Revival hits—songs that once dominated an era or enjoyed a devoted following—are stepping back into the spotlight in the Reiwa era.
Thanks to triggers like social media, TV dramas, and commercials, nostalgic melodies are reaching younger generations and continuing to be loved across age groups.
Maybe you’ve had that moment of surprise: “I’ve been hearing this song a lot lately, and it’s actually an old track!” This time, we’ve picked a wide range of revival hits that have come back to life in Reiwa.
From songs that bring back memories to timeless classics you’ll be discovering for the first time, be sure to check them out!
- A revival hit driven by social media! Heisei-era masterpieces that are resonating with Gen Z today
- Nostalgic yet new! Songs that made a comeback and became revival hits on TikTok
- A collection of songs that sold well in the Reiwa era. Catchy hits you can’t help but hum along to [Carefully Selected Edition]
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- Showa-era songs that went viral on TikTok / revival hit songs
- A Showa-era song that had a revival hit on YouTube Shorts
- Nothing but masterpieces! Hit songs from the Reiwa era that are perfect for background music
- Japanese Music of the 2000s: Revival Included! A J-POP Hit Song Special
- Songs that were popular in 2020. A roundup of hit songs from Reiwa 2.
- Songs that sold in the Showa era are resonating again today. A collection of timeless classics passed down across generations.
- New-era masterpieces meet culture! Reiwa-era tracks that went viral on TikTok
- A lineup of timeless masterpieces to pass down to future generations! Ballad songs born in the Reiwa era
- Just listening to it gives me chills! A moving song released in the Reiwa era
Revival hit songs that made a comeback in the Reiwa era. A collection of beloved classics (1–10)
SaudadePorunogurafiti
Pornograffitti’s fourth single, a heartfelt song of farewell set to passionate Latin melodies.
Released in September 2000, it still enjoys enduring, cross-generational popularity.
The track is included on the classic album “foo?” and has been featured as the theme for a mini-drama on a variety show as well as the ending theme for the anime ReLIFE.
The lyrics, which deliberately depict aching memories and deep regrets from a different perspective, are likely to resonate with many listeners.
In September 2021, a performance on a video platform sparked a huge response, surpassing 10 million views.
Up-tempo yet tinged with melancholy, this song is perfect for nights when you want to look back on a past romance.
Pour your heart into it and belt it out at karaoke.
Naughty SunORANGE RANGE
Here’s a signature summer tune from ORANGE RANGE that evokes the blazing summer sun.
Its driving beats and catchy call-and-response overlap to create an irresistible mix that freely crosses between rock and pop.
Released as a single in July 2007, it was chosen as the opening theme for the smash-hit drama “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~ Ikemen Paradise ~,” generating buzz and reaching No.
3 on the weekly Oricon chart.
It was later included on the classic album “PANICFANCY,” and has remained widely loved even in the Reiwa era as a revival hit.
It’s a high-energy anthem perfect for moments when everyone wants to go all out and get hyped—like cheering on school clubs or singing at karaoke.
Friday ChinatownYasuha
This work vividly brings to life city neon and the scenes of people passing by.
Its sophisticated, urban arrangement merges beautifully with vocals that seem to shift temperature with each breath.
Rather than evoking exoticism, it offers a world that lets you sense the scent of the night.
It’s the debut single that marked Yasuha’s start as a singer-songwriter, released in September 1981.
It peaked at No.
69 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart at the time, and was later included on the acclaimed album “TRANSIT.” In recent years, it has spread to younger generations and overseas via social media as a representative City Pop track, sparking a revival hit and renewed attention.
Recommended for those who want to enjoy a pleasant night drive or bask in a nostalgic mood.
silhouetteKANA-BOON
A rock number whose exhilarating guitar riffs set your heart ablaze.
It conveys how memories of the past remain as indelible shadows in your heart, and the resolve to protect what truly matters even as you grow.
It’s bursting with positive energy.
The track is a single by KANA-BOON released in November 2014.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime Naruto Shippuden.
It was also included on the album TIME, and even in the Reiwa era it continues to be loved in Japan and abroad, with events such as a listening session held in November 2024.
When you listen to it as an adult, it brings back all kinds of memories and really hits home.
Highly recommended for anyone facing obstacles and in need of encouragement.
Take it along for a drive and enjoy it at full throttle.
come againm-flo
This song portrays the bittersweet feeling of giving up on an unresponsive lover and trying to forget by dancing the night away at a club.
Its appeal lies in the sound where an irregular rhythm influenced by UK-born 2-step intersects with sophisticated melodies and rap.
Unbound by existing frameworks, this work has been loved across generations for many years.
It’s the ninth single by the musically diverse group m-flo, released in January 2001, and it was used in a commercial for Kanebo Cosmetics’ “TESTIMO.” It reached a peak of No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and is also included on the classic album EXPO EXPO.
It’s a perfect recommendation for when you want to lift your mood in a stylish space on a weekend night, or when you’re ready to break free from a past romance and take a fresh step forward.
Midnight DoorMatsubara Miki
A pinnacle of city pop where a sleek, metropolitan nighttime sound blends exquisitely with the bittersweet scene of a farewell.
Its delicate portrayal of love’s end resonates across eras, moving countless hearts.
Released in November 1979 as Miki Matsubara’s debut single, the song was later included on the acclaimed album “POCKET PARK.” Sparked by a cover video posted in October 2020, it returned to the spotlight in the Reiwa era, gaining love across borders and generations—played even at international sporting events.
With its beautiful sound and slightly husky yet steady vocal timbre, it’s a perfect classic for nighttime drives or quiet moments alone.
Good job, summer!HALCALI
A captivating number where playful vocals and a Latin-tinged track are perfectly matched, featuring HALCALI’s laid-back rap! Riding on a humorous, breezy rhythm, the pop-and-hip-hop fusion delivers a strangely addictive sound.
Originally released in September 2003, it became a beloved track from the album “Halcali Bacon,” which reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.
There’s even a production anecdote that Tomoyuki Tanaka, the producer, recorded the temp rap himself.
In fact, it suddenly went globally viral on social media in 2025, with TikTok views surpassing 6 billion by February—a staggering surge.
In March 2026, this early-2000s classic was even re-released with an added instrumental version.
Be sure to check it out.