Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
In the 1990s, when CDs sold explosively, countless artists produced signature songs that still stand the test of time.
From among the J-Pop hits that defined the ’90s, this article introduces classic and hit tracks recommended by our studio staff.
We’ve picked a variety of songs: theme songs from smash-hit dramas, beloved karaoke staples everyone in Japan has sung, and timeless favorites cherished across generations.
Be sure to check out this legendary playlist that reshaped the history of Japanese pop music—tracks that will never fade!
Playlist
| Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Don’t give upZARD | play_arrow | As the theme song for the drama “Reiko Shiratori de Gozaimasu”… |
| 2east | Robinsonsupittsu | play_arrow | Spitz’s ... released in April 1995 |
| 3east | God of RomanceHirose Kōmi | play_arrow | Speaking of winter songs from the ’90s, Koumi Hirose’s... |
| 4east | I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki | play_arrow | Singing a man's aching love straight and sincerely with his voice… |
| 5east | At all times.Makihara Noriyuki | play_arrow | Let’s cherish our honest feelings—that kind of messe… |
| 6east | DEPARTURESglobe | play_arrow | globe, who sang about the anticipation of a new departure... |
| 7east | HOWEVERGLAY | play_arrow | A song that sings of gentle love and is one of GLAY’s signature works… |
| 8east | As I love and as I please, you’re the only one I won’t hurt.B’z | play_arrow | One of the leading figures in Japan’s rock band scene, B’z’s 1… |
| 9east | Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa | play_arrow | Kyogo Kawaguchi, Twelve Girls Band, BENI... |
| 10east | LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE | play_arrow | With an overwhelmingly powerful singing voice uncharacteristic of Japanese singers, and a fa... |
| 11east | Hello, Again ~A place that has existed since long ago~My Little Lover | play_arrow | My…, known as an iconic song representing the 1990s, |
| 12east | AutomaticUtada Hikaru | play_arrow | Utada Hikaru’s, released in 1998... |
| 13east | Just by you being herekome kome CLUB | play_arrow | Characterized by a melody and lyrics that resonate deeply with the heart, … |
| 14east | Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryōko | play_arrow | This, known as an iconic song representing the 1990s... |
| 15east | Because you were thereFIELD OF VIEW | play_arrow | FIELD’s youthful hit songs, heartwarming classics |
| 16east | Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children | play_arrow | A classic hit of the ’90s that depicts a crossroads in life |
| 17east | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu | play_arrow | Takuya Kimura and Tomoko Yamaguchi starred in… |
| 18east | WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement~H Jungle with T | play_arrow | A shocking work that represents the ’90s! Masatoshi Hamada… |
| 19east | LOVE MachineMōningu Musume. | play_arrow | An iconic song representing the ’90s, by Morning Musume, co... |
| 20east | PRIDEImai Miki | play_arrow | Miki Imai’s classic song “LOVE PHANTOM” |
| 21east | TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya | play_arrow | Fumiya Fujii’s classic song from Asunaro Hakusho |
| 22east | Love will winKAN | play_arrow | Singer-songwriter KAN has 19… |
| 23east | Seesaw Game ~A Brave Love Song~Mr.Children | play_arrow | A cheer song that likens the push-and-pull of love to a seesaw |
| 24east | survival dAnce 〜no no cry more〜TRF | play_arrow | Just having that group at the live venue is alr… |
| 25east | Timing ~Timing~Burakku Bisukettsu | play_arrow | On the show featuring Ucchan Nanchan, led by Chiaki... |
| 26east | White LoveSPEED | play_arrow | A special that likens a pure, heartrending first love to white snow... |
| 27east | RESPECT the POWER OF LOVEAmuro Namie | play_arrow | Namie Amuro’s powerful cheer song |
| 28east | daily newsKahara Tomomi | play_arrow | A masterpiece produced by Tetsuya Komuro, healing music |
| 29east | Over DriveJUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | Sweet and cute vocals over a punky tune… |
| 30east | I’m only gazing at youDaikoku Maki | play_arrow | The powerful vocals of Maki Ohguro, a songstress emblematic of the ’90s… |
| 31east | POWER OF LOVEJUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | YUKI’s airy vocals and the deliberate sound… |
| 32east | Man & WomanMy Little Lover | play_arrow | My Litt… released in May 1995 |
| 33east | Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu | play_arrow | I can’t believe this came from a TV show concept... |
| 34east | MIND CIRCUSNakatani Miki | play_arrow | Urban and sophisticated, produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto... |
| 35east | Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takako | play_arrow | Takako Matsu, who had already earned high acclaim as an actress... |
| 36east | TORA TORA TORAMAX | play_arrow | The position of being a backup dancer for Namie Amuro… |
| 37east | I can’t stay a daydreaming girlAikawa Nanase | play_arrow | With red-haired wolf-cut and a leather jacket, like a comet... |
| 38east | Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu | play_arrow | Released by Magokoro Brothers in 1995… |
| 39east | It’s love.V6 | play_arrow | Lyrics by Goro Matsui, music by Koji Tamaki… |
| 40east | Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu | play_arrow | The nationwide hit song “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie” |
| 41east | Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN | play_arrow | The fifth release by DEEN, which achieved million-seller status... |
