[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! (31–40)
April Fools in DecemberEPO
It’s a bittersweet ballad where the festive sparkle of a winter city at Christmastime overlaps with the sorrow of a love’s end—an irony that cuts deep.
The song by EPO was released as a single in November 1985 and included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” With lyrics and composition by EPO herself and arrangement by Hiroshi Sato, its sophisticated sound blends AOR balladry with city pop.
The lyrics are striking for how they overlay the pain of heartbreak—realizing the person you believed was your only one was not—onto a title that deliberately invokes a “day of lies.” A self-cover version was released in 1993, and a completely re-arranged re-recording in 1999, keeping the song loved for many years.
It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you feel a little distant from the dazzling Christmas scene.
Merry Christmas for youMinamino Yoko
As a leading idol of the 1980s, Yoko Minamino enjoyed outstanding popularity.
This song, included on the album “SNOWFLAKES” released in December 1988, was also featured on the following year’s album “Dear Christmas,” and is a work that entrusts a prayer for world peace to the Christmas season.
Its lyrics—depicting moments of reaching out to malnourished children and a compassionate gaze toward the vulnerable—carry a depth of message distinct from idol songs that focus mainly on romance.
Carried by a sentimental sound, Minamino’s vocals gently embrace the loneliness and wishes that lie behind the glitter of Christmas.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on a quiet night while spending time with someone special.
All on this nightYoshikawa Koji
Kohji Kikkawa’s ninth single, released in September 1986, is a gem of a rock number written and composed by Motoharu Sano.
The original song was offered to Kenji Sawada, but Kikkawa’s version features a minimalist, guitar-driven arrangement that fuses a romantic aesthetic with passionate vocals to create a world uniquely its own.
Peaking at No.
4 on the Oricon chart, this work also symbolizes a turning point as he shifted from idol image to rock artist.
With a melody that carries the quiet and poignancy of the night, it’s a song that will keep you company on a solitary Christmas Eve or add warmth to a special holy night with someone dear.
CHRISTMAS TREEYoshida Minako
Since her debut in 1973, singer-songwriter Minako Yoshida has drawn attention for her diverse musicality, ranging from city pop to soul and funk.
This track, included on her self-produced album “BELLS,” unfolds with a serene atmosphere and introspective worldview.
Its quiet, gospel-tinged ensemble and the layered choral textures create a dreamlike resonance that seems to evoke the stillness of a holy night and the feeling of a prayer.
Released in September 1986 as a limited edition of 3,000 copies, “BELLS” is a labor of love for which she wrote, composed, and arranged the music, and even assembled the jacket inserts herself.
Transcending commercial considerations to pursue the pure essence of music, it is a Christmas song worthy of being called a hidden masterpiece.
Flying Santa ClausMurata Kazuhito
This is a Christmas song included on GO POP, the first album Kazuhito Murata—one of the masters of ’80s city pop—made after moving to Toshiba EMI.
Released in October 1988, it drew attention for its ambitious sound design incorporating programmed beats.
The sophisticated arrangement, evocative of an urban nightscape, and Murata’s clear, soaring high-tone vocals gently wrap the winter air.
Its warm atmosphere—like spending Christmas Eve in the tropics—is especially appealing, striking a comfortable balance that avoids becoming overly sentimental.
Long out of print, it was passed down as a hidden gem, but its remastered reissue has spurred a fresh wave of appreciation.
It’s a song you’ll want to share with someone special on a quiet Christmas night.