RAG MusicHit Song
Lovely hit song

Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s

A special feature on Japanese hit songs that colored the 1980s! These include hits by artists who went on to have a major impact on later eras and by idols who enjoyed charismatic popularity—songs so beloved that many people can still sing along today.

Many timeless classics remain popular, especially revival hits and Showa-era kayōkyoku that have gained traction among younger generations even in the Reiwa era and beyond.

That said, when you think, “I want to listen to Japanese music from the ’80s,” it can be hard to decide where to start.

We’ve put together a selection focused on massively successful hits that we recommend you listen to first in those moments.

Use this as a companion to reminisce about memories from back then or to discover new music!

Playlist

Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastBlue Sky Only YouHikaru Ippei
Blue Sky Only YouHikaru Ippeiplay_arrow
Hikaru Ippei’s 1981 debut song
2eastBoogie Boogie I Love YouTahara Toshihiko
Boogie Boogie I Love YouTahara Toshihikoplay_arrow
Toshihiko Tahara’s upbeat dance number
3eastBlue Jeans MemoryKondō Masahiko
Blue Jeans MemoryKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
A blockbuster youth kayō song by Masahiko Kondo
4eastDJ in My LifeShibugakitai
DJ in My LifeShibugakitaiplay_arrow
Shibugakitai’s nostalgic summer love song
5eastLADYShonentai
LADYShonentaiplay_arrow
Shonentai singles, anime theme songs
6eastParting Highwayotoko
Parting Highwayotokoplay_arrow
An iconic youth rock anthem that races on a motorcycle
7eastI’ll wait.amin
I'll wait.aminplay_arrow
Amin’s debut song, a massive hit with 1.2 million copies sold
8eastStartled and GoodTahara Toshihiko
Startled and GoodTahara Toshihikoplay_arrow
Toshihiko Tahara’s 1980s hit songs
9eastYokohama teakKondō Masahiko
Yokohama teakKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
A love song by Masahiko Kondo set in Yokohama
10eastWine Red Heartanzenchitai
Wine Red Heartanzenchitaiplay_arrow
Wine Red no Kokoro, a signature song by Anzen Chitai
11eastRuby RingTerao Akira
Ruby RingTerao Akiraplay_arrow
Atsushi Terao’s signature song becomes a big hit
12eastLife won’t give (it) to me / Unyielding lifeSegawa Eiko
Life won't give (it) to me / Unyielding lifeSegawa Eikoplay_arrow
A gem of an enka masterpiece that weaves marital love
13eastforeignerKUBOTA Saki
foreignerKUBOTA Sakiplay_arrow
A heartbreak song illuminated by Saki Kubota’s translucent, pure voice
14eastSailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hiroko
Sailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hirokoplay_arrow
Yakushimaru Hiroko’s debut song Seishun to Wakare (Youth and Farewell)
15eastDancing All Nightmonta & burazāzu
Dancing All Nightmonta & burazāzuplay_arrow
Montá & Brothers' classic 80s hit
16eastCheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshiplay_arrow
A classic song by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi that’s sung at weddings
17eastThe Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku
The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisakuplay_arrow
Winter Flower. A signature work by Eisaku Okawa. A heartrending love affair.
18eastMarionetteBOØWY
MarionetteBOØWYplay_arrow
BOØWY’s iconic hit songs of the 1980s
19eastDiamondsPRINCESS PRINCESS
DiamondsPRINCESS PRINCESSplay_arrow
Princess Princess’s 1989 signature song was a big hit
20eastDESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akina
DESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akinaplay_arrow
A cool song that changed Akina Nakamori’s image
21eastCHA-CHA-CHAIshii Akemi
CHA-CHA-CHAIshii Akemiplay_arrow
Akemi Ishii's debut single was a big hit
22eastIf tomorrow were to…warabe
If tomorrow were to...warabeplay_arrow
A heartwarming ballad masterpiece by Warabe
23eastHeartbroken over JuliaChekkāzu
Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzuplay_arrow
Julia, a signature song by The Checkers
24eastParadise GalaxyHikaru GENJI
Paradise GalaxyHikaru GENJIplay_arrow
Hikaru GENJI’s classic ballad becomes a big hit
25eastSWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
A bittersweet pop tune by Seiko Matsuda
