[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics.
When you think of the Japanese music scene of the ’90s, what kind of sounds come to mind? It was an era when million-selling hits kept emerging and CD sales marked a golden age for the music industry.
Hit songs poured from TV and radio into the streets, and everyone was humming the same tunes.
From guitar rock to dance music, from the Shibuya-kei movement to the Being-kei style, a wide variety of genres coexisted, each shining with its own unique brilliance in the ’90s.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of hit songs that colored that rich musical scene.
For those who lived through the era, they’ll feel nostalgic; for first-time listeners, they’ll sound fresh.
Please take your time and enjoy.
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- Hits that resonate across generations! Popular 1990s songs on TikTok
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- [Hit Songs of 1999] A roundup of timeless tracks that dominated the charts!
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the Heisei era: Let’s look back at iconic songs from the 1990s and 2000s.
- 1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: classic and hit summer songs
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- [Hit Songs of 1996] Spotlight on the iconic tracks and popular tunes that colored the Heisei era!
- Hit Japanese songs that represent 1997. Recommended masterpieces.
- [90s Music] Shibuya-kei Classics: Recommended Popular Songs
[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs representing the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics (1–10)
Just by you being herekome kome CLUB
Just from the opening line, you can immediately tell what it is—a timeless classic that continues to be sung by many singers even beyond the 2020s.
It topped the 1992 annual singles chart: Kome Kome Club’s “Kimi ga Iru Dake de.” The early ’90s could practically be called the years of Kome Kome Club, given how active they were, but this song in particular was used as the theme for the smash-hit drama “Sugao no Mama de” and achieved sales that left a mark on Japanese music history.
innocent worldMr.Children
In 1994, Mr.
Children finally took the top spot on the annual singles chart.
They had been popular before, but I believe this was their first time finishing first for the year.
The single sold 1.81 million copies, edging out second place by a narrow margin, but they won it brilliantly.
Incidentally, the second best-selling single of 1994 was Kōmi Hirose’s “Romance no Kamisama,” which shows just how fierce the competition was.
SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA
One of the most iconic hit songs of the early 1990s, and one of the most famous in CHAGE and ASKA’s discography, is “SAY YES.” The song ranked second on the 1991 singles chart and sold 2.5 million copies.
It is undeniably one of their signature tracks and a classic of the 1990s.
Heisei Retro: Hit Japanese songs that defined the ’90s. Recommended J‑Pop classics (11–20)
YAH YAH YAHCHAGE and ASKA
The number one single in the 1993 rankings was finally claimed by Chage & Aska.
For them, it was a massive hit on par with “SAY YES,” one of their signature songs, and it became a double-million seller with over 2.4 million copies sold—a classic that remains in the musical history of the Heisei era.
The drama for which this song served as the theme, “If You Turn Around, He’s There,” was also a huge hit, and many people who remember that time surely recall the intense stare-downs between Yuji Oda and Ken Ishiguro whenever they hear the song.
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
Discovered by Tetsuya Komuro in the 1990s, Namie Amuro produced numerous blockbuster hits that left a mark on Japanese music history.
From the 2000s onward, she pursued her own path before making a graceful retirement, becoming a true legendary singer.
Among her works, her biggest hit of the 1990s—and a ballad still beloved today as a wedding staple—is “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?”.
Even now, in the 2020s, it remains a treasured masterpiece, covered by many singers and continually cherished.
loadTHE toraburyū
An ultra-cool music video featuring a harmonica performance, wind blowing, with taillights and city nightscapes in the background.
Using sign language in the video was groundbreaking, and the song is still fondly referenced—in a good way—and loved at karaoke.
The chorus lyrics pierce the hearts of men and women who’ve experienced breakups.
Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryoko with t.komuro
From 1994 onward, Tetsuya Komuro’s influence as a music producer grew stronger.
I believe the reason is that the success of this song gave him confidence.
After that, he churned out dozens of hit songs over many years and became the darling of the era.