[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.
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[80s J‑Pop] Popular winter songs: From chart-topping hits to hidden gems! (91–100)
Winter WonderlandNishimura Tomomi
A gentle Christmas song by Tomomi Nishimura, who was a huge star on TV and in films—especially beloved by people in their 50s—affectionately known as “Tororin.” Speaking of Tomomi Nishimura, she, along with Yukiko Sugiura and Nami Shimada, was known as one of the “Peach Class Trio” from Momoko Club.
This song, Winter Wonderland, joyfully celebrates Christmas and is a track that showcases Tororin’s charm at 100%.
It’s also delightful how words that evoke Christmas—like Christmas cake and snow—appear like elements in a story.
Highly recommended as BGM for parties with little kids!
All I Want for Christmas Is YouMinamino Yoko
A winter classic where wistfulness and warmth intertwine.
Yoko Minamino’s gentle vocals delicately portray a Christmas night spent apart from one’s lover.
Included on the album “Dear Christmas,” released in November 1989, the track features striking synthesizers and strings that evoke the glamor of Japan’s late-’80s bubble era.
In inverse proportion to Christmas’s beauty, the chill of missing a lover’s warmth resonates in the heart.
Though it was never released as a single, this hidden gem has long been cherished by fans as a seasonal staple.
It’s a perfect song for those spending Christmas night alone or thinking of someone special.
[80s Japanese Pop] Popular Winter Songs: From Hit Tracks to Hidden Gems! (101–110)
Sleeveless ChristmasTokunaga Hideaki
A Christmas song that poignantly colors a winter street corner has now been woven by Hideaki Tokunaga.
Included on the album “BIRDS,” released in May 1987, this piece delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist who, while bearing the pain of heartbreak, still harbors hopes of reunion.
Tokunaga’s clear, crystalline vocals beautifully express a sense of loneliness that stands in stark contrast to the bustle of Christmas.
With lyrics penned by Ginshirō Akiya, the song uses the striking image of an out-of-season sleeveless top to vividly depict the gap between lingering summer memories and the reality of winter.
It’s a track we especially recommend to adults wrestling with matters of the heart.
Winteramin
A song included on the 1983 album “P.S.
Anata e…” by Aming, the duo of Takako Okamura and Haruko Kato.
This track is Haruko Kato’s solo number.
It was originally released by singer-songwriter Junko Yagami, and its mood differs slightly from Yagami’s version.
The lyrics express a poignant longing for a loved one from whom the singer parted on a cold winter day.
DING DONGPurinsesu Purinsesu
This is a song included on Princess Princess’s fourth album, “LOVERS.” It was also used in a JR East commercial.
The band had been creating albums with live performances in mind, but with this album they decided to try including songs meant to be listened to on the album itself, leading to tracks arranged without the assumption of being performed live.
White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)
This is a 1989 track by JUN SKY WALKER(S), known as Junsuka, who reunited in 2007 ten years after their 1997 breakup.
It’s a song about a lonely farewell, in contrast to a joyful Christmas.
It depicts how the colorful scenes floating against a white Christmas only heighten the heartache.
The distorted guitar tone further amplifies that feeling.
Sentimental ChristmasHamada Shogo
A winter masterpiece by Shogo Hamada that delicately portrays lovers braving the cold wind and the scenes of Christmas night.
Included on “Before the Generation of Love” in November 1981, this song continues to be cherished by many as one of the quintessential Christmas songs of the 1980s.
Hamada’s warm vocals and Kimio Mizutani’s delicate arrangement create a track that conveys warmth even amid the winter chill.
Its distinctive sensibility and emotionally rich melodic lines resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a song you’ll want to play on a cold winter night while thinking of someone special—perfect as background music for Christmas spent with a loved one.