26eastCat’s EyeAnri
Cat's EyeAnriplay_arrow
Theme song of Cat's Eye
27eastMUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka
MUGO... so sexyKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
A love song with lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima
28eastMy RevolutionWatanabe Misato
My RevolutionWatanabe Misatoplay_arrow
A massively popular TV drama theme song released in 1986
29eastGLORIAZIGGY
GLORIAZIGGYplay_arrow
The success story of ZIGGY’s signature song, GLORIA
30eastDancing HeroOginome Yōko
Dancing HeroOginome Yōkoplay_arrow
Yoko Oginome’s signature song, “Dancing Hero”
31eastTRAIN-TRAINTHE BLUE HEARTS
TRAIN-TRAINTHE BLUE HEARTSplay_arrow
THE BLUE HEARTS TRAIN-TRAIN Released in 1988
32eastCherry blossomMatsuda Seiko
Cherry blossomMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda Cherry Blossom Hit Song
33eastMary AnnTHE ALFEE
Mary AnnTHE ALFEEplay_arrow
The band shifted from folk to rock and has been going for a long time.
34eastMasqueradeShonentai
MasqueradeShonentaiplay_arrow
Shonentai hit number one on The Best Ten and became popular.
35eastANGELHimuro Kyosuke
ANGELHimuro Kyosukeplay_arrow
Kyosuke Himuro Angel 1988 release No. 1
36easthuge nuisanceUNICORN
huge nuisanceUNICORNplay_arrow
Single debut after the advance release of the UNICORN album
37eastKiss me with your eyesZa Vīnasu
Kiss me with your eyesZa Vīnasuplay_arrow
Award-winning singles by The Venus
38eastOpera Glasses in WinterEri Nitta
Opera Glasses in Winter Nitta Eriplay_arrow
Onyanko Club Eri Nitta solo activities
39eastBlue StasieonKawai Sonoko
Blue StasieonKawai Sonokoplay_arrow
Sonoko Kawai’s “Aoi Station” takes first place
40eastGET WILDTM NETWORK
GET WILDTM NETWORKplay_arrow
City Hunter released in 1987
41eastFriendsRebekka
FriendsRebekkaplay_arrow
A classic synth-driven dance-rock track, an anthem of youth
42eastEquator Girl: Dokki!Yamashita Kumiko
Equator Girl: Dokki!Yamashita Kumikoplay_arrow
Kumiko Yamashita's 1982 single
43eastSingle AgainTakeuchi Mariya
Single AgainTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
Mariya Takeuchi “Again” released in 1989, peaked at No. 2
44eastmemory glasseshorie atsushi
memory glasseshorie atsushiplay_arrow
Jun Horie’s debut single, Memory Glass, became a big hit
45eastBohemianKatsuragi Yuki
BohemianKatsuragi Yukiplay_arrow
Yuki Katsuragi’s “Bohemian” is a hit
46eastClose your eyes and come here.BARBEE BOYS
Close your eyes and come here.BARBEE BOYSplay_arrow
The mature lyrics with both male and female vocals are creating a buzz.
47eastHigh School LullabyImokin Torio
High School LullabyImokin Torioplay_arrow
Imo Kin Trio releases a hit song
48eastStardust StageChekkāzu
Stardust StageChekkāzuplay_arrow
Single of the theme song for a TBS serial drama
49eastStreet-corner TwilightShaneruzu
Street-corner TwilightShaneruzuplay_arrow
Masayuki Suzuki's single, a cappella insert
50eastOnly for youShonentai
Only for youShonentaiplay_arrow
Shonentai's movie theme song “Slow”
51eastGlass AppleMatsuda Seiko
Glass AppleMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s lavishly produced single
52eastA Scandal with That GirlChekkāzu
A Scandal with That GirlChekkāzuplay_arrow
The Checkers' smash hit song “Scandal”
53eastTears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akina
Tears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akinaplay_arrow
The single that became a turning point in Inoue Yosui’s lyric writing
54eastRiverside HotelInoue Yosui
Riverside HotelInoue Yosuiplay_arrow
Inoue Yosui's 1982 single
55eastGoodbye to sorrowanzenchitai
Goodbye to sorrowanzenchitaiplay_arrow
The single was used in a commercial.
56eastChristmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuroplay_arrow
Tatsuro Yamashita’s classic and a staple Christmas song
57eastwhite parasolMatsuda Seiko
white parasolMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
A hit song released in 1981 that debuted at number one
58eastRed Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s signature song was written by Yumi Matsutoya.
59eastMonicaYoshikawa Koji
MonicaYoshikawa Kojiplay_arrow
Kōji Kikkawa’s debut song and a movie theme song
60eastThe Door to SummerMatsuda Seiko
The Door to SummerMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s classic summer love song
61eastHeavenly KissMatsuda Seiko
Heavenly KissMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
A spark of love, a heart-thrilling tune
62eastLapis-Lazuli EarthMatsuda Seiko
Lapis-Lazuli EarthMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s signature song about finding hope in the darkness
63eastBlue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko
Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s classic summer love song
64eastSecond LoveNakamori Akina
Second LoveNakamori Akinaplay_arrow
Single release, moved by the lyrics and melody
65eastMy loverGorin Mayumi
My loverGorin Mayumiplay_arrow
How my lover was chosen
66eastAfter all, I’m an idolKoizumi Kyoko
After all, I'm an idolKoizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
A song in which an idol pokes fun at themselves
67eaststationTakeuchi Mariya
stationTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
Reunion at the station, the bittersweet pain of a past love
68eastGoodbyeofukōsu
Goodbyeofukōsuplay_arrow
The 17th single used in Christmas no Yakusoku
69eastNight of 15Ozaki Yutaka
Night of 15Ozaki Yutakaplay_arrow
Lyrics of a fourteen-year-old night based on Yutaka Ozaki’s real experiences
70eastA Tearful RequestChekkāzu
A Tearful RequestChekkāzu
The Checkers made their debut with a later-released song.
71eastTeenage in GlassHikaru GENJI
Teenage in GlassHikaru GENJIplay_arrow
Second single by Hikaru Genji
72eastA flawless rock ’n’ rollerarajin
A flawless rock ’n’ rollerarajin
Love and Rebellion of a Self-Proclaimed Rockstar
73eastFalling in LoveKobayashi Akiko
Falling in LoveKobayashi Akikoplay_arrow
This song was the theme song for a TV drama and dealt with the theme of infidelity.
74eastAh, heartlessAn Ruisu
Ah, heartlessAn Ruisuplay_arrow
A song that expresses a love story in rock
75eastTATTOONakamori Akina
TATTOONakamori Akinaplay_arrow
Akina Nakamori’s signature 80s dance tune
76eastRiver of Ten Thousand MilesCHAGE and ASKA
River of Ten Thousand MilesCHAGE and ASKAplay_arrow
Banri no Kawa was CHAGE and ASKA's first hit song.
77eastRunnerbakufū suranpu
Runnerbakufū suranpuplay_arrow
A song for the member who left at the record label’s request
78eastSo let go of that hand.B’z
So let go of that hand.B'zplay_arrow
B’z’s debut song, a synth pop rock track
79eastONLY YOUBOØWY
ONLY YOUBOØWYplay_arrow
A signature song by BOØWY, a cry of pure love and protection
80eastDadPRINCESS PRINCESS
DadPRINCESS PRINCESSplay_arrow
A heartwarming classic portraying the bond between father and daughter, loved across generations.
81eastThe hottest summer in the worldPRINCESS PRINCESS
The hottest summer in the worldPRINCESS PRINCESSplay_arrow
A youthful love song, a burning passion for setting out on a new journey
82eastI am a storm.SHOW-YA
I am a storm.SHOW-YAplay_arrow
Rock of determination to live true to oneself
83eastLimit LoversSHOW-YA
Limit LoversSHOW-YAplay_arrow
Expressing women's true feelings and emotions through heavy metal
84eastIn my heart, thank you.Thetōnanseihoku
In my heart, thank you.Thetōnanseihokuplay_arrow
A masterpiece that portrays heartrending emotions, a song that resonates with the heart
85eastLet’s start from ‘I Love You’anzenchitai
Let's start from 'I Love You'anzenchitaiplay_arrow
Safety Zone, a group of true musicians
86eastFull of ChristmasKudō Shizuka
Full of ChristmasKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
A heartwarming Christmas song by the multi-talented Shizuka Kudo
87eastSurf Paradise, Ski ParadiseMatsutōya Yumi
Surf Paradise, Ski ParadiseMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
Yuming’s classic winter song, heartwarming music
88eastGreen poinsettiaKawai Sonoko
Green poinsettiaKawai Sonokoplay_arrow
Sonoko Kawai’s Christmas song, Green Poinsettia
89eastLove Can’t Stop ~Turn It Into Love~Wink
Love Can't Stop ~Turn It Into Love~Winkplay_arrow
Wink is an overseas cover unit made up of beauty pageant winners.
90eastmetropoliskurisutaru kingu
metropoliskurisutaru kinguplay_arrow
Crystal King “Daitokai” — an iconic 80s hit
91eastChaco’s Seaside StorySazan Ōrusutāzu
Chaco’s Seaside StorySazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
14th single released in 1982
