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! (31–40)

Opera Glasses in WinterEri Nitta

Winter Opera Glasses 1

Opera Glasses in Winter Nitta Eri

Onyanko Club, produced by Yasushi Akimoto, was hugely popular at the time.

This is the debut single by Eri Nitta, one of the group’s most popular members.

Released in 1986, the lyrics were written by Akimoto himself.

It’s a song that really showcases Akimoto’s idol-production touch.

While many songs about winter focus on farewells, this one sings about love in winter.

Its fresh, innocent vibe and slightly lisping delivery captured the hearts of male fans.

Raise the rankinglower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

If tomorrow were to…warabe

Warabe – If Tomorrow Were to Come...

If tomorrow were to...warabe

The second single by Warabe, the trio of Tomoko Takabe, Atsumi Kurasawa, and Mami Takahashi who appeared on the variety show “Kin-chan no Dokomade Yaruno!?”.

It was released in December 1983.

It surpassed the sales of their first single, “Medaka no Kyoudai,” which had been released the previous December, and ranked number one on the annual singles chart for 1984.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Lovers’ PavementTHE ALFEE

THE ALFEE – Lovers’ Pavement [2016 Winter Fest]

Lovers' PavementTHE ALFEE

It’s a pleasant, mid-tempo song by THE ALFEE that highlights each member’s individuality and showcases their three distinct charms.

Since its 1984 release, it has gripped listeners’ hearts and became THE ALFEE’s first number-one on the Oricon chart.

It also marked Toshihiko Takamizawa’s debut as lead vocalist, drawing attention for his uniquely high, inimitable voice.

Its romantic atmosphere makes it a perfect song for winter.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi

This song is the theme for the film Merry Christmas, Mr.

Lawrence, released in Japan in 1983.

The film is a co-production between Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and Ryuichi Sakamoto also appears in it.

English musician David Bowie is among the cast as well, and the film has earned a reputation as a masterpiece passed down through the generations.

Its piano-driven melody exudes an indescribable nostalgia, making it a profoundly captivating piece.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Winter FairyMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda - Winter Fairy

Winter FairyMatsuda Seiko

A number with lyrics by hitmaker Takashi Matsumoto and music by Eiichi Ohtaki.

It’s a track from Seiko Matsuda’s fourth album, released in 1981.

As a renowned top idol who debuted in the 1980s, she remains extremely popular to this day! In live performances, she’s an eternal idol you can’t miss—showcasing adorable steps perfectly suited to the title “Winter Fairy.”

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem