Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended classics and standard hits
No matter how many years go by or how many times you listen, the songs you loved in your youth always stir something warm in your heart, don’t they?
In this article, we’ll introduce popular Japanese songs that colored the teenage years of women in their 40s.
We’ve gathered a trove of classics perfect for anyone thinking, “I want to hear that song again,” or “I want to sing the songs I sang as a student at karaoke.”
You’re sure to rediscover the tracks you loved back then!
Even if you’re busy every day with work and household chores, why not take a little break and bask in the memories of your youth?
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Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: Recommended classics and standard tracks (11–20)
AutomaticHikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada’s debut single, released in December 1998, brought a genuine R&B breeze into the world of J-pop.
Depicting feelings so strong that your body moves unconsciously when a call comes from a lover, the song blends a mature groove with the purity of teenage years to perfection.
Remarkably, this debut achieved double million sales.
Those who experienced that impact in real time likely remember it vividly.
Even now, its stylish sound hasn’t faded at all—an enduring classic that’s perfect for moments when you want to bask in memories.
GIRL TALKNamie Amuro
A stylish R&B number by Namie Amuro that sings about the irreplaceable time spent with easygoing friends.
The candid conversations that only women can share are depicted like a scene from an overseas drama.
Released in October 2004 as her 28th single, the song also became familiar as the CM track for Mandom’s LUCIDO-L.
From the dazzling strings in the intro to the transition into a groovy beat, the sound still makes your heart dance today.
Whether you play it on a drive with friends or on a quiet night when you want to relax alone, it might bring back that sparkling feeling from back then.
PRIDEMiki Imai
Along with the drama Doc, for which it served as the theme song, Miki Imai’s “PRIDE” gained widespread popularity.
Written, composed, and arranged by Tomoyasu Hotei, the song was released in 1996 and became a major hit.
Its lyrics—singing that loving your partner straightforwardly is your own pride—resonated with many young women at the time.
The stance of loving someone sincerely is undeniably cool, and it inspires admiration—the feeling of wanting to be like that.
If you’re someone who had that kind of pure, straightforward love in your youth, why not listen to the song and let it take you back to those days?
Time goes byEvery Little Thing
Speaking of Every Little Thing, they’re a group that led the J-POP scene from the late 1990s! They’ve released so many classic songs over the years, and when it comes to their music, Kaori Mochida’s clear, translucent vocals are especially captivating.
Among their work, this particular signature song stands out with a chorus that soars beautifully, letting you fully savor Mochida’s voice.
Many people probably remember it as a major hit at the time—it took them to the New Year’s Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and the single featuring the track became a million seller.
Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE
For women in their 40s, DREAMS COME TRUE is the ultimate presence that colored their youth and their lives as adults.
One of their signature songs, “Mirai Yosouzu II,” first appeared on the 1989 album LOVE GOES ON….
Covered by many artists, it’s a song loved across generations.
It depicts a time about three years after graduating from school and conveys the wish to keep living together unchanged from here on out.
For those who have had a husband or boyfriend by their side from their youth to the present, it’s likely become a precious song that marks the journey they’ve walked together with their partner.
PIECES OF A DREAMCHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY, who debuted from the popular audition show ASAYAN.
Many of you were probably captivated by their memorable debut release at the time.
This track blends a mellow R&B sound with the duo’s beautiful harmonies.
Even while holding onto fragments of imperfect dreams, it looks forward, stirring the heart with a bittersweet yet subtly warm emotion.
Released in March 2001, it spent 15 weeks in the top 10 of the Oricon charts.
It’s a perfect song for a sentimental night or as stylish background music for a drive.
Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks (21–30)
Hello, Again ~A Place That’s Been Around Since Long Ago~My Little Lover
This song was released in 1995, when MY LITTLE LOVER was a duo made up of akko and Kenji Fujii, and it’s their biggest hit.
The distinctive melody of the chorus feels strangely comforting, and it’s one of those tunes you suddenly crave when it pops into your mind.
As you listen to the breezy, refreshing sound—like a gentle wind blowing through—and the lyrics that evoke youth and the journey into adulthood, you may find memories from that time naturally coming back to you.