[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 Hit Tracks to Hidden Gems! (21–30)
Pearl-White EveNEW!Matsuda Seiko
When it comes to a winter ballad that balances crystal-clear airiness with warmth, this work surely comes to mind.
With lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Senri Oe, the song paints a picture of a romantic night for lovers through wintry motifs like pearls and snow.
The vocals convey a quiet passion that truly resonates.
Released in November 1987 as the 24th single, it became the first Japanese Christmas song to top the charts.
A different version is also included on the album “Snow Garden,” a treat for fans.
It’s perfect not only for a holy night spent with someone special, but also for those moments when you want to quietly savor a winter evening alone.
Seiko Matsuda’s timeless voice will gently color the season of cold winds.
The snowy way homeNEW!Watanabe Minayo
Minayo Watanabe, who gained popularity as member No.
29 of Onyanko Club and went on to achieve remarkable success as a solo singer.
Released in October 1986, this second single is one of the songs that accomplished the feat of five consecutive No.
1s on the Oricon chart from her debut.
It’s also known for lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and composition by Tsugutoshi Goto.
The lyrics depict a scene of tears on a winter night road as the north wind blows, stirring listeners’ hearts alongside the minor-key melody.
Its wistful, ballad-like sound, distinct from glitzy idol pop, really resonates.
The sweet, innocent vocals, conversely, heighten the sense of poignancy—an 80s classic you might find yourself humming on the way home during the cold season.
Today, at last, I will change my heartMariko Nagai
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.
Snow, fall.Gam
This song, which opens Gam’s December 1981 album Kazabana, by the lyrical folk duo renowned in the 1980s, is a winter ballad that echoes with bittersweet feelings entrusted to gently falling snow.
Carried by soft guitar tones, it delicately portrays the tremor of a heart thinking of someone amid a scene of swirling snow.
The transparent harmonies and introspective lyrics weave a world imbued with Gam’s signature lyricism, offering a warmth that seems to nestle into winter’s stillness.
It’s a track that seeps into the heart when, alone in the cold season, you find yourself recalling days gone by or someone dear.
Farewell, Siberian RailwayOhtaki Eiichi
This song was composed by Eiichi Ohtaki and provided to Hiromi Ohta.
Originally, Ohtaki wrote it under the influence of “Johnny in the Fog” with the intention of including it on his own album, but since the lyrics were from a woman’s perspective, he decided to offer it to Ohta.
The song is about Russia, which the narrator heads to after a heartbreak, so the arrangement has a touch of Russian folk-song influence.
Both Ohta’s version and Ohtaki’s version are wonderful, so it’s fun to compare them.
wintering swallowMori Masako
Speaking of winter songs, we mustn’t forget enka.
Many enka numbers capture a variety of winter scenes.
The harshness of winter seems to match perfectly with the world of enka.
Masako Mori’s “Ettou Tsubame” (Wintering Swallow) was released in 1983.
The composer is Yoshihiko Shinohara, which is the real name of Hiroshi En.
Mori’s tearful performance of the song at that year’s 34th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen has become the stuff of legend.
It’s one of those songs whose appeal you come to appreciate more and more as you grow older.
Sha-la-laSazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars are strongly associated with summer, but they also have songs about winter.
“Sha-La-La” was released in November 1980 and served as the final number at their Nippon Budokan concert that same year.
This video is a cover by Tamio Okuda and Gen Hoshino.