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Lovely hit song

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_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Robinsonsupittsu
Robinsonsupittsuplay_arrow
Spitz’s 1995 smash hit song
2Don’t give upZARD
Don't give upZARDplay_arrow
ZARD’s signature song, an uplifting, motivational anthem
3God of RomanceHirose Kōmi
God of RomanceHirose Kōmiplay_arrow
Kohmi Hirose’s classic winter happy song
4I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki
I won't fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Noriyuki Makihara’s signature breakup ballad
5At all times.Makihara Noriyuki
At all times.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
A signature song by Noriyuki Makihara that celebrates the importance of honesty and being yourself
6DEPARTURESglobe
DEPARTURESglobeplay_arrow
globe’s smash hit that sings of the hope for a new departure
7LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE
LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
Representative ballad song(s) of DREAMS COME TRUE
8Hello, Again ~A place that has existed since long ago~My Little Lover
Hello, Again ~A place that has existed since long ago~My Little Loverplay_arrow
My Little Lover's iconic song of nostalgia and hope
9HOWEVERGLAY
HOWEVERGLAYplay_arrow
A signature song by GLAY. A huge hit that sings of gentle love.
10As I love and as I please, you’re the only one I won’t hurt.B’z
As I love and as I please, you’re the only one I won’t hurt.B'zplay_arrow
B’z’s Journey to the West theme song smash hit
11LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu
LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
A love song, the theme song of Long Vacation
12Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasaplay_arrow
Theme song of Tokyo Love Story
13AutomaticUtada Hikaru
AutomaticUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada's debut single was a big hit.
14Just by you being herekome kome CLUB
Just by you being herekome kome CLUBplay_arrow
A signature song by Kome Kome Club that became a social phenomenon
15Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryōko
Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryōkoplay_arrow
A classic hit of the ’90s: a love-boost anthem sung by Ryoko Shinohara
16WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement~H Jungle with T
WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement~H Jungle with Tplay_arrow
The smash-hit collaboration song by Masatoshi Hamada and Tetsuya Komuro
17LOVE MachineMōningu Musume.
LOVE MachineMōningu Musume.play_arrow
A classic song by Morning Musume that sings of hope and energy
18survival dAnce 〜no no cry more〜TRF
survival dAnce 〜no no cry more〜TRFplay_arrow
Dance & vocal songs by TRF
19Love will winKAN
Love will winKANplay_arrow
KAN cheer song ranked No. 1 for 8 consecutive weeks
20Timing ~Timing~Burakku Bisukettsu
Timing ~Timing~Burakku Bisukettsuplay_arrow
A musical unit from the TV programs of Ucchan Nanchan
21White LoveSPEED
White LoveSPEEDplay_arrow
SPEED’s winter love ballad, a smash hit song
22Because you were thereFIELD OF VIEW
Because you were thereFIELD OF VIEWplay_arrow
FIELD’s youthful hit songs, heartwarming classics
23Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Childrenplay_arrow
A classic hit of the ’90s that depicts a crossroads in life
24PRIDEImai Miki
PRIDEImai Mikiplay_arrow
Miki Imai’s classic song “LOVE PHANTOM”
25TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiyaplay_arrow
Fumiya Fujii’s classic song from Asunaro Hakusho
26Seesaw Game ~A Brave Love Song~Mr.Children
Seesaw Game ~A Brave Love Song~Mr.Childrenplay_arrow
A cheer song that likens the push-and-pull of love to a seesaw
27Over DriveJUDY AND MARY
Over DriveJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
Fusion of punk and a cute singing voice
28I’m only gazing at youDaikoku Maki
I’m only gazing at youDaikoku Makiplay_arrow
Maki Ohguro’s powerful love song
29RESPECT the POWER OF LOVEAmuro Namie
RESPECT the POWER OF LOVEAmuro Namieplay_arrow
Namie Amuro’s powerful cheer song
30daily newsKahara Tomomi
daily newsKahara Tomomiplay_arrow
A masterpiece produced by Tetsuya Komuro, healing music
31I can’t stay a daydreaming girlAikawa Nanase
I can't stay a daydreaming girlAikawa Nanaseplay_arrow
Nanase Aikawa’s debut song has a delinquent-girl image
32Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu
Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzuplay_arrow
Magokoro Brothers' summer love song
33Until the World Ends…WANDS
Until the World Ends…WANDSplay_arrow
The moving ending of the anime 'SLAM DUNK'
34TORA TORA TORAMAX
TORA TORA TORAMAXplay_arrow
Amuro Namie’s backup dancers shone with individuality as MAX.
