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.
Playlist
| Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Robinsonsupittsu |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of the bittersweetness of spring and memories of youth |
| 2 | The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi |  play_arrow | The variety show Hitachi Ashita P-KAN… |
| 3 | Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi |  play_arrow | A signature song that sublimates emotions wavering between nihilism and hope |
| 4 | One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | Masayoshi Yamazaki’s relea… in 1997 |
| 5 | Maplesupittsu |  play_arrow | Embrace the memories and move forward |
| 6 | TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya |  play_arrow | Fumiya Fujii’s classic song from Asunaro Hakusho |
| 7 | single bedSha ran Q |  play_arrow | A ballad about lingering feelings for an ex-lover |
| 8 | I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu |  play_arrow | Spitz’s classic “Cherry,” a moving masterpiece |
| 9 | squallFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | A signature song by Masaharu Fukuyama that portrays a heartrending love |
| 10 | cherrysupittsu |  play_arrow | The charm of iconic songs that color Spitz's youth |
| 11 | missingKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s poignant autumn classic transcends time. |
| 12 | I can’t say it.Gō Hiromi |  play_arrow | A signature song that portrays Hiromi Go’s heartrending love |
| 13 | I am here.Yamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | Masayoshi Yamazaki's signature song 'Boku wa Koko ni Iru' ('I Am Here') |
| 14 | Another OrionFujii Fumiya |  play_arrow | Fumiya Fujii’s deeply moving, smash-hit song |
| 15 | It always starts with rain.ASKA |  play_arrow | ASKA's famous love song about rain |
| 16 | countrysideTamaki Kōji |  play_arrow | Koji Tamaki’s inspiring masterpiece |
| 17 | Before you become a memorysupittsu |  play_arrow | The appeal of Spitz’s classic song “Cherry” |
| 18 | We are!kitadani hiroshi |  play_arrow | I was moved by the first One Piece opening theme, "We Are!" |
| 19 | Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashi |  play_arrow | A classic song depicting a youthful farewell and a new journey |
| 20 | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | A sweet, bittersweet love song, an eternal romance |
| 21 | Make it a slow boogie (I want you)Minami Yoshitaka |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Yoshitaka Minami, 19… |
| 22 | Easy★RiderOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | A refreshing summer travel song by Tamio Okuda |
| 23 | BoyhoodInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | Inoue Yosui’s youth song resonates with the heart |
| 24 | Tonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji feat. Suchadarapaa |  play_arrow | 1990s J-pop is drawing renewed attention on TikTok |
| 25 | KAN’s Christmas SongKAN |  play_arrow | KAN’s classic “Christmas Song” |
| 26 | Tokyo StorySha ran Q |  play_arrow | He is currently demonstrating his skills as a producer… |
| 27 | Nagisasupittsu |  play_arrow | A poignant classic that colors the end of summer |
| 28 | Unstoppable ha~haYazawa Eikichi |  play_arrow | Eikichi Yazawa's powerful rock song |
| 29 | A Love Song I Couldn’t SingOda Yūji |  play_arrow | This work, known as an iconic song representing the 1990s... |
| 30 | For loveOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | Okuda Tamio’s signature solo debut song |
| 31 | TELL MEhide |  play_arrow | hide's solo activities and the release of his first album |
| 32 | You’re the Only…Ono Masatoshi |  play_arrow | With that translucent high-tone voice, she/noted... |
| 33 | Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō |  play_arrow | Pocari commercial song, a refreshing love song |
| 34 | Soulmatesupittsu |  play_arrow | A heartwarming song that questions the meaning of love and life |
| 35 | Breath of DawnChekkāzu |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Fumiya Fujii... |
| 36 | Parody Song MedleyKamon Tatsuo |  play_arrow | The talent to make the yearly rankings with parody songs |
| 37 | GlassKawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | “Glass” was released in April 1997… |
| 38 | IT’S ONLY LOVEFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Masaharu Fukuyama, who is loved by a wide range of generations, ... |
| 39 | WomanNakanishi Keizō |  play_arrow | Keizo Nakanishi’s epic dream song |
| 40 | Miracle EarthKuwata Keisuke & Mr.Children |  | AIDS awareness charity single |
| 41 | VanillaGACKT |  play_arrow | Captivated by Gackt’s famous song and singing it passionately at karaoke |
| 42 | Love will winKAN |  play_arrow | The masterful song that encourages people through music: 'Love Will Win' |
| 43 | The rattlesnake is comingTonneruzu |  play_arrow | Tunnels' first Oricon No. 1 song |
| 44 | Midwinter RomanceElefanto Kashimashi |  play_arrow | Elekashi’s classic winter song warms the heart. |
| 45 | Take back the love!!kurisutaru kingu |  play_arrow | Fist of the North Star theme song, a passionately sung track by Crystal King |
| 46 | Sly womanSha ran Q |  play_arrow | A quintessential breakup song of the ’90s, by Sharan Q… |
| 47 | blue carsupittsu |  play_arrow | Spitz’s heartwarming love song, “To the Future” |
| 48 | A street corner where even lovers get wetNakamura Masatoshi |  play_arrow | Masatoshi Nakamura's youth and charm |
| 49 | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu with Naomi Kyanberu |  play_arrow | A bittersweet classic song of carousel-like love |
| 50 | Christmas For YouMaeda Nobuteru |  play_arrow | Toru Maeda's Christmas ballad song |
