[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! (41–50)
The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka
The year after Kiyotaka Sugiyama disbanded Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe, he released this song as a solo single in 1986, and it was used as a JAL campaign song.
This popular track was later featured in a Minolta commercial the following year and a Tsuburaya Productions commercial the year after that, so many of you have probably heard it.
The intro evokes Wham!’s 1984 smash hit “Last Christmas,” but once the song begins, you’re drawn straight into Sugiyama’s world.
Winter AlbumMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda, known as a quintessential idol singer of the 1980s and a singer-songwriter whose popularity rose to the level of a social phenomenon.
The song “Fuyu no Album” included on her second album, North Wind, features a stylish ensemble and a gently sung melody that evokes winter scenery.
Its lyrics, which conjure up the image of sharing a space with someone you love, warm the heart precisely because it’s the cold season.
For those of that generation, it’s an unfading winter classic that likely brings back memories of their youth.
Merry Christmas for youo nyanko kurabu
A gem of a Christmas number included on a special project album released in December 1986 by Onyanko Club, the group that dominated the idol scene of the 1980s.
Five solo members from CBS/Sony came together; alongside each of their hit songs, the newly recorded track fully evokes a warm Christmas mood.
The mellow, ballad-like melody and the layered harmonies of the five distinct voices leave a strong impression.
Produced as a picture-disc LP, it’s packed with fan-pleasing touches, including Christmas-themed chatter between tracks.
Singing of feelings you want to send to someone special on a holy night, this work overflows with the sweet, gentle charm of idol pop.
It also captures the variety unique to idol project albums of the time, making it a piece that stirs nostalgia while heightening the Christmas spirit.
CHRISTMAS CHORUSKomuro Tetsuya
This song—written, composed, arranged, and produced by Tetsuya Komuro himself—features Naoto Kine’s acoustic guitar and the Suginami Children’s Choir adding a touch of warmth.
Released in December 1989 as a solo single from EPIC/Sony Records, it’s a romantic ballad that expresses sincere feelings for a lover amid fantastical imagery like a silver messenger and moonlight.
The chorus includes phrases celebrating both Christmas and the New Year, cleverly designed to be sung throughout the holiday season.
Peaking at No.
2 on the Oricon weekly chart, the track charms with its warm blend of acoustic sounds and synthesizers—perfect for those winter nights when you think of someone special.
Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo
Yoshi Ikuzo’s “Yukiguni” paints a winter night when you’re overwhelmed with the urge to see the one you love.
Released in 1986, this song marked Ikuzo’s transition from a comic-song performer to a bona fide enka singer.
Maybe it’s the cold, but winter tends to make loneliness sink in more easily, doesn’t it? That unbearable loneliness—and the powerful desire to rush to the person you love right now—rings through every part of the song.
Give it a listen, and you just might find yourself wanting to run straight to someone special, too.
Heart earringsMatsuda Seiko
A number released in 1984, composed by Motoharu Sano under the pen name Holland Rose.
It seems he’s been cheating.
She tries various things—like wearing heart-shaped earrings to give off that vibe and make him jealous—but they end up breaking up anyway.
It’s a song where the sad lyrics are striking in contrast to the melody.
The attention-seeking things a girl might do come across as cute in the song, yet your heart aches at how his feelings have grown cold.
The winter townSION
This is a song included on SION’s third original album, “SIREN.” “SIREN” is his first full-length album, created in collaboration with his backing band, THE NOIS.
A live version of this track is also included on PSY・S’s live best album, “TWO SPILITS.”