Winter songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic winter anthems that never lose their shine.

Winter MemoriesMONGOL800

Winter Memories

This track is packed with bright, heartwarming messages.

Riding a lively ska rhythm, MONGOL800 sings about the joy of welcoming winter alongside Okinawa’s nature, like the sea and sky.

The bell tones and chorus heighten the festive mood, making it a song that naturally brings a smile to your face.

Released in December 2003 as the first track on the 8cm single “Yorokobi no Uta,” the single became the first indie release ever to reach No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

It’s the perfect number for when you want to feel a touch of sunny, tropical air on a cold winter’s night or liven up a Christmas party!

snowNakanomori BAND

[MV] Nakanomori BAND / Snow (full ver.)

A winter classic written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, beautifully performed by Nakanomori BAND.

Against a backdrop of white, piling snow, a bittersweet story unfolds in which distant memories and warmth quietly return.

It opens with images of snow drifting down onto everyday scenes like the morning assembly platform and cherry tree branches, and features striking lyrics where the scent and echoes of someone nostalgic fall into the heart like tiny particles.

Released in October 2007 as the double A-side single “Isoburavo/Yuki,” it was also selected for power play on Nippon TV’s “Ongaku Senshi MUSIC FIGHTER.” It’s a song that gently stays with you on a winter night when you find yourself wanting to drift into old memories.

White BeachHY

HY – White Beach (Official Music Video)

Released as a single in 2006 by HY, a mixture band from Okinawa, this work is one of their signature songs from their early days.

From the opening lines, the parched wind, hints of winter, and scenes of white beaches weave a unique atmosphere that delicately captures the shifting seasons particular to the subtropics.

The refreshing guitar sound, warm vocals, and nostalgic melody resonate pleasantly, giving it a curious charm that makes you want to listen during the colder months.

Performed since the era of their early album Departure, it has remained a staple at their live shows.

Whether you’re spending a winter night reminiscing about a distant summer or feeling a sudden pang of wistfulness at the turn of the seasons, the song’s gentle warmth will be there to keep you company.

snowdropMoriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama – Snowdrop

This winter ballad, named after a white flower that blooms from February to March, is Naotaro Moriyama’s 15th single, released in January 2008.

It was used as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Beat Takeshi’s TV Tackle,” and was later included on the album “Shokun!!” in March of the same year.

The feelings of waiting for spring while thinking of a former lover resonate with the flower’s meaning of “hope,” drawing listeners into a richly poetic world where memories of the past intertwine with faint longing.

It’s a song that gently keeps you company on nights when you want to look back on the past and immerse yourself in memories of someone dear.

Before it snowsDaikoku Maki

Yuki Ga Furu Mae Ni

A heartfelt desire to go see a loved one before the snow falls resonates at the core of this 2001 work.

The poetic world—unique to Maki Ohguro, who hails from Hokkaido—captures the feelings just before heavy snowfall, delicately expressing the protagonist’s emotions of missed connections, regret, and loneliness.

Over its more-than-six-minute length, the dramatic structure truly moves the heart.

The song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Kochira Daisan Shakaibu,” and it peaked at No.

18 on the Oricon charts.

It’s a superb ballad that offers comfort to those longing to see someone far away or those who feel a sense of nostalgia with the arrival of winter.

Someone’s Winter SongSaitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – Someone’s Winter Song [Music Video Short ver.]

Released in 2004, this song also became well-loved as the theme for Tu-Ka Phone Kansai commercials.

The protagonist racing off by car to see the one they love right away resonates as a familiar, relatable feeling of love that everyone has experienced.

The winter scenery passing by on the drive and the sudden flashes of the lover’s expressions are portrayed so vividly, and together with the comfortable folk-rock melody, they sink deep into the heart.

It’s included on the best-of album “Utai-tai 15 SINGLES BEST 1993–2007” and remains a favorite in live performances.

A winter song brimming with lyricism, perfect for those quiet nights when you’re thinking of someone special.

Hard Days, Holy NightPorunogurafiti

Hard Days Holy Night

Although it’s a B-side included on the single “Ai ga Yobu Hou e,” released in November 2003, it has long been cherished as Porno Graffitti’s hidden winter masterpiece.

The protagonist’s emotions—torn between year-end work pressures and a growing longing for the lover who waits—resonate with poignant clarity.

The loneliness and fragile hope of a first-year working adult intertwine with prayer-like English phrases for the holy night, seeping into the heart over a medium-tempo band sound.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of those who can’t spend the Christmas season with someone dear.