Popular Nostalgic Hits and Classics Ranking [1980s Japanese Music Ranking]
We’re excited to present the latest Top 100 ranking of classic Japanese pop songs, all in one go, ordered by most views!
We’ve picked out nostalgic hits from the 1980s!
Listening back, you’ll notice many of these tracks are still enjoying a revival today.
Be sure to check them out.
The playlist is updated weekly.
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Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking [1980s Japanese Music Ranking] (61–70)
huge nuisanceUNICORN64rank/position
This is the debut single by UNICORN, a five-member rock band that disbanded in 1993 and reunited in 2009.
Although the lyrics lament the woes of the office worker, the song’s upbeat, driving feel keeps the melancholy at bay, making it one of UNICORN’s signature numbers both before their breakup and after their reunion.
The guitar solo features very fast phrases; in the band score supervised by UNICORN, while the first half is notated, the latter half is cheekily labeled only as “Demon Right Hand,” showcasing UNICORN’s playful spirit even in their official band scores.
ambushIshikawa Hitomi65rank/position
A signature work by Hitomi Ishikawa that seems to epitomize unrequited love in the Showa era.
Its lyrics, which portray a bittersweet yearning, and its memorable melody line linger in the heart.
Released on April 21, 1981 as her 11th single, it peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon charts.
That same New Year’s Eve, she made her first appearance on the Red and White Song Battle, making this song a turning point in her singing career.
Perfect for those who can relate to the ache of unrequited love and the single-minded devotion of a woman in love.
A nostalgic yet fresh track that brings back memories of love from those days.
foreignerKUBOTA Saki66rank/position
“So you only ever see me as someone just passing by….” Foreign Visitor (Ihōjin) poetically captures a woman’s wistful, unrequited love.
Released in 1979 as singer-songwriter Saki Kubota’s debut single, the song’s enigmatic lyrics can make it hard to recognize at first listen as a love song—perhaps one of the charms of Showa-era romance music.
On top of that, it features meticulous compositional craft, shifting from a darker verse to a bright key change in the chorus.
Give it multiple listens and savor the profound depth of Showa kayō!
heavy rainTHE MODS67rank/position
A song that expresses passionate feelings hidden in the heart while being battered by heavy rain.
Known as one of THE MODS’ signature tracks, it was released as a single in September 1983.
Its exhilarating, fast-paced melody and powerful vocals are deeply moving.
Chosen for a Maxell commercial, it became a memorable tune for many.
The lyrics convey a desire to escape everyday life and a yearning for change.
Perfect for anyone wanting to feel the exhilaration of racing through the rain.
It might even give you a cleansing sensation when you listen to it while driving.
B BLUEBOØWY68rank/position
A track from the 1986 album BEAT EMOTION.
BOØWY is a four-piece rock band formed in 1981, centered around Kyosuke Himuro and Tomoyasu Hotei from Gunma.
The original title of this song was “True Blue.” Its straightforward rock-style beat meshes perfectly with Kyosuke Himuro’s vocals, making it a truly cool song.
Midnight Flight – A Lonely Christmas EveHamada Shogo69rank/position
A hidden gem by Shogo Hamada that portrays the loneliness of spending time alone at an airport, in stark contrast to the festive air of Christmas Eve.
It was included on the mini-album “CLUB SNOWBOUND,” released in November 1985, and was also used as an insert song in the TV anime “Ping Pong THE ANIMATION.” The protagonist, burdened by the magnitude of a lost love and unspoken feelings, is depicted dramatically over a rich, ’60s-style sound.
By deliberately giving it a glittering musical tone, the poignancy of the lyrics stands out even more.
It’s a song I recommend for winter nights when you long for connection, or when you want to quietly sink into sentimentality.
Shogo Hamada’s wistful vocals may gently keep company with a lonely heart.
Wax MuseumSeikima II70rank/position
Seikima-II’s songs, created as part of their long-running mission to conquer the Earth since the Showa era, are perfect for Halloween.
This particular track, a shocking piece released in April 1986, depicts the terror of a girl being turned into a wax doll in a mansion deep in the forest.
The lyrics hint at a brutal incident and the fear of losing tomorrow within it, sending chills down the listener’s spine.
The song was also used as an insert track in the anime Beelzebub.
It’s a highly recommended pick when you want to create a scary atmosphere at a Halloween party.