Medley of Nostalgic Japanese Pop Hits from the 1990s
We’ve put together a wide-ranging collection of iconic hits from the 1990s!
I’m sure these songs—many you once had on heavy rotation—will bring back memories.
Music has a way of conjuring up scenes from the time you first heard it.
Take a moment to look back on those memories.
And if you were born in the 1990s, why not try finding the hits from your birth year?
- Karaoke songs that were hits in the ’90s. Classic and popular tracks from Japanese music.
- [2025 Edition] A compilation of Japanese songs I want men in their 50s to sing
- Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs!
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Nostalgic song medley. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular songs.
- [Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
- A roundup of songs for men in their 30s to sing [’90s–’00s tracks]
- Songs for Women in Their 30s to Sing: A Collection from the 90s to 00s
- A medley of crowd-pleasing classics. Iconic Japanese songs and recommended popular tracks.
- For seniors: Recommended youthful songs for people in their 90s. A collection of classic Showa-era hits.
- Parody song medley. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular songs.
- A collection of moving, tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 90s—heartfelt tunes that resonate with the soul.
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
Nostalgic 1990s Japanese Pop Hit Medley (21–30)
Like a white cloudSaru Iwa Ishi
This is the debut single by Saruganseki, released in 1996.
With lyrics by Fumiya Fujii and music by Naoyuki Fujii, the song didn’t initially post notable sales, but its popularity gradually spread and it eventually became a million-selling hit.
It’s a refreshing track that evokes the feeling of being on a journey.
The lyrics, which liken clouds drifting on the wind to the singers’ own lives, express both anticipation and anxiety about an unseen future.
In 2023, Hiroiki Ariyoshi performed it for the first time on television together with Fumiya Fujii and Naoyuki Fujii, and was reportedly moved to tears.
Why not give it a listen and revisit some nostalgic memories?
Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Queens
When it comes to iconic songs of the 1990s, this track is indispensable.
Used as the ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan, it became widely beloved for its catchy melody and playful lyrics.
Upon its release in April 1990, it topped the Oricon Singles Chart for seven weeks and became a massive hit, also ranking No.
1 on the Oricon year-end singles chart that same year.
With lyrics by Momoko Sakura, the song portrays various everyday scenes in a poppy, humorous way, earning support from a wide range of listeners, from children to adults.
It was also widely embraced as a cheer song for high school baseball, with many participating schools choosing it for the 72nd National High School Baseball Championship in 1990.
It’s the perfect track when you want to feel uplifted or bask in the nostalgia of the ’90s.
SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA
When it comes to CHAGE and ASKA’s signature songs, this is the one.
It was used as the theme song for the popular drama “The 101st Proposal” and became a long-running hit, topping the Oricon charts for 13 consecutive weeks.
The harmony between CHAGE and ASKA is truly beautiful in this song.
LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE
Even though Dreams Come True had been selling steadily for years, they finally achieved an explosive hit in 1995.
This song sold 2.
35 million copies, proudly taking the number one spot ahead of artists like Mr.
Children and Masaharu Fukuyama.
I believe this is still the group’s best-selling song.
HOWEVERGLAY
It was a single released on August 6, 1997, and after its release it was chosen as the ending theme for the TBS drama “Ryakudatsukai: Abunai Onna” (Stolen Love: Dangerous Woman).
At the demo tape stage it was said to be dark, and it just barely made it to being released as a single.
innocent worldMr.Children
Mr.
Children’s fifth single, released in June 1994, became one of the band’s signature songs.
It surpassed one million copies in just two months after release and topped the Oricon year-end singles chart that year.
It was also used in a Japan Coca-Cola “Aquarius” commercial, generating significant buzz.
The song portrays the innocence and pure conviction of a protagonist who keeps chasing their dreams, making it a track you’ll want to hear when you feel like you’re losing yourself in society.
It’s a piece with the power to remind you of the reckless, innocent version of yourself from the past.
All the more reason to give it a careful listen when you’re worn out and overwhelmed by daily life.
Beyond the Night SkySMAP
It’s one of the hit songs by the former national idol group SMAP.
It’s also famous for having lyrics written by Shikao Suga, and since it’s featured in textbooks as one of SMAP’s major hits, many people have probably heard it.
It’s also popular as a classic song to listen to in the fall.