Great anime songs that colored the Heisei era
The 1990s.
.
.
Riding the wave of Jump’s golden age, the anime world was experiencing a huge surge in excitement.
One of the factors that fueled this anime boom was anime songs, or “anisong.”
In the early Heisei era, unlike today where popular rock bands often perform them, anisong were mostly sung by musicians who specialized in the genre.
This time, we’re spotlighting some of the most popular anisong from that Heisei period!
They’re all famous tracks that people of all ages have likely heard at least once, so be sure to check them out!
Great Anime Songs That Colored the Heisei Era (1–10)
Crimson Lotus FlowerNEW!LiSA
This is a song by LiSA, a leading singer in the anison world, chosen as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
With powerful rock sounds and piercing high vocals, it expresses the indomitable spirit of the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, as he faces adversity.
Released in 2019, the song achieved the remarkable feat of topping the Oricon charts as both the “last No.
1 of the Heisei era” and the “first No.
1 of the Reiwa era.” In 2020, LiSA also performed at NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, and the song became a social phenomenon that transcended the anison genre.
It’s a track that gives courage to everyone striving to move forward without being defeated by hardship.
Listen to it on your way to school, and it’s sure to lift your spirits!
peace signNEW!Kenshi Yonezu
The single released by Kenshi Yonezu in 2017 is the opening theme for the first cour of season 2 of the anime My Hero Academia.
The song captures the protagonist’s determination to grow stronger in order to protect those he cares about, even while facing his own weakness.
Its exhilarating guitar-rock sound and powerful message of charging toward the future are truly stirring.
It’s the perfect track for times when you want to keep moving forward despite setbacks, or when you feel like doing your best for someone else.
There’s also an anecdote that Yonezu created it with the Digimon Adventure theme song in mind—perhaps another reason it’s loved across generations.
The music video surpassed 300 million views on YouTube in October 2024 and continues to inspire courage in many people.
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LAHironobu Kageyama
Dragon Ball Z, a great work that Japan proudly presents to the world.
Its explosive popularity was unmatched by other anime, and in France at the time it even recorded an 80% viewership rating.
Speaking of Dragon Ball Z’s theme song, CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA is undoubtedly the most popular.
Many people may associate it with the Showa era, but the anime itself is from the Heisei era, and this track was released in Heisei year 1 (1989).
Hironobu Kageyama’s energetic vocals have a timeless power that resonates in any era.
Crimson Bow and ArrowLinked Horizon
After the golden age of Jump ended, Japan’s manga industry was dominated for a long time by childish works that painted only pretty pictures.
The shocking work that put a stop to that trend was Attack on Titan.
As the flagship series of Weekly Shōnen Magazine, it also gained immense popularity as an anime.
Its theme song, Guren no Yumiya, effectively captures the series’ worldview—one overflowing with unpredictable, real events rather than convenient promises.
The fact that the opening itself serves as foreshadowing may be one of the major reasons this track drew so much attention.
Aim to be a Pokémon MasterRika Matsumoto
Pokémon is a work that gained immense popularity not only as a game but also as an anime.
For those who grew up in the Heisei era, it was so popular that just about anyone could name five Pokémon.
Recently, it made big headlines when the protagonist, Ash (Satoshi in Japanese), retired.
Speaking of Pokémon’s theme songs, the definitive one is, of course, “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.” It’s sung by Rika Matsumoto, who voices Ash, and thanks to her strong vocal ability, it feels completely natural—so much so that it sounds exactly like Ash himself is singing.
You could say that’s a testament to Rika Matsumoto’s innate talent.
Ojamajo Carnival!!MAHO-do
A song performed by MAHO-dō, the unit formed by the main characters, as the opening theme for the anime Ojamajo Doremi.
It’s often cited as a work that symbolizes the long-running series, and the song itself is beloved for its bright, lively energy.
Focusing on what one would do if they could use magic, it overlaps with the show’s broad themes while touching on ideas everyone has probably imagined, giving it an approachable charm.
With an irresistibly cheerful feel that conveys the image of singing with smiles, it’s a song that stirs a positive feeling of stepping forward toward the future.
mysteryMiho Komatsu
Detective Conan is a work that continues to enjoy enduring popularity even today.
It’s the flagship series of Weekly Shonen Sunday, as everyone knows.
The anime has also been a huge success, and each new movie release invariably generates buzz.
When it comes to theme songs for Detective Conan, many candidates come to mind.
There are so many that it’s hard to choose, but this time I’d like to introduce Nazo from the first season.
I bet many of you vividly remember the chorus melody.