Lovely hit song

[1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

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.

[80s J-Pop] Popular Winter Songs: From Hit Tracks to Hidden Gems! (11–20)

My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi

My lover is Santa Claus

My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi

How about a catchy winter song that heightens the festive Christmas spirit? It’s a track by the singer Yumi Matsutoya, known for numerous hits like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Spring, Come,” included on her 1980 album “SURF & SNOW.” The song was also featured in the film “Take Me Out to the Snow.” Just as the title suggests, the cute lyrics likening a lover to Santa will grab your heart.

If you’re spending this Christmas with someone special, be sure to listen to this song together.

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Goodbyeofukōsu

Sayonara – Off Course (Full)

Goodbyeofukōsu

It’s a Japanese breakup song that overlays feelings toward someone you’ve said goodbye to with images of steadily falling snow.

It’s one of the signature songs by Off Course, the legendary band active mainly from the 1970s to the 1980s, released as their 17th single.

From the very first notes, the sound, vocals, and lyrics conjure up a scene straight out of a drama—you can’t help but be overwhelmed as you listen.

It’s a timeless masterpiece that has been covered by many famous singers, including Ryoko Moriyama and Mone Kamishiraishi, and one that we hope will continue to be sung for years to come.

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Second LoveNakamori Akina

Akina Nakamori – Second Love

Second LoveNakamori Akina

Here is Akina Nakamori’s third single, released in 1983.

Written and composed by the sibling duo Etsuko Kisugi and Takao Kisugi, it can be seen as following the same vein as her debut single, “Slow Motion.” Released in November, the song was frequently played at ski resorts at the time.

Its direction differed from the previous single, “Shōjo A,” and felt like a return to her earlier style, so there were opinions back then that it shouldn’t have been released.

Even so, this kind of song brings out Nakamori’s strengths very well.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Still Love HerTM NETWORK

STILL LOVE HER (A Lost Landscape)

Still Love HerTM NETWORK

A gem of a love ballad that captures the poignant mood of winter.

Takashi Utsunomiya’s vocals, layering memories of a past love with feelings that remain unchanged, strike straight to the heart.

Featured on TM NETWORK’s album “CAROL ~A DAY IN A GIRL’S LIFE 1991~,” released in December 1988, this track was also used as the ending theme for the anime City Hunter 2.

It became one of the band’s most popular songs, earning broad support across generations.

With lyrics that evoke London’s scenery and Naoto Kine’s memorable harmonica solo, the sophisticated production shines throughout.

A song to listen to on a winter night as you think of someone dear—one that will surely stay close to your heart.

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AnnaKai Band

Anna / Kai Band

AnnaKai Band

A love song has arrived that lights a flame in the heart like Christmas candles coloring the winter night sky.

This track by Kai Band portrays the aching feelings for a beloved far away.

The lyrics carry the flame of love that keeps burning in the cold and the wish to reunite, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in June 1979, the song has long been cherished as one of Kai Band’s signature works.

While it’s a piece you’ll want to hear in the cold season, it actually comforts many people year-round.

When you’re thinking of someone dear, why not give this song a listen? Surely, the warm feelings within you will be gently embraced.

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