[80s Japanese Music] Popular Christmas songs: from hit tracks to hidden gems!

Snow FantasyMatsuda Seiko

Snow Fantasy

This work was included on the winter concept album “Snow Garden,” produced by Takashi Matsumoto in November 1987.

It was also used as an insert song in the film “Binenetsu Shonen,” directed by Matsumoto.

The lyrics, sprinkled with fantastical motifs such as snow sprites, forests, and reindeer-drawn sleighs, portray a poignant longing as the singer makes their way to a lover’s home amid the serene scenery of a snowy night.

The lyrics were written by Takashi Matsumoto, with composition and arrangement by Masaaki Omura.

The warm arrangement, woven from strings and synth sounds, truly resonates with the heart.

It’s a winter ballad with a dreamy atmosphere—one you’ll want to listen to on a winter night while thinking of someone dear.

Today, at last, I will change my heartMariko Nagai

Mariko Nagai “Today I’ll Change My Heart”

This is a hidden gem performed by Mariko Nagai, included in the omnibus release “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU” from November 1989.

With lyrics penned by Nagai herself, the song delicately portrays a bittersweet crush on a man she always sees on the same train.

The lyrics convey the frustration of being unable to confess her feelings despite truly liking him, along with the protagonist’s resolve to make a fresh start and finally express her heart on Christmas Day—evoking a universally relatable flutter of first love.

The brilliant strings and horn section, composed by Katsuki Maeda and arranged by Takayuki Negishi, perfectly capture the exhilaration of the season.

Blending warmth with poignancy, this song is a Christmas recommendation for anyone who wants to cherish the feeling of being in love.

Singin’ In The SnowNoda Mikiko

Singin’ In The Snow

The fifth single by Mikiko Noda, released in 1989, is an oldies-style Christmas song featuring a memorable whistled intro and harmonica.

It portrays the fresh feelings of first love—nervousness mingled with excitement—as the protagonist heads to their lover without even getting in touch.

Chosen as the CM song for JAL’s Europe campaign, this track is a cherished work in which Noda wrote both the lyrics and the music for the first time.

Her soft “velvet voice” and the simple arrangement convey the fleeting exhilaration of love with a crystalline clarity.

It’s the perfect song for strolling through a snowy town when you want to feel your heart dance with the promise of a new romance.

The Christmas Card That Vanished into the CityReimi

The Christmas Card That Vanished into the City

A song by Reimy included on the 1989 concept album “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.” In contrast to the glittering Christmas scenes, it unfolds a poignant world tinged with loneliness and the blues.

Written and composed by Reimy herself, the track takes on a deep, over-five-minute form through Mitsuo Hagita’s arrangement.

You can picture the protagonist, thinking about a Christmas card from an ex and feeling alone amid the bustle of the city.

It’s a grown-up Christmas ballad whose warm, rich vocals gently wrap the pain of heartbreak.

The album won the Planning Award at the 4th Japan Gold Disc Awards.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on a Christmas night spent alone, in those quiet moments when you think of someone.

April Fools in DecemberEPO

April Fools in December

It’s a bittersweet ballad where the festive sparkle of a winter city at Christmastime overlaps with the sorrow of a love’s end—an irony that cuts deep.

The song by EPO was released as a single in November 1985 and included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” With lyrics and composition by EPO herself and arrangement by Hiroshi Sato, its sophisticated sound blends AOR balladry with city pop.

The lyrics are striking for how they overlay the pain of heartbreak—realizing the person you believed was your only one was not—onto a title that deliberately invokes a “day of lies.” A self-cover version was released in 1993, and a completely re-arranged re-recording in 1999, keeping the song loved for many years.

It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you feel a little distant from the dazzling Christmas scene.

The Night When Santa and Angels LaughDREAMS COME TRUE

The Night When Santa and Angels Laugh (from DCT-TV special WINTER FANTASIA 2009 ~ DCTgarden “THE LIVE!!!”)

A surefire crowd-pleaser by DREAMS COME TRUE—aka DoriKamu—that’s almost guaranteed to be performed at live shows as the Christmas season approaches.

Watching the fans all wave their hands side to side during the chorus is exhilarating.

Released in 1989, this song has truly been loved by fans for a long time.

The lyrics—“Christmas comes every year, but this year’s Christmas is a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas”—celebrate and enjoy the holiday without overthinking, and it’s uplifting just to listen.

It’s also a great pick for Christmas party background music.

Midnight Flight – A Lonely Christmas EveHamada Shogo

Midnight Flight -Lonely Christmas Eve-

A hidden gem by Shogo Hamada that portrays the loneliness of spending time alone at an airport, in stark contrast to the festive air of Christmas Eve.

It was included on the mini-album “CLUB SNOWBOUND,” released in November 1985, and was also used as an insert song in the TV anime “Ping Pong THE ANIMATION.” The protagonist, burdened by the magnitude of a lost love and unspoken feelings, is depicted dramatically over a rich, ’60s-style sound.

By deliberately giving it a glittering musical tone, the poignancy of the lyrics stands out even more.

It’s a song I recommend for winter nights when you long for connection, or when you want to quietly sink into sentimentality.

Shogo Hamada’s wistful vocals may gently keep company with a lonely heart.