![[Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nxwt_s1lM04/sddefault.jpg)
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 (1–10)
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children
The moment the intro starts, the atmosphere of the ’90s comes rushing back—Mr.Children’s sixth single, released in November 1994, is exactly that kind of song.
Built around the universal theme that no one knows what tomorrow will bring, it portrays someone who, despite carrying regret and pain, chooses to follow their heart and move forward.
Rather than winning or losing, the lyrics emphasize the importance of continually facing yourself, gently giving listeners a push on the back.
The song was used as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Wakamono no Subete” and became a massive hit, selling a total of about 2.766 million copies.
It also won the Grand Prix Single Award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.
It’s a classic you’ll want to hear when you’re at a crossroads in life or feeling a vague sense of anxiety.
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
After disbanding Off Course, Kazumasa Oda released this massive hit in 1991 as a solo artist.
It’s a classic love song that has continued to be covered by many artists, including Kyogo Kawaguchi, The Twelve Girls Band, and BENI.
It was used as the theme song for the prime-time Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Tokyo Love Story” and became a social phenomenon.
The guitar’s distinctive intro phrase is so catchy you can’t help but want to hum it!
LOVE PHANTOMB’z
B’z, the monster unit that has continued to lead Japan’s rock scene and rack up multiple million-sellers.
Their 18th single, released in October 1995, was chosen as the ending theme for Season 1 of the overseas drama The X-Files.
From its majestic intro—over a minute and twenty seconds of orchestra and operatic vocals—straight into a sudden avalanche of hard guitar riffs and a soaring chorus, the structure stood out as highly distinctive in the J-pop scene of the time.
The lyrics, swirling with themes of intense dependency in love, self-denial, and the urge to let everything go, make for a dramatic love song that powerfully shakes the listener’s heart.
The single posted an initial week of roughly 950,000 copies and went on to become a massive hit with cumulative sales exceeding 1.86 million.
It’s a rock tune recommended for anyone who wants to experience the essence of B’z—also famous for their live shows featuring high-altitude stage dives.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
Released in November 1993, this was Fumiya Fuji’s second solo single, which drew huge attention as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama Asunaro Hakusho.
Marking his first step as a new kind of artist after the breakup of The Checkers, this work is a heartfelt ballad written and composed by Fuji himself.
Centered on acoustic guitar, its unadorned sound strips away excess to let the warmth of his voice come through directly.
The lyrics, quietly addressing a departing lover, are suffused with the immaturity of youth and deep regret, giving the song a universality that resonates with each listener’s own memories.
Selling over two million copies and winning a Best 5 Singles Award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards, it has become established as a classic—so much so that it is included in high school music textbooks.
It’s a song you’ll want to play softly when you’re looking back on memories with someone dear.
DEPARTURESglobe
The number two spot in the 1996 annual rankings goes to globe, led by Tetsuya Komuro.
With a powerful female vocalist and a blend of dance music elements and ballads, there was no way they wouldn’t sell.
With 2.27 million copies sold, it became one of globe’s signature songs.
Nameless PoemMr.Children
This song topped the annual ranking in 1996.
Mr.
Children rose to prominence at a tremendous pace in the ’90s and expanded their popularity.
You can’t talk about Japanese rock without their presence.
It’s a classic that sold over 2.3 million copies.
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.