[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 representing the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics (21–30)
I want to love rather than be lovedKinKi Kids
Released in November 1997, this is KinKi Kids’ second single.
It was written as the theme song for the NTV drama “Bokura no Yuuki: Miman City,” starring Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto in dual lead roles.
Coming right after their debut single “Garasu no Shonen” sold around two million copies, it was truly a make-or-break release.
The lyrics were penned by Hiromi Mori, with music composed by Koji Makaino.
Set to a sleek, urban dance beat, it powerfully portrays a young person’s resolve to take the initiative in love rather than remain passive.
Even while chafing at a reality that doesn’t go their way, the determination to keep moving forward by continuing to care for someone is deeply affecting.
It debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and became a hit with cumulative sales topping 1.64 million.
It’s a song I’d especially recommend to anyone who feels clumsy in love but wants to take that first step.
Hello, Again ~A Place That’s Been Around Since Long Ago~My Little Lover
Takeshi Kobayashi, the renowned producer behind acts like Mr.
Children and Southern All Stars; akko, with her crystal-clear vocals; and guitarist Kenji Fujii—these three artists together formed MY LITTLE LOVER, making a striking debut in the mid-1990s.
Their third single, released in August 1995, was chosen as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Owaranai Natsu” (“Endless Summer”), claiming the No.
1 spot on the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks.
It also ranked sixth on the year-end chart and became a massive hit, far surpassing a million in sales.
From its memorable guitar intro to the grand arrangement that gradually layers piano and strings, the song is irresistible.
The lyrics, which look back on past memories and one’s origins, tighten the chest a little more with every listen.
It’s a song that quietly stays by your side when, on an autumn evening, you find yourself wanting to revisit days gone by.
[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs representing the ’90s. Recommended J-POP classics (31–40)
What kind of good things?SMAP
This mid-tempo number features a gentle, warm melody and lyrics that capture the quiet happiness hidden in everyday life, leaving a deep impression on the heart.
Released in September 1995 as SMAP’s 18th single, it became widely familiar as the theme song for Calbee’s Potato Chips commercials starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Shingo Katori.
Issued on September 9, the anniversary of their debut, it topped the Oricon weekly chart and marked a hit that reflected the group’s growing maturity.
Its message—valuing time spent with someone close over flashy events—offers a gentle embrace for hearts worn out by busy days.
Tearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzu
This is the Southern All Stars’ 31st single, released in July 1992, notable for its gentle guitar arpeggios and softly supportive keyboard tones.
Written specifically as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta,” it is also known as the first song Keisuke Kuwata fully wrote to order for a drama.
Its lyrics, which carefully weave unadorned Japanese to portray the wavering feelings of lovers on the verge of parting, quietly seep into the listener’s heart.
The single topped the Oricon chart for seven consecutive weeks and shipped a total of 1.7 million copies, becoming the band’s first million-selling single.
It’s a gem of a ballad that gently keeps you company on nights when you gaze quietly at the end of love.
I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu
This is Spitz’s eighth single, released in April 1994.
It was originally written for a different TV drama but wasn’t selected and was instead released as a single.
Later, in 1996, it was chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Hakusen Nagashi,” bringing it back into the spotlight and earning it the No.
1 spot on the Oricon weekly chart.
It became a million-selling classic.
The lyrics poetically capture the unique struggles of adolescence, a vague anxiety about becoming an adult, and the feeling of one’s heart being set free by staying close to someone.
Alongside sweet romance, it weaves in the harshness of reality and a sense of loneliness, yet its forward-looking stance truly resonates.
The airy guitar riff and Masamune Kusano’s crystal-clear vocals gently envelop the listener.
It’s a pop tune that continues to be loved across generations, accompanying life’s milestones—like graduation ceremonies and the start of new chapters.
PRIDEImai Miki
A signature love ballad of the 1990s, this is one of Miki Imai’s most beloved songs.
Written, composed, and arranged by Tomoyasu Hotei—who would later become her partner—it was released in November 1996 as her 12th single and became a massive hit, selling approximately 1.62 million copies.
The protagonist, who sings that love for a precious person is her own pride, resonated deeply with many listeners at the time and continues to find empathy across generations.
Its refined, understated arrangement and Imai’s clear, pure vocals create a soundscape that wraps you in warmth every time you listen.
The song also drew attention as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Doc,” and enjoyed a long run on the charts alongside the show’s popularity.
When you want to feel the beauty of loving someone with sincerity, take your time with the lyrics as you listen.
Addicted To YouUtada Hikaru
This is Hikaru Utada’s fourth single, released in November 1999, and it came out as an advance single for the album Distance.
The song also drew attention for being featured in a Sony commercial.
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis—who have worked with Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson—participated in the production, delivering an authentic R&B sound that was unparalleled in Japan at the time.
It topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and became a massive hit, selling a total of about 1.78 million copies.
The lyrics vividly portray an intense fixation on the other person and the pain of being unable to let go.
Even when reason understands, the emotions can’t keep up—capturing the raw conflict of love that really hits home.
Its distinctive atmosphere blends heavy beats and urban cool with a lingering sense of poignancy.
It’s a classic you should hear if you know what it feels like to be drowning in love, or if there’s someone you still can’t forget.