| 42east | suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW | play_arrow | ZARD “Totsuzen,” a moving anthem of youth |
| 43east | Until the World Ends…WANDS | play_arrow | The moving ending of the anime 'SLAM DUNK' |
| 44east | Swaying FeelingsZARD | play_arrow | “Don’t Give Up” is a classic of youth, resonating in the heart |
| 45east | I can’t say it.Gō Hiromi | play_arrow | A signature song by Hiromi Go that sings of a heartrending love. |
| 46east | Dear My FriendsNagayama Miho | play_arrow | A song whose warm message to a friend resonates in the heart |
| 47east | EveOkui Masami | play_arrow | A heartfelt song that resonates at summer’s end |
| 48east | Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY | play_arrow | The female duo PUFFY is currently… |
| 49east | I’m proudKahara Tomomi | play_arrow | The Komuro family that caused a huge sensation in the ’90s... |
| 50east | Crazy Babyfisshumanzu | play_arrow | A gentle, dreamlike melody and a wistful singing voice touch the heart... |
| 51east | STEADYSPEED | play_arrow | With a sepia-toned palette, the seaside scene is striking… |
| 52east | BOY MEETS GIRLTRF | play_arrow | At the time, TRF, which was explosively popular, the vocal… |
| 53east | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu with Naomi Kyanberu | play_arrow | A bittersweet classic song of carousel-like love |
| 54east | The wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOG | play_arrow | Pause a little from the busyness of everyday life and your… |
| 55east | Singin’ in the Rainthe pillows | play_arrow | In May 1991, the pillows... |
| 56east | Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisu | play_arrow | A singing voice that seeps into the heart like gentle sunlight, and… |
| 57east | baby baby babyDOS | play_arrow | Formed from an audition variety show… |
| 58east | Summer Colorsyuzu | play_arrow | A moving summer youth anthem about racing down hills on a bicycle |
| 59east | The strong and fleeting onesCocco | play_arrow | A journey to protect love: the struggles and hopes of life |
| 60east | cherrysupittsu | play_arrow | The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth |
| 61east | Liar! Liar!B’z | play_arrow | An overwhelming guitar riff and a sound brimming with speed… |
| 62east | For the momentEvery Little Thing | play_arrow | Elegant, translucent vocals and a sophisticated a… |
| 63east | lipsGLAY | play_arrow | A classic song that sensually portrays a heartrending romance, brimming with passion… |
| 64east | Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARY | play_arrow | Bouncing powerfully, like an energetic game of soccer... |
| 65east | Soulmatesupittsu | play_arrow | I find the meaning of life in the small moments of everyday life... |
| 66east | The Other Side of LoveSakamoto Ryuichi featuring Sister M | play_arrow | Crystal-clear vocals and a refined melody... |
| 67east | Happy endingOhtaki Eiichi | play_arrow | As the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m. drama (Getsu-9), the la… |
| 68east | I love youKawamura Ryuuichi | play_arrow | A delicate singing voice and a profound expression of love weave together to stir the heart… |
| 69east | sunflowerNagabuchi Tsuyoshi | play_arrow | Powerful vocals and an acoustic guitar weave together... |
| 70east | Hungry SpiderMakihara Noriyuki | play_arrow | Sensual Latin rhythms and a bewitching, alluring atmosphere are the charms… |
| 71east | FACEglobe | play_arrow | Tetsuya Komuro’s outstanding production skills and K… |
| 72east | I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN | play_arrow | It begins with the feeling of quietly gazing at the cityscape, and then los... |
| 73east | White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S) | play_arrow | A love song about a Christmas breakup |
| 74east | cream sodaSUPERCAR | play_arrow | Emotions wavering between the transience of youth and the reality before me… |
| 75east | A town where it snowsUNICORN | play_arrow | Capture the scene of a snow-covered town at year’s end with a warm gaze… |
| 76east | Summer Days of 1993class | play_arrow | Refreshing acoustic sound and lingering in the heart… |
| 77east | Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi | play_arrow | One of Elephant Kashimashi’s signature songs, depicting the emptiness of everyday life... |
| 78east | Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho | play_arrow | This work by Miho Nakayama and WANDS is a 1… |
| 79east | Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki | play_arrow | Gently embracing the feelings of those who have left their hometown… |
| 80east | Don’t Leave MeB’z | play_arrow | It opens with the melancholic tones of a blues harp… |
| 81east | Dear My FriendEvery Little Thing | play_arrow | This song, which was also used in a beauty salon commercial at the time, is a wom... |
| 82east | by myselfhitomi | play_arrow | hitomi, who is still active today, in 1996… |
| 83east | Go for it!Urufuruzu | play_arrow | Since my debut, I’ve hardly had a chance to be in the spotlight… |
| 84east | TRY ME ~Believe in Me~Amuro Namie | play_arrow | With platform boots, light brown hair, and thin eyebrows, it even became a social phenomenon at the time... |
| 85east | Another OrionFujii Fumiya | play_arrow | Fuj… with grand melodies and heartrending lyrics that resonate in the heart |
| 86east | YELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPocket Biscuits | play_arrow | The then-popular variety show by Ucchan Nanchan... |
| 87east | Thrilling Uplifting StreetOzawa Kenji | play_arrow | Kenji Ozawa, who was then called the “Shibuya-kei prince,” ... |
| 88east | do do for meChinen Rina | play_arrow | Rina Chinen from Okinawa is like Namie Amuro and SPEE… |


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