1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026]
Isn’t it in the 1990s that singer-songwriters began covering a wider range of musical genres and self-composed songs seemed to become the mainstream?
From among the many timeless masterpieces born in the ’90s, we’re highlighting popular tracks—focusing especially on those by male singer-songwriters—and presenting them in a ranking.
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- [J-Pop] Debut songs by male solo artists from the 1990s
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026]
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
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- Singer-Songwriter/Artist Rankings of the 1980s [2026]
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Female Singer-Songwriters of the 1990s [2026]
- Best Songs and Popular Tracks by Male Singer-Songwriters: 2026 Rankings
- Popular Nostalgic Songs: J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking]
- A roundup of hit love songs from the ’90s
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (1–10)
Believe in your dreamsTokunaga Hideaki8rank/position
This is the ninth single by singer-songwriter Hideaki Tokunaga, who has created numerous classic ballads with his one-of-a-kind voice and, in recent years, captivated many listeners with his cover works.
The song was used as the ending theme for the TV anime Dragon Quest, and it’s a number distinguished by Tokunaga’s expansive, powerful vocals.
Its message—overcoming past tears and doubts to press forward toward the future you believe in—is sure to resonate especially with graduates whose hearts are filled with both hope and anxiety.
Released in January 1990, the single became a long-running hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 24 weeks.
It’s a song that gently nudges you toward realizing your dreams and warmly supports new beginnings.
squallFukuyama Masaharu9rank/position
A signature song by Masaharu Fukuyama that vividly portrays a bittersweet love.
It beautifully captures the transience of a romance that passes like a sudden shower and the delicate emotions of a woman falling in love.
Released in 2010, this track is Fukuyama’s self-cover of a song originally written for Eiko Matsumoto, and it won first place in a popularity poll thanks to passionate support from fans.
It resonates deeply not only with those newly in love but also with anyone who has experienced heartbreak, making it one of the iconic masterpieces of the ’90s.
It’s great for karaoke, but also perfect for quietly listening alone.
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki10rank/position
Like music flowing from a nostalgic radio, a timeless song that seeps into the heart along with memories was created by Hideaki Tokunaga in July 1990.
The track, which overlays the feelings of a boy transitioning from adolescence to adulthood with the image of a broken radio, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Tokai no Mori” (“Urban Forest”) and reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Featuring a grand arrangement by Ichizo Seo and beautifully harmonized with Tokunaga’s delicate vocals, the song artfully blends elements of pop and ballad into a moving piece.
It was also included on the album “JUSTICE” and performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009.
Conveying the transience and passion of youth, as well as a yearning for self-renewal, this work gently embraces the emotional fluctuations everyone experiences while growing up—a resonant song that speaks to the heart.
1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
missingKubota Toshinobu11rank/position
A singer-songwriter with an un-Japanese sense of groove and a soulful voice who performs on the world stage, Toshinobu Kubota’s song is included on his first album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” and is widely known as one of his signature tracks across a broad range of listeners.
The lyrics, which sing of a forbidden love, and the heartrending melody feel perfectly suited to the melancholy season of autumn.
Even though it wasn’t released as a single, it’s been covered by many musicians—proof that it’s a timeless masterpiece cherished across generations.
I am here.Yamazaki Masayoshi12rank/position
Singer-songwriter Masayoshi Yamazaki, also known as a multi-instrumentalist who plays all the parts himself on some recordings.
His eighth single, “Boku wa Koko ni Iru” (“I Am Here”), used as the theme song for the TV drama Miracles, in which he starred, is also known as his biggest hit.
The lyrics, portraying emotions swayed by a bittersweet romance, tighten the heart along with a lyrical melody that evokes autumn.
With its distinctive vocals, it’s an autumn song that colored the 1990s.
At all times.Makihara Noriyuki13rank/position
Singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, known for songs that feature his distinctive, warm vocals and catchy melodic sensibility, has garnered widespread popularity.
His third single, “Donna Toki mo” (“No Matter When”), used as the theme song for the film ‘No Abnormalities in the Job-Hunting Front,’ has been widely covered by numerous artists since its release in 1991.
Its positive message and ensemble centered on a lively piano give listeners the power to lift their spirits and move forward.
For those of that generation, it’s guaranteed to be a karaoke crowd-pleaser—Makihara’s biggest hit single.
Katsushika RhapsodyDōjima Kōhei14rank/position
The third opening theme for the anime “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo” was “Katsushika Rhapsody,” a song by singer-songwriter Kohei Dojima.
Released in 1997 as his seventh single, it was crafted as a local song for Katsushika Ward in Tokyo.
It’s a heartwarming track with a gently soothing tone.
In 2003, it was covered by the ska band Yum!Yum!ORANGE and used as the anime’s seventh opening theme.