| 51 | energy flow (Ura BTTB)Sakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | A popular commercial jingle had a major impact on the music scene. |
| 52 | Get Along Together -Because I Want to Give You My Love-Yamane Yasuhiro |  play_arrow | He said he wrote it in a week for a friend who was getting married... |
| 53 | A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | A quintessential example of cool Showa-era kayōkyoku sung by men is... |
| 54 | I love youKawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | Ryuichi Kawamura’s masterpiece, with a romantic singing voice |
| 55 | MelodyTamaki Kōji |  play_arrow | Koji Tamaki’s release in 1996… |
| 56 | HeartFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | The warm song “Kokoro” (Heart), Masaharu Fukuyama’s comeback single |
| 57 | Far awayInaba Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Koshi Inaba's solo debut single |
| 58 | Princess MononokeMera Yoshikazu |  play_arrow | Princess Mononoke theme song a big hit |
| 59 | Cactus Flower ~Under the Same Roof~Zaitsu Kazuo |  play_arrow | Bonds of family and memories of youth are engraved in the heart. |
| 60 | Tokyokururi |  play_arrow | An early signature song by the Kyoto band Quruli |
| 61 | Pathetic.Tonneruzu |  play_arrow | Tunnels released a smash hit song. |
| 62 | April windElefanto Kashimashi |  play_arrow | Elekashi’s signature song, the spring classic “April’s Wind.” |
| 63 | I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu |  play_arrow | Oda Kazumasa’s classic song “I Can’t Put It Into Words” |
| 64 | excuseSha ran Q |  play_arrow | A quintessential 90s breakup rock ballad |
| 65 | Look at the sky.Sha ran Q |  play_arrow | Sharam Q’s “Sora” chosen as the image song for baseball broadcasts |
| 66 | Touch and changesupittsu |  play_arrow | After the breakthrough of songs like “Nagisa” and “Scarlet”… |
| 67 | spidersupittsu |  play_arrow | Depicting a fateful encounter and hope for the future |
| 68 | Tears Sparkle☆supittsu |  play_arrow | A classic song by Spitz that portrays the feelings of love on Tanabata |
| 69 | Scarletsupittsu |  play_arrow | Theme song of Spitz’s classic hit “Scarlett” |
| 70 | ROOMChekkāzu |  play_arrow | A masterpiece that gently sings of a love that won’t return |
| 71 | Song for U.S.A.Chekkāzu |  play_arrow | A gentle song expressing admiration for America |
| 72 | Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzu |  play_arrow | A classic hit by The Checkers, with a lively saxophone. |
| 73 | Shot by a TIME showerKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s ‘Shot by a TIME Shower…’ |
| 74 | Young BloodsSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | “Young Bloods” is a singer-so... |
| 75 | wandererOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | A folk rock song about a lonely journey |
| 76 | SHADOW CITYTerao Akira |  play_arrow | Atsushi Terao captivates with an intense, haunting performance and songs from the Showa era. |
| 77 | Ruby RingTerao Akira |  play_arrow | While being an actor, he is also highly active as an artist... |
| 78 | The Reason We Set Out on a JourneyOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | A timeless song that gently embraces the loneliness of parting |
| 79 | Strong feelings, strong loveOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | Ozawa Kenji’s bright love classic |
| 80 | celeryYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | A heartwarming love song from the Yamazaki–SMAP collaboration |
| 81 | You are more beautiful than a rose.Fuse Akira |  play_arrow | A sho— influenced by Western new music... |
| 82 | GET THE WORLDKageyama Hironobu |  play_arrow | The fiery theme song of Bakusō Kyōdai Let’s & Go!! |
| 83 | WE GOTTA POWERKageyama Hironobu |  play_arrow | Hironobu Kageyama's fiery Dragon Ball theme song |
| 84 | MoonlightKuwana Masahiro |  play_arrow | Masahiro Kuwana’s signature song “Tsuki no Akari” (Moonlight) |
| 85 | Casablanca Dandysawada kenji |  play_arrow | Kenji Sawada’s 26th single, “Casab… |
| 86 | Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji |  play_arrow | Kenji Sawada’s classic hit “Do What You Want” becomes a smash success. |
| 87 | As time goes bysawada kenji |  play_arrow | Beginner-friendly masterpieces by Kenji Sawada |
| 88 | Love is…Kawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | The visual kei rock band, LUNA S… |
| 89 | City DolphinHamada Kingo |  play_arrow | The artist with a sweet, memorable vocal, Hamada... |
| 90 | HELLOFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | A chorus with a refreshing acoustic guitar... |
| 91 | MELODYFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | It was released as Masaharu Fukuyama's seventh single... |
| 92 | MessageFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Masaharu Fukuyama’s refreshing classic that conveys the feelings of love. |
| 93 | In the Rain of RemembranceFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Rock, Masaharu Fukuyama's debut song |
| 94 | Love SomebodyOda Yūji |  play_arrow | A signature theme song from Bayside Shakedown |
| 95 | Subtly flashy (bling-bling, but nonchalant)Kondō Masahiko |  play_arrow | A signature song by Match, a passionate classic |
| 96 | Warrior, rise!Endō Masaaki |  play_arrow | The Cybaster theme song is a masterpiece by Masaaki Endoh. |
| 97 | GOLDFINGER ’99Gō Hiromi |  play_arrow | Hiromi Go’s popular cover songs and choreography |
| 98 | I can’t help wanting to see you.Gō Hiromi |  play_arrow | Hiromi Go's deep feelings for his beloved |
| 99 | Babel IIMizuki Ichirō |  | A fiery song about a psychic boy who protects world peace |
| 100 | A Sign of CourageUshiwakamaru Saburota |  | It became an overnight smash hit as a song featured in a famous commercial... |