35I can’t say it.Gō Hiromi
I can’t say it.Gō Hiromiplay_arrow
Hiromi Go's heartrending love ballad
36It’s love.V6
It's love.V6play_arrow
A gem-like ballad that finds courage from loneliness
37POWER OF LOVEJUDY AND MARY
POWER OF LOVEJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
JUDY AND MARY's debut song
38Man & WomanMy Little Lover
Man & WomanMy Little Loverplay_arrow
A massive hit with My Little Lover’s debut single
39Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsu
Rapturous BluePoketto Bisuketsuplay_arrow
Pocket Biscuits' debut song was a big hit
40MIND CIRCUSNakatani Miki
MIND CIRCUSNakatani Mikiplay_arrow
A floaty single by Miki Nakatani produced by Ryuichi
41Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takako
Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takakoplay_arrow
Takako Matsu’s debut single
42Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu
Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzuplay_arrow
The nationwide hit song “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie”
43Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN
Don't avert your eyes.DEENplay_arrow
DEEN’s refreshing summer song
44suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW
suddenlyFIELD OF VIEWplay_arrow
ZARD “Totsuzen,” a moving anthem of youth
45Swaying FeelingsZARD
Swaying FeelingsZARDplay_arrow
“Don’t Give Up” is a classic of youth, resonating in the heart
46Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY
Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFYplay_arrow
Danceable songs from PUFFY’s breakout period
47BOY MEETS GIRLTRF
BOY MEETS GIRLTRFplay_arrow
The appeal of TRF’s popular song “BOY MEET GIRL”
48I’m proudKahara Tomomi
I'm proudKahara Tomomiplay_arrow
Tomomi Kahala’s signature song with beautiful high notes
49baby baby babyDOS
baby baby babyDOSplay_arrow
DOS's debut single produced by Tetsuya Komuro
50The strong and fleeting onesCocco
The strong and fleeting onesCoccoplay_arrow
A journey to protect love: the struggles and hopes of life
51Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARY
Kujira No. 12JUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
JUDY AND MARY's sports cheer song
52Happy endingOhtaki Eiichi
Happy endingOhtaki Eiichiplay_arrow
Eiichi Ohtaki’s first love song in 12 years. A major hit with 970,000 copies sold.
53Dear My FriendsNagayama Miho
Dear My FriendsNagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A song whose warm message to a friend resonates in the heart
54EveOkui Masami
EveOkui Masamiplay_arrow
A heartfelt song that resonates at summer’s end
55LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu with Naomi Kyanberu
LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu with Naomi Kyanberuplay_arrow
A bittersweet classic song of carousel-like love
56Crazy Babyfisshumanzu
Crazy Babyfisshumanzuplay_arrow
A love song thinking of my lover
57Dear My FriendEvery Little Thing
Dear My FriendEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
A power song about women's friendship and support
58by myselfhitomi
by myselfhitomiplay_arrow
hitomi's 1996 hit song ballad
59Summer Colorsyuzu
Summer Colorsyuzuplay_arrow
A moving summer youth anthem about racing down hills on a bicycle
60FACEglobe
FACEglobeplay_arrow
A signature song by globe, a dance-pop track released in 1997
61cherrysupittsu
cherrysupittsuplay_arrow
The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth
62do do for meChinen Rina
do do for meChinen Rinaplay_arrow
Rina Chinen won the Best New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards with her debut single.
63Liar! Liar!B’z
Liar! Liar!B'zplay_arrow
B’z’s guitar rock brimming with a sense of speed
64For the momentEvery Little Thing
For the momentEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
Every Little Thing's signature ballad
65lipsGLAY
lipsGLAYplay_arrow
A poignant love song by GLAY from 1997
66STEADYSPEED
STEADYSPEEDplay_arrow
SPEED 1997 annual singles No. 5
67Soulmatesupittsu
Soulmatesupittsuplay_arrow
A gem of a song by Spitz that questions love and life
68The Other Side of LoveSakamoto Ryuichi featuring Sister M
The Other Side of LoveSakamoto Ryuichi featuring Sister Mplay_arrow
A moving ballad born from a father-daughter collaboration
69I love youKawamura Ryuuichi
I love youKawamura Ryuuichiplay_arrow
The ballad of Ryuichi Kawamura’s solo debut single
70sunflowerNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
sunflowerNagabuchi Tsuyoshiplay_arrow
A song by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi with themes of hope and rebirth
71Hungry SpiderMakihara Noriyuki
Hungry SpiderMakihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
A Latin-rhythm song by Noriyuki Makihara expressing unrequited love
72I want to take only you away just like this.DEEN
I want to take only you away just like this.DEENplay_arrow
DEEN’s debut song, singing about the heartache of a broken romance
73White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)
White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)play_arrow
A love song about a Christmas breakup
74The wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOG
The wind is dancing outside the window.SUPER BUTTER DOGplay_arrow
A gemlike melody that cherishes time spent facing your heart
75cream sodaSUPERCAR
cream sodaSUPERCARplay_arrow
Feelings wavering between youth and reality
76A town where it snowsUNICORN
A town where it snowsUNICORNplay_arrow
A classic song that warmly portrays a year-end snowy landscape
77Summer Days of 1993class
Summer Days of 1993classplay_arrow
A ballad portraying the shift of feelings from friendship to romance
78Singin’ in the Rainthe pillows
Singin' in the Rainthe pillowsplay_arrow
the pillows Youth Song Searching for Myself in the Rainy Town
79Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
Like tonight's moonElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
A signature song that sublimates emotions wavering between nihilism and hope
80Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisu
Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisuplay_arrow
A representative work that gently portrays the delicate emotions of youth
81Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho
Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A smash-hit ballad by Miho Nakayama and WANDS
82Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki
Far, far awayMakihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
A song that warmly portrays feelings for a friend who has left their hometown
83Don’t Leave MeB’z
Don't Leave MeB'zplay_arrow
B’z’s heartbreak song released in 1994
84Go for it!Urufuruzu
Go for it!Urufuruzuplay_arrow
Wulfuls' breakout song
85TRY ME ~Believe in Me~Amuro Namie
TRY ME ~Believe in Me~Amuro Namieplay_arrow
Namie Amuro’s kogal dance number
86Another OrionFujii Fumiya
Another OrionFujii Fumiyaplay_arrow
A signature song by Fumiya Fujii that sings of parting and love
87YELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPocket Biscuits
YELLOW YELLOW HAPPY Pocket Biscuitsplay_arrow
A trio that sprang from an Ucchan TV show
88Thrilling Uplifting StreetOzawa Kenji
Thrilling Uplifting StreetOzawa Kenjiplay_arrow
Kenji Ozawa’s love song