![Popular Nostalgic Songs: J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/o1sUaVJUeB0/maxresdefault.webp)
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 Old-School Hits: J-Pop Ranking [1990s Japanese Music Ranking] (1–10)
First LoveUtada Hikaru1rank/position
A song that expresses the pain of heartbreak and the feelings of a first love through poignant lyrics and melody.
Released in April 1999 as the theme song for the TV drama “Majo no Jōken,” it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
With expressive power hard to believe from a teenager, this work captured the hearts of many listeners.
Included on the album “First Love,” it also held the No.
1 spot on the karaoke chart for 15 consecutive weeks.
Celebrated as a timeless classic, it is beloved by a wide range of generations.
Highly recommended for those who have experienced heartbreak or have unforgettable memories of their first love.
Robinsonsupittsu2rank/position
Known as a classic song about spring, this is one of Spitz’s signature tracks.
The bittersweetness and anxiety that arrive with the start of a new season are universal emotions everyone has felt at least once.
Lyrics depicting the protagonist’s longing love and a special world for just the two of them seep into the heart, carried by a clear, translucent melody.
Released in April 1995, it sold over 1.62 million copies.
It was also included on the album “Honey” (Hachimitsu) and won the Excellence Award at the 37th Japan Record Awards.
It’s a recommended song when you want to look back on memories of your youth or reflect on relationships with those dear to you.
HOWEVERGLAY3rank/position
GLAY, known for their legendary concert that drew 200,000 people in 1999, released their 12th single in August 1997—a gem of a ballad that became the band’s first million seller.
Written and composed by TAKURO, the song sets a grand melody to lyrics about the preciousness of meeting a loved one and the resolve to move forward beyond past wounds.
It topped the Oricon Weekly Chart for five consecutive weeks and became a social phenomenon, selling a cumulative total of about 1.34 million copies.
Chosen as the ending theme for the TBS drama “Ryodatsuei: Abunai Onna” (Stolen Love: Dangerous Woman), it captured even more listeners’ hearts.
TERU’s emotionally rich vocals blend beautifully with the band’s dramatic sound, making this a masterpiece that feels like it gently stays by your side when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone special.
Winter,againGLAY4rank/position
A winter ballad from GLAY, it’s a masterpiece that warmly embraces the listener’s heart.
TERU’s clear, soaring vocals are captivating, and the song evokes the arrival of winter.
The lyrics, filled with TAKURO’s wish to show the snowy scenery of his hometown Hokkaido to someone special, are sure to move you.
Released in January 1999, this track was also used as the campaign song for JR East’s “JR SKI SKI.” Listening to it alongside the beautiful Hokkaido landscapes of the snow-dusted season will surely make you feel like you’re under winter’s spell.
DEPARTURESglobe5rank/position
A love song that defined the ’90s, where a heart-stirringly beautiful melody and gentle vocals resonate deep in your chest.
Through the faint hopes and anxieties born from sharing the same days, and the eventual parting and new beginnings, this single—released in February 1996—lovingly captures the memories the two protagonists walked together.
Its familiar dance tune and bittersweet romantic feelings lead you into a breathtakingly dramatic progression.
Featured in JR East’s ski campaign “JR ski ski,” it was etched into many people’s hearts alongside the striking visuals of Yutaka Takenouchi and Makiko Esumi.
An eternal classic from globe, dedicated to everyone setting out on a new path.
Dan Dan Kokoro HikaretekuFIELD OF VIEW6rank/position
This is the song that was used as the opening theme for the Dragon Ball series at the height of its popularity.
A lot of people know it because they watched the anime, right? Dragon Ball is still popular even now—what staying power! The lyrics were actually written by Izumi Sakai from ZARD, and she later recorded a self-cover as well.
The catchy “tan-tan-tan” rhythm in the chorus still makes you want to hum along.
It truly represents the ever-bright J-pop of the ’90s.
Highly recommended even for those who don’t know the song at all!
White LoveSPEED7rank/position
A romantic ballad from SPEED that evokes the arrival of winter, likening pure, bittersweet feelings of love to white snow! Released in October 1997, this song topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
With total sales exceeding 1.84 million copies, it became their biggest hit.
It was also featured in a Shiseido “Tessera Angel Drop” commercial.
The lyrics sing of miraculous encounters and a wish for love that will shine forever.
It’s the perfect track for those whose hearts are fluttering at the start of a new romance or who want to feel a deep bond with someone special.