![Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/51CH3dPaWXc/hqdefault.jpg)
Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
The 1990s saw notable advancements in digital sound and the emergence of many music groups, making group-based music activities more common.
At the same time, numerous solo releases by singers also became major hits.
Here, we introduce a ranking of popular singers from the 1990s—especially male singers—through which you can also feel the progress of music technology.
Ranking of Popular Japanese Male Singers and Songs from the 1990s [2026] (1–10)
Robinsonsupittsu1rank/position
Known as a classic song about spring, this is one of Spitz’s signature tracks.
The bittersweetness and anxiety that arrive with the start of a new season are universal emotions everyone has felt at least once.
Lyrics depicting the protagonist’s longing love and a special world for just the two of them seep into the heart, carried by a clear, translucent melody.
Released in April 1995, it sold over 1.62 million copies.
It was also included on the album “Honey” (Hachimitsu) and won the Excellence Award at the 37th Japan Record Awards.
It’s a recommended song when you want to look back on memories of your youth or reflect on relationships with those dear to you.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi2rank/position
This is the second single by Yasushi Nakanishi, a singer from Nara Prefecture, chosen as the theme song for the variety show “Hitachi Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” A long-running hit, it sold 900,000 copies from its 1992 release through 1998 and continues to be covered by various artists today.
Its heartrending lyrics and emotionally charged vocals evoke the loneliness and sorrow felt after parting with a lover.
A quintessential tearjerker of the 1990s, it’s a song that can bring you to tears no matter when you listen.
Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi3rank/position
A signature song by Elephant Kashimashi, it sublimates the feeling of a heart wavering between everyday nihilism and hope into something beautiful.
The dramatic melody and Hiroji Miyamoto’s impassioned vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
Released by Pony Canyon in July 1997, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Because the Moon Shines at Night.” It became the band’s first entry into the Oricon Weekly Top 10 and a major hit with total sales of about 800,000 copies.
When you’re worn out by relationships or work and listen to this song, you can sense someone who struggles just like you yet still tries to face forward and live.
Like gentle moonlight softly illuminating the night, this is a song that stays close to your heart.
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi4rank/position
Masayoshi Yamazaki’s signature song, released in 1997, is a bittersweet yet beautiful ballad.
The yearning for lost love gently seeps into the listener’s heart, carried by Yamazaki’s soaring vocals.
Used as the theme song for the film “The Moon and a Cabbage,” it remained popular for many years thereafter.
It peaked at No.
18 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and achieved the remarkable feat of staying on the charts for 24 weeks.
With its delicate, solo-accompanied melody, the song evokes not only a sense of loss but also a glimmer of hope for the future.
It surely gives voice to the feelings held in the hearts of many.
Maplesupittsu5rank/position
It’s a classic song about parting with someone dear, and it’s also famous for having been covered by many artists.
It’s a single released by the rock band Spitz in July 1998 from the album “Fake Fur.” The somewhat nostalgic tones of piano and guitar resonate in the heart, and Masamune Kusano’s vocals, which beautifully express longing and loneliness, seem to convey a sense of helplessness.
The piece portrays not only the sorrow of farewell but also a forward-looking resolve to hold those memories close and keep moving on, revealing something new with every listen.
It’s no wonder it has colored so many works across generations, such as the drama “silent.” It’s also a great choice to sing slowly and thoughtfully at karaoke while soaking in the autumn mood.
single bedSha ran Q6rank/position
This is a wistful ballad that poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a former lover, a classic that gently teaches the preciousness of love.
As the protagonist looks back on memories left behind on a single bed, they realize that a romance once taken for granted was in fact more valuable than jewels, weaving a moving drama.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, the song became a major hit, ranking 24th on the year-end charts.
It was also used as the ending theme for the anime D.N.A²: They Were Once a Thing, and included on the album Inferiority Complex.
It’s the perfect track for reminiscing about youthful love while sharing memories with friends.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya7rank/position
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.