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.
Playlist
| 1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | Masayoshi Yamazaki’s relea… in 1997 |
| 2 | I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | Delicately expressing both the pain of heartbreak and the hope of taking a new step forward… |
| 3 | OH MY LITTLE GIRLOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | Garnering overwhelming support as a charismatic figure among the youth, … |
| 4 | Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa |  play_arrow | Kazumasa Oda, who delicately depicted the subtleties of romance… |
| 5 | Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | A message with a strong protest tone and in Japanese... |
| 6 | HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | T.M.R.’s signature summer song, a classic brimming with a sense of speed |
| 7 | By the time of the Christmas carolsInagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | Junichi Inagaki’s Christmas song, Youthful Love |
| 8 | Believe in your dreamsTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | Hidetaka Tokunaga’s moving graduation song |
| 9 | squallFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Masaharu Fukuyama vividly portrays a heartrending love. |
| 10 | Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | Timeless anthems that color our youth, music that resonates with the heart |
| 11 | missingKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s poignant autumn classic transcends time. |
| 12 | I am here.Yamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | Masayoshi Yamazaki's signature song 'Boku wa Koko ni Iru' ('I Am Here') |
| 13 | At all times.Makihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | A distinctive, warm singing voice and a catchy melody... |
| 14 | Katsushika RhapsodyDōjima Kōhei |  play_arrow | The local theme song from the anime “Kochikame” |
| 15 | countrysideTamaki Kōji |  play_arrow | Koji Tamaki’s inspiring masterpiece |
| 16 | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | A sweet, bittersweet love song, an eternal romance |
| 17 | Make it a slow boogie (I want you)Minami Yoshitaka |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Yoshitaka Minami, 19… |
| 18 | Easy★RiderOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | A refreshing summer travel song by Tamio Okuda |
| 19 | BoyhoodInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | Inoue Yosui’s youth song resonates with the heart |
| 20 | Tonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji feat. Suchadarapaa |  play_arrow | An iconic song that represents 1990s J-POP is... |
| 21 | Burnin’X’masT.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | Takanori Nishikawa’s heartrending love song echoes on a winter night. |
| 22 | Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | A song about thinking of one’s hometown and friends, and chasing one’s dreams |
| 23 | Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō |  play_arrow | Pocari commercial song, a refreshing love song |
| 24 | For loveOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | The five-member group whose 2009 reunion became a hot topic ro... |
| 25 | WHITE BREATHT.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | T.M.R’s winter song “WHITE BREATH” |
| 26 | GlassKawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | “Glass” was released in April 1997… |
| 27 | THUNDERBIRDT.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | A moving ballad from T.M.Revolution arrives |
| 28 | LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu with Naomi Kyanberu |  play_arrow | A bittersweet classic song of carousel-like love |
| 29 | An uncool way of getting dumpedŌe Senri |  play_arrow | Senri Oe’s classic song that portrays the emotions of heartbreak. |
| 30 | Happy endingOhtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | Eiichi Ohtaki’s gem-like love songs and hit tracks |
| 31 | Ruby RingTerao Akira |  play_arrow | While being an actor, he is also highly active as an artist... |
| 32 | A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | A quintessential example of cool Showa-era kayōkyoku sung by men is... |
| 33 | Winter is starting.Makihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | Noriyuki Makihara’s Winter Songs: The Birth and Appeal of Masterpieces |
| 34 | Hold my soulHimuro Kyosuke |  play_arrow | Kyosuke Himuro’s classic song “Hold My Soul” resonates on an autumn night. |
| 35 | I love youKawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | Ryuichi Kawamura’s masterpiece, with a romantic singing voice |
| 36 | Love is…Kawamura Ryuuichi |  play_arrow | The visual kei rock band, LUNA S… |
| 37 | HeartFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | The warm song “Kokoro” (Heart), Masaharu Fukuyama’s comeback single |
| 38 | IT’S ONLY LOVEFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Masaharu Fukuyama, who is loved by a wide range of generations, ... |
| 39 | That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19 |  play_arrow | An emotional song that captures a fleeting moment of youth |
| 40 | A graduation song, a song of friends.19 |  play_arrow | Graduation songs that color the J-POP scene of the ’90s… |
| 41 | HEART OF SWORD ~Before Dawn~T.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | A timeless masterpiece of loneliness and hope that stirs the soul |
| 42 | HIGH PRESSURET.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | Now also known as a stoic, muscular character... |
| 43 | Dictatorship -monopolize-T.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | The visual kei band Luis-Mary's... |
| 44 | My First Kissanshin papa |  play_arrow | A classic anime song with quirky charm |
| 45 | Before dawnSuga Shikao |  play_arrow | Seiko commercial song, Suga Shikao’s classic. |
| 46 | A hill where summer begins to showDaisuke |  play_arrow | Refreshing, heart-stirring music of summer |
| 47 | Shot by a TIME showerKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s ‘Shot by a TIME Shower…’ |
| 48 | Young BloodsSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | “Young Bloods” is a singer-so... |
| 49 | Parody Song MedleyKamon Tatsuo |  play_arrow | About the top 30 in the annual rankings with parody songs... |
| 50 | energy flow (Ura BTTB)Sakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | A popular commercial jingle had a major impact on the music scene. |
