[Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
Don’t we all have anime songs we used to listen to a lot as kids?
You might not remember the story, but you can still sing the opening chorus—pretty relatable, right?
In this article, I’ve rounded up nostalgic anime songs that will take you right back to your childhood the moment you hear them.
I’ve picked tracks from the 1980s to the 2000s, so it should resonate with a wide range of ages.
Take your time and see if you can find that one song from your memories!
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- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 60s: from nostalgic classics to the latest hits
- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 40s, from nostalgic classics to the latest hits.
- Nostalgic anime songs. Anime theme songs full of memories.
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [Nostalgic] A roundup of anime songs and theme songs that were hits in the 1980s
- [Classic Hits] Popular Anime Songs Representing the Showa Era. Also Introducing Recommended Anime Songs!
- Iconic scenes overlap! Anime songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
- [From 2010 onward] A roundup of anime that teenagers feel nostalgic about
- The Tear-Jerking World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs
[Nostalgic Hits] A Collection of Classic Anime Songs That Resonate with Showa and Heisei Generations (1–10)
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
The song chosen as the opening theme for season 4 of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist was Rewrite by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.
Released in 2004 as their fifth single, it’s one of their signature tracks and reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
In 2019, it won the Artist Song Award in Sony Music Entertainment’s Heisei Anison Grand Prize campaign.
Its rugged rock sound is cool, and Masafumi Gotoh’s powerful vocals in the chorus are truly moving.
The lyrics carry a message of “rewriting the future,” which also ties in with the anime’s story.
Katsushika RhapsodyKohei Dojima
The third opening theme for the anime “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo” was “Katsushika Rhapsody,” a song by singer-songwriter Kohei Dojima.
Released in 1997 as his seventh single, it was crafted as a local song for Katsushika Ward in Tokyo.
It’s a heartwarming track with a gently soothing tone.
In 2003, it was covered by the ska band Yum!Yum!ORANGE and used as the anime’s seventh opening theme.
Get WildTM NETWORK
TM NETWORK’s “Get Wild” burst into the spotlight with its techno-tinged, synth-driven sound.
It’s a 1987 work by Tetsuya Komuro, the composer and music producer who dominated the 1990s.
The song was written specifically as the ending theme for the Nippon TV anime series City Hunter, and it reached No.
9 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
Loved for many years, it has spawned numerous remixed versions.
[Nostalgic Hits] A collection of classic anime songs that resonate with those born in the Showa and Heisei eras (11–20)
A hill where summer begins to showDaisuke
This is a refreshing, fast-paced song by singer-songwriter Daisuke that feels wonderfully pleasant to listen to.
It combines the excitement of the start of summer with a fleeting sense of poignancy that appears in quiet moments.
The lyrics paint scenes of sloping streets, sunsets, and fireworks that spring vividly to mind, almost like your own memories.
Released in July 2013 as his seventh single, the track served as the opening theme for the anime Pokémon: Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure and the movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened.
Even now, its heart-thumping melody line is unforgettable.
It’s a song you’ll want to play on a summer drive or on a night when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.
We are!Hiroshi Kitadani
We Are! by Hiroshi Kitadani was chosen as the first opening theme for the hugely popular anime adaptation of One Piece, a manga that follows the protagonist Luffy, who aims to become the Pirate King, and his crewmates.
Released in 1999 as his debut single, the song won the Composition Award at Sony Music Entertainment’s Heisei Anisong Grand Prize held in 2019.
Its lyrics evoke the friendship and adventures of pirates, and just listening to it fills you with excitement.
Hamtaro Tottoko SongHam-chans
“Hamtaro Tottoko Uta,” the opening theme used for the anime Hamtaro, which depicts the fun-filled days of Hamtaro the hamster and his friends.
Many of you probably recognize its lively intro melody that gets everyone excited.
The vocals sung by the hamster characters from the show are absolutely adorable.
The lyrics portray Hamtaro’s everyday life, making it a catchy song that’s easy for kids to remember.
It’s an essential classic when talking about Heisei-era anime songs—be sure to give it a listen!
A Night for OnePorno Graffitti
I saw on the TV news that, thanks to Porno Graffitti, more people are moving to their hometown of Innoshima in Hiroshima Prefecture… The influence artists have is amazing, isn’t it? This song, “Hitori no Yoru,” was released back when Porno Graffitti still had three members.
The simple rock intro, which really brings out the strengths of a three-piece band, is easy on the ears, and vocalist Okano’s high tone is crystal clear with youthful brightness! It was the opening theme for the anime GTO.