92eastWhen I turn around, it’s YokohamaMarushia
When I turn around, it's YokohamaMarushiaplay_arrow
Won an award for Marcia’s debut song
93eastThe True Face of the StormKudō Shizuka
The True Face of the StormKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
A Yankee-style character singer from Onyanko Club
94eastC-GirlAsaka Yui
C-GirlAsaka Yuiplay_arrow
Yui Asaka changed to a lively and cute image with “C-Girl.”
95eastMysterious Peach PieTakeuchi Mariya
Mysterious Peach PieTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
Mariya Takeuchi’s signature song “Peach Pie”
96eastLonging for AndalusiaKondō Masahiko
Longing for AndalusiaKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
An idol sings in a mature way
97eastSneaker BluesKondō Masahiko
Sneaker BluesKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
Masahiko Kondo's debut single as a singer
98eastHigh-Teen BoogieKondō Masahiko
High-Teen BoogieKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
High Teen Boogie theme song
99eastRunawayShaneruzu
RunawayShaneruzuplay_arrow
Debut single, turned into a commercial song
100eastStrawberry TimeMatsuda Seiko
Strawberry TimeMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s 23rd single, released for the first time in 1 year and 10 months.
101eastSentimental and DearTahara Toshihiko
Sentimental and DearTahara Toshihikoplay_arrow
debut single released in 1980
102eastdragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshiplay_arrow
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi "Tonbo" big hit in 1988
103eastDetective Story / Just a Little GentleYakushimaru Hiroko
Detective Story / Just a Little GentleYakushimaru Hirokoplay_arrow
Theme song single of Detective Story
104eastFUNK FUJIYAMAkome kome CLUBKome Kome Club’s Japan theme song is a big hit
105eastHappy! Fun! I love it!DREAMS COME TRUE
Happy! Fun! I love it!DREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
A cute single from the Pocky commercial
106eastFuture Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE
Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
A long-form musical piece released in 1989
107eastDon’t take off my sailor uniformo nyanko kurabu
Don't take off my sailor uniformo nyanko kurabuplay_arrow
At the time, amateurish-looking female college students were active on television, becoming a social phenomenon.
108eastMedaka Siblingswarabe
Medaka Siblingswarabeplay_arrow
Debut single by Warabe
109eastatonementTeresa Ten
atonementTeresa Tenplay_arrow
Teresa Teng's biggest hit song
110eastA Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STAR
A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STARplay_arrow
First single after changing their name to Rats & Star
111eastBroken-winged angelNakamura Ayumi
Broken-winged angelNakamura Ayumiplay_arrow
Ayumi Nakamura's single became a hit through a commercial
112eastYou were mineKubota Toshinobu
You were mineKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
Toshinobu Kubota’s classic song achieved high marks
113eastA long nightMatsuyama Chiharu
A long nightMatsuyama Chiharuplay_arrow
Chiharu Matsuyama’s signature song “A Long Night”
114eastKOME KOME WARkome kome CLUB
KOME KOME WARkome kome CLUBplay_arrow
A signature song by Kome Kome Club that became widely known
115eastPassion, Hot Wind, SerenadeKondō Masahiko
Passion, Hot Wind, SerenadeKondō Masahikoplay_arrow
Moonlight Kirari Single
116eastCan’t Stop the RomanticC-C-B
Can't Stop the RomanticC-C-Bplay_arrow
Breakthrough single released in 1985
117eastfortissimoHOUND DOG
fortissimoHOUND DOGplay_arrow
HOUND DOG’s signature song Cup Noodles commercial
118eastFlashy!!!Nagayama Miho
Flashy!!!Nagayama Mihoplay_arrow
It became a major hit as the theme song for a drama starring Miho Nakayama.
119eastA Love Game Between a Man and a WomanHino Mika, Aoi Shiro
A Love Game Between a Man and a WomanHino Mika, Aoi Shiroplay_arrow
Duet single by Mika Hino
120eastLonely ChaplinSuzuki Kiyomi with Rats & Star
Lonely ChaplinSuzuki Kiyomi with Rats & Starplay_arrow
A duet by Hiromi Suzuki and Masayuki Suzuki
121eastFirst loveMurashita Kōzō
First loveMurashita Kōzōplay_arrow
Kozo Murashita's 'Hatsukoi' becomes a hit
122eastSeason in the SunTUBE
Season in the SunTUBE
TUBE's smash hit single