![[1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Uo1a44Xcc4/sddefault.jpg)
[1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!
Thanks to eternally beloved hits and the renewed appreciation for city pop, many masterpiece songs from Japanese music of the 1980s continue to be loved by people of all ages even now, well into the 2020s.
With the resort boom and the popularity of leisure activities, a stream of glamorous winter hits was also released.
In this article, we present winter hit songs from 1980s Japanese music!
We’ll cover everything from massive hits everyone knows to hidden gems that weren’t singles but have become beloved winter staples.
If you spent your youth in the ’80s, these will feel nostalgic; if you’re not from that generation, they’ll feel fresh—so be sure to check them out.
1980s Japanese Music: Popular Winter Songs. From hit tracks to hidden gems! (1–10)
Winter TaleNEW!Murashita Kōzō
A hidden gem by Kozo Murashita that lyrically captures the chill felt on a late autumn street corner and the void left by a love that has ended.
It’s a ballad included as the B-side to the single “Odoriko,” released in August 1983, and also featured on that year’s acclaimed album “Hatsukoi ~Asaki Yume Mishi~.” Though it never had a notable tie-in, the lyrics—evoking images like a clock tower and fallen leaves—and Murashita’s warm vocals quietly settle into the listener’s heart.
Eschewing flashy production in favor of an acoustic resonance that seeps in, this piece is perfect for a cold winter night when you want to sit alone with your memories.
Its bittersweet yet beautiful story may gently wrap your chilled heart in warmth.
BLIZZARDNEW!Matsutōya Yumi
Singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya—affectionately known as “Yuming” and a constant driving force in Japan’s music scene.
This track from her 16th album, NO SIDE, is a classic winter song distinguished by its sharp synthesizer tones.
The sound brims with a sense of speed, as if gliding through a blizzard, while the lyrics, depicting a love on the verge, set listeners’ hearts ablaze.
Although originally an album track released in December 1984, it cemented its status as a winter standard when it was used as an insert song in the 1987 film “Take Me Out to Snowland” (Watashi o Ski ni Tsuretette).
Despite not being a single, it is highly popular; play it in the car on the way to the slopes or as a winter driving BGM, and the glittering scenery of that era will unfold before your eyes.
LAT.43°N 〜forty-three degrees north〜NEW!DREAMS COME TRUE
The duo affectionately known as “DoriCam,” DREAMS COME TRUE.
This single, released in November 1989 and also included on the classic album LOVE GOES ON…, is an early masterpiece.
Set in a city at 43 degrees north latitude, its lyrics poignantly portray the heartache of a long-distance relationship and the sense of separation felt over the phone.
The anxiety of time spent apart overlaps with the chill of winter, resonating deeply with listeners.
While it wasn’t a major chart hit at the time of release, it was later included on a best-of album and frequently ranks high in live request polls, cementing its status as a hidden gem.
How about listening to it on a quiet, snowy night, when you want to immerse yourself in its lyrical world alone?
White SundayNEW!REBECCA
An unforgettable winter ballad by REBECCA, with lyrics that conjure fogged-up windows, chilly air, and the quiet intimacy of two people alone.
It offers an introspective, beautiful world quite unlike their flashier hits.
The vocalist’s whisper-like delivery layers with crystalline synthesizer tones, evoking a sensation as if the cold itself were brushing your skin.
The track appears on the classic album TIME, which reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Though originally an album cut released in October 1986, its polished perfection explains why it’s remained a beloved winter staple among fans for so long.
It’s a must-listen not only for those who lived through the ’80s band boom, but also for anyone who wants to sink into music on a snowy holiday morning, warm and unhurried at home.
Winter Comes Around (A Winter Day)NEW!TM NETWORK
A little-known yet beloved ballad included on the classic album CAROL ~A DAY IN A GIRL’S LIFE 1991~, released in December 1988.
Its charm lies in an atmosphere that evokes stillness and chill—like suddenly stopping on a winter street corner.
Naoto Kine’s warm, woven melodies and Mitsuko Komuro’s lyrics, which blend loss and hope, seep into the depths of the heart.
Unlike the group’s dazzling singles, the delicate soundscape crafted by strings feels as if it captures a single winter’s day.
Though it had no major tie-ins, the song has long been cherished by fans as a vital piece that colors the album’s narrative.
It’s a winter song for grown-ups—one you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.
I won’t forget the rain in January.NEW!THE ALFEE
The lyrical intro that conjures a winter scene where cold rain turns to snow immediately grabs the heart.
Released as a single in January 1988, it’s a re-cut from the album “U.K.
Breakfast.” Sakurai’s deep, rich baritone on lead vocals is so cool! The worldview, which calmly yet realistically depicts the sorrow of a love that has ended, really resonates.
THE ALFEE’s signature beautiful harmonies are fully present, and it makes you want to savor this as a mature rock ballad that’s a bit different from flashier tracks.
It’s also a nostalgic touch that the B-side was the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Momoiro Gakuen Toshi Sengen!!” Perfect for a quiet winter night, recommended for listening alone while basking in memories.
Christmas in OctoberNEW!Asaka Yui
This is Yui Asaka’s fifth single, released in September 1986.
It was used as the commercial song for “Snow Brand Yogurt,” in which she appeared, and was later included on the album “Star Lights.” Although the title references Christmas, the song endearingly portrays a world not of the day itself, but of an impatient, budding love and a promise made a little early.
Megumi Wakakusa’s lavish string arrangement creates a sophisticated wintry atmosphere within the brightness befitting an idol.
It could be called a hidden gem that blends the fresh innocence and bittersweetness of the night before her breakthrough.
Why not listen to it slowly as autumn dusks deepen and the footsteps of winter begin to sound, while letting your feelings swell for someone special?