| 51 | Summer ResolutionŌe Senri |  play_arrow | Summer Memories and Songs of Youth |
| 52 | And then I’m at a lossŌsawa Yoshiyuki |  play_arrow | The singe… who gained popularity for their distinctive husky voice |
| 53 | You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | Known as a masterpiece by Eiichi Ohtaki, this work is… |
| 54 | wandererOkuda Tamio |  play_arrow | A folk rock-style song that sings of a lonely journey… |
| 55 | SHADOW CITYTerao Akira |  play_arrow | Atsushi Terao captivates with an intense, haunting performance and songs from the Showa era. |
| 56 | Serenade of the Ginkgo AvenueOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | A Lament for Lost Love Woven Along Autumn’s Ginkgo Avenue |
| 57 | The Reason We Set Out on a JourneyOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | A timeless song that gently embraces the loneliness of parting |
| 58 | Who is knocking on the door?Ozawa Kenji |  play_arrow | Shibuya-kei's Kenji Ozawa scores a huge hit with his Christmas song |
| 59 | Strong feelings, strong loveOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | Released on February 28, 1995, a smal… |
| 60 | In spring, I think of you.Ozawa Kenji |  play_arrow | Ozaken’s final single, brimming with adult charm |
| 61 | Thrilling Uplifting StreetOzawa Kenji |  play_arrow | Kenji Ozawa, who was then called the “Shibuya-kei prince,” ... |
| 62 | Autumn breezeOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | Yutaka Ozaki’s classic that sings of the wistfulness of summer’s end and autumn. |
| 63 | RIDE ON TIMEYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | The signature 80s city pop song “Ride On Time” |
| 64 | SPARKLEYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | With a distinctive vocal timbre and high-level musical sensibility, they have long been... |
| 65 | Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | Tatsuro Yamashita’s youth ballad 'Niji' (Rainbow) |
| 66 | Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | The Christmas song by Tatsuro Yamashita that needs no introduction... |
| 67 | celeryYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | A heartwarming love song from the Yamazaki–SMAP collaboration |
| 68 | Chinese cuisineYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | A love song with strikingly memorable lyrics |
| 69 | Bathed in moonlightYamazaki Masayoshi |  play_arrow | An unforgettable, striking singing voice that, once heard, you can never forget, and all… |
| 70 | 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... |
| 71 | CIRCUSHotei Tomoyasu |  play_arrow | A song that portrays the scenes of the circus and a way of life. |
| 72 | PoisonHotei Tomoyasu |  play_arrow | An impressive song by Tomoyasu Hotei, with captivating bass and guitar. |
| 73 | SurrenderHotei Tomoyasu |  play_arrow | Tomoyasu Hotei’s hit song, popular as a commercial jingle |
| 74 | thrillHotei Tomoyasu |  play_arrow | Hotei’s rock music is difficult but captivating. |
| 75 | BambinaHotei Tomoyasu |  play_arrow | Hotei Tomoyasu’s devilish, seductive song with an Italian title |
| 76 | LOVE IS ALLTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | The classic song “Missing,” which portrays the universality of love |
| 77 | Forbidden Rouge MagicImagawa Kiyoshiro + Sakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | The groundbreaking collaborative track by Kiyoshiro Imawano and Ryuichi Sakamoto |
| 78 | I can’t just leave you alone.Kusunose Seishiro |  play_arrow | A bittersweet love so... whose straightforward feelings press upon the heart |
| 79 | SPYMakihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | In the 1990s, it achieved overwhelming commercial sales… |
| 80 | North Wind ~May It Reach You~Makihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | A poignant winter song, an emotional expression that resonates with the heart |
| 81 | her boyfriendMakihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | Noriyuki Makihara as a singer-songwriter and… |
| 82 | honest / frank / straightforwardMakihara Noriyuki |  play_arrow | A tender, heart-soothing presence that gently embraces delicate emotions… |
| 83 | KISS MEHimuro Kyosuke |  play_arrow | A famous hit song by Kyosuke Himuro, influenced by BOØWY |
| 84 | SQUALLHimuro Kyosuke |  play_arrow | A solo song that showcases Kyosuke Himuro’s individuality |
| 85 | To the new personKaientai |  play_arrow | A three-member group centered around the actor Tetsuya Takeda... |
| 86 | MelodyTamaki Kōji |  play_arrow | Koji Tamaki’s release in 1996… |
| 87 | HEAVENFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Dependence and conflict depicted by a passionate song |
| 88 | HELLOFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | A chorus with a refreshing acoustic guitar... |
| 89 | IT’S ONLY LOVE/SORRY BABYFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | In March 1994, a memorable ... for Masaharu Fukuyama... |
| 90 | MELODYFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | It was released as Masaharu Fukuyama's seventh single... |
| 91 | MessageFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Masaharu Fukuyama’s refreshing classic that conveys the feelings of love. |
| 92 | In the Rain of RemembranceFukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | People might generally associate me more with being an actor… |
| 93 | I can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | A classic song that portrays the aching hearts of winter lovers |
| 94 | Summer HornsInagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | Released in 1983, this work is urban and so... |
| 95 | No End SummerKadamatsu Toshiki |  play_arrow | Kado..., with its charm of Showa-era kayōkyoku-style chord progressions. |
| 96 | Soap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s million-selling hit song |
| 97 | dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi's “Tonbo” is a folk-rock song with a mature vibe. |
| 98 | sunflowerNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Powerful vocals and an acoustic guitar weave together... |
| 99 | It’s nothing good.Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | A song that sings of passionate manly feelings has gained support from men of the same generation… |
| 100 | CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s signature song “Kanpai” was a staple at graduation ceremonies in the 1980s. |