[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 (51–60)
ALONEB’z
B’z’s ninth single is a rock ballad that sings of the preciousness of love that shines brightest in loneliness.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Hotel Woman,” it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and became a million seller.
The poignant feelings of a man who can only yearn for someone he cannot meet truly hit home.
The grand sound incorporating piano and synth, along with the emotive, tear-evoking guitar phrases, is unforgettable.
It’s a masterpiece that stays close to your heart when your feelings for someone special grow stronger.
In the Sun and the DustCHAGE and ASKA
Released in January 1991, this is a single cut from the album SEE YA.
ASKA wrote and composed it with the desire to create an anthem to youth, expressing the struggles of young people chasing dreams and hopes through a dramatic melody.
It was used as the CM song for Nissin Cup Noodles Red Zone and as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s TIME3, reaching No.
3 on the Oricon weekly chart and selling over 500,000 copies.
Blending exhilaration with a touch of poignancy, this song will gently give you a push forward when you want to keep moving ahead despite hitting walls.
Don’t forget.DREAMS COME TRUE
This is the 10th single by DREAMS COME TRUE, released in October 1991.
It was also included on the album MILLION KISSES, released the following month, which became a huge hit and was certified 2× Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
The lyrics dwell on lingering feelings for a former lover, and the heartfelt plea—“Even if you hate me, please don’t forget me”—is deeply moving.
It’s a ballad that gently wraps the pain of parting.
WILD HEAVENTMN
It’s a rock number that captures the exhilaration of speeding down the highway at night and the drama of an urban romance! Released in November 1991 as their 26th single, it was chosen as the opening theme for the TV Asahi drama “Lullaby Detective ’91.” It topped the Oricon weekly chart, sold about 399,000 copies, and earned a Platinum certification.
With TMN’s signature fusion of synth sounds and rock, it conjures the image of two people racing past glittering city lights and soaring skyscrapers.
It’s the perfect track for a nighttime drive.
[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP masterpieces (61–70)
Somewhere in a distant townNagayama Miho
Miho Nakayama’s 23rd single, released in November 1991, was written as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Aitai Toki ni Anata wa Inai…” in which she herself starred.
The lyrics, which echo the drama’s long-distance romance storyline, are distinctive.
They warmly express the growing longing and anxieties for a lover living far away.
The song peaked at No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and became a major hit, selling over 670,000 copies.
It’s a ballad that resonates with those who have experienced long-distance love or who are spending Christmas apart from someone special.
PIECE OF MY WISHImai Miki
Released in November 1991, this song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Ashita ga Aru Kara,” starring Miki Imai, and reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart.
A million-selling hit with about 1.25 million copies sold, it’s one of Imai’s signature songs and was also performed at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The lyrics, which carry a message of looking forward despite hardships and setbacks, were written by lyricist Yūho Iwasato while she was pregnant.
With a warmth reminiscent of motherhood, the song gently comforts those who are struggling.
When work or relationships feel tough, listening to this track will surely help you regain your footing and make a fresh start.
Boy in the WindHikaru GENJI
This is the 12th single released in February 1991 by Hikaru GENJI, the group that gained popularity with their style of singing and dancing on roller skates.
As the title suggests, the lyrics vividly depict the sparkle of a fleeting moment shining in the wind and the bittersweetness of youth.
It expresses the emotions of a boy torn between friendship and budding romance, set to a refreshing melody.
It reached No.
2 on the weekly Oricon chart and was also included on the album “(333) Thank You.” Taking a step beyond their early, high-speed performances, this work attempts a more emotionally rich expression, making it a song that showcases Hikaru GENJI’s growing maturity.
It’s a great pick when you want to revisit memories of your youth.