[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.
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Heisei Retro: Hit Japanese songs that defined the ’90s. Recommended J‑Pop classics (11–20)
LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE
Released in 1995.
With its relaxed tempo, highly lyrical lyrics, and a backing track that gradually builds in richness and grandeur, this very memorable song became a massive hit, achieving double million sales as a single.
It’s a track that can be called a signature song of Dreams Come True, children of the Heisei era.
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.
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.
Dango Three BrothersHayami Kentarō, Shigemori Ayumi
It originally aired only within a children’s TV program, but word of mouth snowballed and it became an unexpected hit, sparking conversation among adults as well.
It gained wider recognition as a novelty favorite at karaoke, too.
Fitting for the “Dango Three Brothers,” it’s sung to a tango rhythm.
In the Oricon single sales rankings of the 1990s, it impressively took first place, which shows just how much of a craze the song started.
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.