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
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- 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 Songs Ranking [2026] (81–90)
her boyfriendMakihara Noriyuki81rank/position
The appeal of Noriyuki Makihara as a singer-songwriter lies in his catchy melodies that stick with you after just one listen, and his unique lyrics.
Within them are stories worthy of a TV drama.
“Her Boyfriend” is one such song.
honest / frank / straightforwardMakihara Noriyuki82rank/position
A piano tone that gently cradles delicate emotions, staying close to the heart.
This exquisite ballad, woven by Noriyuki Makihara’s voice, portrays both the difficulty and importance of expressing honest feelings.
Released in 2000, the song also drew attention as his first single after moving to Sony.
With the new challenge of a solo piano-and-vocal performance, Makihara’s charm is showcased to the fullest.
It’s a perfect track for those struggling with their relationships or unable to openly convey their feelings to someone important.
Each listen offers a warm prompt to face your own emotions and connect with them more sincerely.
KISS MEHimuro Kyosuke83rank/position
It was released in 1992 as Kyosuke Himuro’s ninth single.
The song was used in a commercial for Boutique JOY and is Himuro’s biggest hit.
The chorus section uses a chord progression very similar to that of “MARIONETTE,” a song by BOØWY, the band he previously belonged to.
SQUALLHimuro Kyosuke84rank/position
This is a solo single by Kyosuke Himuro, the vocalist of BOOWY.
While retaining the vibe of the BOOWY era, it showcases different facets through arrangements that couldn’t be fully expressed by the band.
Its danceable, upbeat sound is sure to get you pumped.
To the new personKaientai85rank/position
Kaientai is a three-member folk group led by actor Tetsuya Takeda.
Known for hits like “Okuru Kotoba,” their song “Atarashii Hito e” is a hidden gem from the ’90s.
Its warm, folk-infused melody gently comforts the anxieties that come with graduation season.
Upbeat, hype-building anthems are great, but as a graduation song, I highly recommend a track like this—an encouraging tune that gradually fills you with courage as you listen.
MelodyTamaki Kōji86rank/position
Released in 1996 as Koji Tamaki’s 10th single, this memorable ballad has stayed in the hearts of many.
The warm tones of the acoustic guitar blend exquisitely with Tamaki’s delicate vocals.
The lyrics, themed around memories of the past, parting, and a mix of sorrow and tenderness, offer a depth that invites various interpretations from listeners.
The song was also used as the ending theme for the TBS news program “Tetsuya Chikushi NEWS23,” and it peaked at No.
49 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It’s a recommended track for those who have experienced a farewell with someone dear or who wish to bask in nostalgic memories.
HEAVENFukuyama Masaharu87rank/position
A passionate rock number that exudes a dangerous allure.
Released in November 1999, it’s a track included on Masaharu Fukuyama’s single.
Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “OUT: The Crimes of Wives,” it resonated perfectly with the show’s thrilling atmosphere.
The song portrays the “dependence” of drowning in an irresistible attraction and the “struggle” of being unable to escape it.
Fukuyama’s lustrous vocals dramatize the bittersweet emotions—like shuttling between heaven and hell.
It’s no wonder it topped the Oricon weekly chart and sold approximately 800,000 copies in total—an iconic song brimming with adult sophistication.
HELLOFukuyama Masaharu88rank/position
With its refreshing acoustic-guitar chord strums that make your heart dance, this is Masaharu Fukuyama’s smash hit released in 1995.
It sold a total of about 1.87 million copies and is widely known as one of Fukuyama’s signature songs, second only to the iconic ballad “Sakurazaka.” Its unrelentingly straightforward sense of speed, the sax solo in the middle, and Fukuyama’s sweet vocals will make you want to dash out under a clear blue sky.
As it was the theme song for the drama “The Best Unrequited Love,” the track centers on the theme of pure, one-sided love.
If a beautiful young man like Fukuyama were to sing a song like this to you, that unrequited love might just turn mutual in no time…
IT’S ONLY LOVE/SORRY BABYFukuyama Masaharu89rank/position
Released in March 1994, Masaharu Fukuyama’s first single to top the Oricon charts features a mid-tempo rock number that overlays memories of a lost love onto seaside scenery.
Set to a West Coast-style sound, it expresses the quiet, profound sense of loss that follows the end of a love once believed to be eternal.
The restrained vocal delivery is designed to convey emotion, creating a narrative that shifts from monologue to confession.
Issued as a double A-side with “SORRY BABY,” it was used in a DyDo Blend Coffee commercial in which Fukuyama himself appeared.
Holding the No.
1 spot for four consecutive weeks and selling approximately 1.17 million copies, this million-selling hit became a major turning point that led to later songs like “HELLO” and “Sakurazaka.”
MELODYFukuyama Masaharu90rank/position
It was released as Masaharu Fukuyama’s seventh single.
From this song onward, he consistently made it into the top 10.
As a love song about purely loving his girlfriend, its lyrics are appealing in a way that makes women think, “How happy I’d be if he loved me like this.” If Masaharu Fukuyama sang it to you, any woman would be completely smitten.