[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 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.
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.