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)
White LoveSPEED
This is a single by SPEED released in October 1997.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart three times and became a hit, selling a total of 2 million copies.
It was also used as a Shiseido commercial song featuring SPEED.
Swaying feelingsZARD
This song has a warm resonance that gently embraces wavering feelings and sinks into the heart.
Included on ZARD’s fourth album, “Yureru Omoi,” it was released in July 1993.
Izumi Sakai’s clear, transparent vocals blend beautifully with the moving melody, resonating with many listeners.
The lyrics delicately capture the fluctuations of being in love and feelings that seem to last forever, as if they’re by the listener’s side.
You’ll be drawn into its poetic world, woven with changing seasons and dreamlike scenes.
It’s a highly recommended track for times when you’re struggling with a relationship with someone important or when you want to spend time in a calm, peaceful mood.
1990s Nostalgic J-Pop Hit Medley (31–40)
Don't give upZARD
Released in January 1993, this song became ZARD’s first million-selling, smash hit.
Izumi Sakai’s clear, pure vocals and the powerful, heartfelt message resonated with many listeners.
It conveys the determination to keep moving forward without giving up, even in the face of difficulties, and is cherished as a motivational anthem that encourages people at graduations, sporting events, and many other occasions.
The track has been included on numerous best-of albums, including ZARD BEST The Single Collection: Kiseki, and has firmly established itself as one of ZARD’s signature songs.
It’s a piece that gives you courage when you’re feeling down or need that extra push to keep going.
threadMiyuki Nakajima
A signature song by Miyuki Nakajima that portrays the miracle of encounters in life.
Although it was included on her 1992 album “EAST ASIA,” it initially drew little attention.
However, after being chosen as the theme song for the 1998 drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints), it resonated with many people.
The memorable line, “The vertical threads are you, the horizontal threads are me,” gently tells of the preciousness of human connections.
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, cable music requests surged, especially in the affected areas.
The lyrics, which prompt reflection on the fragility of life and fate, likely became a source of comfort for many.
It’s a song well worth listening to when you want to feel the bonds with someone important to you.
AutomaticHikaru Utada
This is the song that marked the beginning of Hikaru Utada’s career, recorded when she was 15.
Even though it was her debut single, many fans were surely surprised by the mature vocals and lyrical worldview.
While using words like “cell phone” and “receiver” that reflect the era, it skillfully conveys the complex emotions of love.
Released in December 1998, it topped the Oricon karaoke chart for 13 consecutive weeks, and also took the No.
1 spot on COUNT DOWN TV’s annual ranking for 1999.
Why not give it another listen and revisit those memories?
God of RomanceKohmi Hirose
It was used as the commercial song for the ski equipment store Alpen.
The commercial was memorable for its scenes depicting the beginning of a romance between a man and a woman, evoking a truly romantic atmosphere.
This pop and fun love song became a huge hit thanks to the commercial.
I won't fall in love anymore.Noriyuki Makihara
A heartbreak song released in ’92.
I feel like a lot of lyrics from that era excel at concrete imagery.
The emotional pull of the pre-chorus chord progression matches the lyrical development, and right before the line in the first pre-chorus, “I felt even lonelier,” it’s really aiming to make you cry.