A collection of hit songs and classics that opened the door to 1990s Visual Kei
The visual kei rock scene is buzzing with many up-and-coming bands, but there’s no doubt its peak boom was in the 1990s.
It’s true that X (X JAPAN) laid the groundwork, LUNA SEA presented one vision of completion, and many subsequent bands followed.
At the same time, distinctive acts also thrived—such as BUCK-TICK, rooted in gothic rock, and the uniquely evolved “Nagoya-kei.”
Let’s take a look at some classic songs from 1990s visual kei rock!
We’ve also included early masterpieces from bands that are still popular today.
- A classic masterpiece of visual kei. A staple and popular song representing V-kei rock.
- Debut song of a 90s visual kei band
- [J-Rock] Timeless masterpieces that colored the 1990s. Nostalgic hit songs.
- [Neo-Visual Kei] A roundup of popular songs by V-kei bands from the 2000s
- Debut song of an 80s visual-kei band
- [BUCK-TICK Masterpieces] Popular Songs by the Legendary Band with an Overwhelming Presence
- 1990s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- The Aesthetics of Darkness: An Introduction to Gothic Rock — Notable Bands
- [1998 Japanese Hit Songs] A roundup of timeless classics that still live on in people’s memories!
- Representative bands of the Nagoya-kei scene in 90s Visual Kei
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- Masterpieces and popular songs by DIR EN GREY
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
Hit Songs and Masterpieces That Opened the Door to 1990s Visual Kei (31–40)
Lunar worldBUCK-TICK
This BUCK-TICK classic captivates listeners with the floating, otherworldly timbre of the theremin.
The lyrics, said to have been inspired by Atsushi Sakurai’s hospitalization experience, evoke a sensation of drifting between dream and reality.
Released as a single in May 1998, the song also served as the opening theme for the anime Night Walker: Mayonaka no Tantei.
It’s a perfect listen for a quiet, solitary night, when you want to reflect on your inner self under the moonlight.
Swapping PartyLADIES ROOM
They were one of the bands that supported the early visual-kei boom alongside X JAPAN.
Their songs were often straightforward, catchy, and melodic.
Their sexy lyrics and incidents of female fans undressing during concerts drew attention.
They disbanded in 1996, but have since reunited.
supercarCASCADE
This is CASCADE’s fourth single, released in November 1997, where pounding programmed beats fuse with high-energy guitars.
It features a sparkling sound that overturns the visual kei image, drawing on technopop and new wave influences.
Sung by TAMA with a crystal-clear high tone, the lyrics depict a love story set in a city aglow with winter illuminations.
The bittersweet mix of yearning and exhilaration—wishing to fly off with someone you love to a future planet—makes your heart ache in the best way.
It was also used in a Himalaya TV commercial, enhancing the cheerful mood of the season.
It’s lovely to sink into the bittersweet memories of that time while listening to the classic album “80*60=98,” which includes this track.
Put it on during a winter night drive and your spirits are sure to soar.
ivory treeLa’cryma Christi
This is La’cryma Christi’s major-label debut single, marked by its flowing twin-guitar lines and melodies that evoke the feeling of traveling through a distant, foreign land.
Within a delicately beautiful world, as if carved from ivory, it seems to sing of tenderness toward things that fade away.
Many listeners likely felt their hearts burn at the story spun by TAKA’s clear, high-toned vocals.
Released in May 1997, the song was also used as the ending theme for the TV program “Susume! Denpa Shonen.” Its sound balances progressive development with pop sensibilities, making it perfect for nights when you want to immerse yourself in a story.
Why not surrender yourself to this meticulously constructed sonic world?
seraphMALICE MIZER
This is a track distinguished by its noble, full-bodied programmed sound crafted by guitarist Közi.
The lyrics portray a forbidden longing for an angelic being and a fierce inner struggle so intense that the singer wishes for their very existence to be erased because of this love.
Such pure, heartrending expressions of love are bound to profoundly move listeners.
The song appears on the mini-album “mémoire,” released in July 1994, a classic that was limited to 3,000 copies at the time.
It offers a glimpse into the origins of MALICE MIZER’s tragic yet beautiful aesthetic.
On a quiet night, it might be lovely to sink into this grand tale as if you were reading a piece of Gothic fiction.