It’s sung by Tomoyo Harada, who also starred in the movie, with lyrics and composition by Yumi Matsutoya, known as Yuming.
Played over the ending, the song was etched vividly into viewers’ minds by the film’s direction, and it ranked No.
1 in Record Collectors’ “Top 100 Idol Songs of the ’80s.” And as for whether Tomoyo Harada truly ‘leapt through time,’ I have my doubts—she seems to have maintained an unchanging beauty, hasn’t she?
crimsonX JAPAN
A signature song by the legendary rock band X JAPAN.
It was their first major-label single, and it won a top music award in 1989, the year it was released.
Loved by fans, it has also become a staple cheer song for high school baseball and soccer.
The lyrics powerfully express the sorrow and emptiness of lost love.
“Kurenai” means the color red, but it refers to a shade that’s even more vivid than ordinary red, vividly conveying the intensity of love.
Crescent Moon MelancholyBARBEE BOYS
It’s a song included on the 13th single, released in November 1989.
It was used as the commercial song for Meiji Seika’s “Meiji Choco Bar body Chocolate.” I love this song and used to listen to it over and over with my friends back then.
It brings back a flood of memories from that time.
Vixen on the RunBARBEE BOYS
It was released as a single version in April 1987.
I got to know it because it was used as the commercial song for Mitsuya Cider.
The band was very popular at the time, and the song is very nostalgic.
It was also performed on Fuji TV’s “SMAP×SMAP Masterpiece Song Festival” in April 2008.
The seasons change only you.BOØWY
“Kisetsu ga Kimi Dake wo Kaeru” is BOØWY’s seventh single, released in 1987.
This track effectively became their final single.
The music video simply shows ordinary people appearing one by one, yet its impact is strong—it somehow feels powerfully emotional.
The people featured were members of their fan club, and it’s said that a few later-famous entertainers, who were unknown at the time, are among them.
Fall in LoveKobayashi Akiko
It was a debut single released in 1985.
As the theme song for the drama “Friday Wives III: Falling in Love,” it became a major hit, reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts, and won the Japan Record Award’s New Artist Prize.
Akiko Kobayashi also wrote the lyrics and composed the music, and has provided songs to many singers.
huge nuisanceUNICORN
Released in 1989, this was Unicorn’s first single—a rare case where a band put out a single about two years after their debut.
The music video featuring a performance with an orchestra became a hot topic, and it’s still a crowd-pleaser at live shows today.