Popular Nostalgic Songs: J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking]
We present the latest Top 100 ranking of classic Japanese pop songs all at once, ordered by most views! We’ve picked out nostalgic hits from the 1990s.
Listening again, you’ll notice many songs are still enjoying a revival today.
Be sure to check them out.
The playlist is updated weekly.
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Popular Nostalgic Songs / J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking] (61–70)
HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution64rank/position
This work is known as one of T.M.Revolution’s signature songs.
Released in the summer of 1998, it features a driving, exhilarating sound and Takanori Nishikawa’s powerful vocals.
The lyrics, which capture the freedom of summer and youthful passion, resonated with many listeners.
The song gained further popularity when it was used in a Mitsuya Cider commercial.
It has continued to be beloved over the years, later serving as the ending theme for the 2016 TV anime ReLIFE and as the song for a heating and cooling system commercial in 2021.
In the music video, the distinctive outfits and the choreography in the chorus make you want to try copying them.
It’s the perfect track for enjoying the hot season, whether you’re on a summer drive or having a seaside BBQ.
Kiss me right nowLINDBERG65rank/position
One of the signature songs by LINDBERG, a four-member rock band formed around former idol vocalist Maki Watase that produced many hits in the 1990s.
Released on February 7, 1990, the track also made waves as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Sekai de Ichiban Kimi ga Suki!” Its lyrics capture the flutter of falling in love and a heartfelt yearning for a beloved, making it a sweet yet bittersweet love song.
The lyrical melody, carried by Maki Watase’s piercing, soaring vocals, is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a song packed with LINDBERG’s charm that evokes memories of youthful romance.
To the futureKiroro66rank/position
This is a heartwarming ballad that depicts the strong bond between mother and child.
Born from experiences in junior high school, the piece carries a message filled with love for a child and hope for the future.
Its gentle piano melody is striking, and Chiharu Tamashiro’s clear, pure vocals are deeply moving.
Released in June 1998 as Kiroro’s second single, it achieved an impressive No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It has been covered by numerous artists and was also featured as the theme song for P&G’s “Bridge of Feelings Project” commercials.
Brimming with a parent’s love for their child and a child’s gratitude for their parent, this song is also beloved as a graduation anthem—sure to evoke memories of youth.
I’ll surely never forgetZARD67rank/position
This song by ZARD delivers a warm sense of hope that won’t yield to winter’s cold.
The lyrics embody the strength to keep looking forward, even after experiencing a painful farewell, without forgetting feelings for a loved one.
Izumi Sakai’s clear, translucent voice resonates as if gently staying close to the listener’s heart.
Released in June 1993, the track was also used as a TV drama theme song, capturing the hearts of many.
Included on the album “Forever Best ~25th Anniversary~,” it has remained one of ZARD’s signature songs, cherished over the years.
If you listen to it on a winter night alone, it will surely warm your heart.
Red tambourineBLANKEY JET CITY68rank/position
A quintessential 90s love song that symbolically portrays pure feelings and passion for a beloved.
Released by BLANKEY JET CITY in January 1998, the track weaves a unique tapestry of metaphors to explore what love is.
The protagonist longs to gift a shooting star to the one they love, and the way their heart trembles in everyday, fleeting moments is strikingly depicted—evoking the bittersweetness of love that resonates with anyone.
Included on the album “Romeo no Shinzou” (Romeo’s Heart) and used as the opening theme for TV Asahi’s ‘Sunday Jungle,’ the song reached No.
11 on the Oricon weekly singles chart.
With its heartwarming melody and lyrics, it’s a track you’ll want to play when healing from heartbreak or reaffirming your feelings for someone special.
I want to shout that I love you.BAAD69rank/position
The moment that intro rings out, I bet many of you feel a sudden heat well up in your chest.
As the theme song of the anime SLAM DUNK, it’s an immortal classic by BAAD that represents the Being sound of the ’90s.
Kyoji Yamada’s husky voice, laced with a sense of urgency, sings of the frustration of never becoming more than friends, squeezing the listener’s heart in the process.
The chorus, where feelings burst out straight and raw, is a true cry of the soul.
It overlaps with the passionate drama of the story’s characters, wrapping you in a rush that makes the scenes unfold right before your eyes.
It’s a timeless anthem of youth, isn’t it?
cherrysupittsu70rank/position
A song that delicately captures the joys and bittersweet moments of youth was released in April 1996 and continues to be loved across generations.
The magical fusion of Spitz’s gentle melodies and poetic lyrics tenderly embraces a range of feelings—love, parting, and hope for the future.
Included on the album Indigo Chiheisen, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart despite having no tie-in.
Since 2019, it has also been used in NTT East’s commercials, continuing to resonate with many people.
It’s a heartwarming track that stays close to those who carry feelings for someone dear and a faint sense of wistfulness, while holding hope for the future.