[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 ’90s. Recommended J-POP classics (31–40)
I’m glad I met you.Koizumi Kyoko
Kyoko Koizumi’s 32nd single, released in May 1991, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Papa to Nacchan” and became a million seller, topping the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks.
Koizumi herself wrote the lyrics, with composition and arrangement by Takeshi Kobayashi.
While the lyrics—expressing gratitude and regret toward someone after a breakup and a wish to meet again—sound like a love song at first, they were actually written with her father in mind.
Because she wrote them by imagining Masakazu Tamura, who played her father in the drama, as a lover, the song took on this form.
It won the Lyricist Award at the 33rd Japan Record Awards and has been covered by many artists, including Akina Nakamori and Masayoshi Yamazaki.
Its melody, which carries warmth within its poignancy, will gently comfort anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear.
Aphrodisiac from the lipsKudō Shizuka
Released in January 1990, this song is Shizuka Kudo’s ninth single.
The lyrics were written by Goro Matsui, with composition and production by Tsugutoshi Goto, and it can be seen as a track that symbolizes her evolution from idol to mature vocalist.
Its retro sound, reminiscent of Group Sounds and Showa-era kayōkyoku, pairs perfectly with lyrics depicting the tug-of-war between sweet temptation and reason.
The single topped the Oricon weekly chart and ranked eighth on the year-end chart, becoming a major hit that helped usher in the 1990s J-pop era.
It was also performed at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, where her cool delivery left a strong impression.
Recommended for those who enjoy husky, sultry vocals or want to soak in the atmosphere of a nostalgic era.
Boys & GirlsHamasaki Ayumi
This is Ayumi Hamasaki’s ninth single, which vividly colored the summer of 1999.
Its four-on-the-floor beat and synth-driven, danceable sound are filled with an exhilaration that makes your heart leap just by listening.
Yet, when you look at the lyrics, they delicately portray the struggles and anxieties unique to youth, and the poignancy behind the brightness resonates deeply.
Chosen as the song for Kao’s “SOFINA AUBE” commercial, it won fervent support from women of the same generation.
The track became her first million-selling single and topped the Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks, making it a clear starting point of her breakthrough.
It continues to be loved today, having been reused in 2023 for McDonald’s Japan’s Heisei Burger commercial.
It’s the perfect number for a summer drive or whenever you want to lift your spirits.
Soap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Boosted by the popularity of the tie-in TV drama of the same name, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s 24th single became a million-seller.
Released in October 1991, it topped the Oricon weekly chart and sold over 1.1 million copies in total.
The lyrical guitar-riff intro and the folk-rock sound centered on acoustic guitar lend the entire track a wistful atmosphere.
Recorded in Los Angeles with top American session musicians, it achieves a grand, expansive sonic image.
The lyrics are emotional, portraying someone who, while confronting the injustices of society, keeps struggling to launch their dreams again and again.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear if you’ve faced setbacks but are trying to look ahead, or on nights when you want to savor life’s bitterness and hope at the same time.
Real Thing ShakesB’z
B’z, the rock unit that has built numerous milestones.
Released in May 1996, this work drew attention for its unprecedented format: a one-coin single with no B-side.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Watch Out for Us,” it became their 13th consecutive million-selling single, setting a new all-time record at the time.
Produced by Andy Johns, known for his work with Led Zeppelin, it’s a hard rock number performed entirely in English.
The sound woven by Takahiro Matsumoto’s heavy guitar riffs and Koshi Inaba’s soaring high-tone vocals is nothing short of breathtaking.
[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs representing the ’90s: Recommended J-POP classics (41–50)
wishB’z
B’z have set numerous records and have long led Japan’s rock scene.
Released in 1995, this song is also known for being used as the ending theme of the nationwide music program “J-ROCK ARTIST COUNT DOWN 50.” Takahiro Matsumoto’s groovy guitar intertwines with Koshi Inaba’s powerful vocals, elevating the track into superb pop rock.
The lyrics, which express a will to carve out the future by one’s own strength rather than merely wishing, and which affirm a very human kind of desire, will give you a push every time you listen.
BELOVEDGLAY
A medium-tempo ballad marked by a guitar intro that feels somehow nostalgic and a warm, embracing melody.
TAKURO’s lyrics, which sing of deep love for one’s dearest and a bond that remains unchanged even as the times shift, are filled with a gentle kindness that seems to stay close to the listener’s heart.
Released in August 1996 as GLAY’s ninth single, the song also became widely known as the theme for the TV drama “A Summer Proposal.” Reaching No.
3 on the Oricon weekly chart, it can be considered a pivotal work that cemented the band’s rise.
When you feel overwhelmed by busy days and on the verge of losing yourself, give it a listen.