![[1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x8CgehqveLI/sddefault.jpg)
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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1980s Japanese Music: Popular Winter Songs. From hit tracks to hidden gems! (1–10)
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Christmas Eve by Tatsuro Yamashita is a classic Christmas song.
Released in 1983, it also drew attention as the theme song for JR Tokai’s Christmas Express commercials, which featured many famous actresses.
Despite its sparkling, unmistakably Christmas-like melody, the lyrics are deeply poignant, portraying the loneliness of spending Christmas alone, unable to meet the one you love.
Even if you’re spending Christmas by yourself, Yamashita’s gentle voice might just ease the loneliness.
Embraced by the wintry windKoizumi Kyoko
Kyoko Koizumi’s “Kogarashi ni Dakarete” sings of a heartbreaking love kept secret in one’s heart.
Released in 1986, the song is also well known for having been written and composed by Toshihiko Takamizawa, the guitarist of THE ALFEE.
The following year, THE ALFEE released a self-cover of the track.
It depicts a scene where a love that sprouted in the cold season goes unspoken, burning only within the heart without ever reaching the other person.
This wistful, melancholic song may well resonate with your own hidden feelings of love.
Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo
When the chorus comes on, a lot of people might feel like singing along.
This is Sadness Is Like Snow, a signature song by Shogo Hamada, a singer-songwriter from Hiroshima Prefecture.
It was released in 1981 as his 14th single, and when it was used as the theme song for the 1992 TV drama As Long As We Have Love, a remake version was released.
The original’s simple, straightforward arrangement is wonderful, but the 1992 version’s deep, mature soundscape is also very appealing.
Both are outstanding in their own right.
It’s a poignant winter song that reflects on the missed connections between people.
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.
Winter TaleMurashita Kōzō
A hidden gem by Kozo Murashita that lyrically captures the chill felt on a late autumn street corner and the void left by a love that has ended.
It’s a ballad included as the B-side to the single “Odoriko,” released in August 1983, and also featured on that year’s acclaimed album “Hatsukoi ~Asaki Yume Mishi~.” Though it never had a notable tie-in, the lyrics—evoking images like a clock tower and fallen leaves—and Murashita’s warm vocals quietly settle into the listener’s heart.
Eschewing flashy production in favor of an acoustic resonance that seeps in, this piece is perfect for a cold winter night when you want to sit alone with your memories.
Its bittersweet yet beautiful story may gently wrap your chilled heart in warmth.
BLIZZARDMatsutōya Yumi
Singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya—affectionately known as “Yuming” and a constant driving force in Japan’s music scene.
This track from her 16th album, NO SIDE, is a classic winter song distinguished by its sharp synthesizer tones.
The sound brims with a sense of speed, as if gliding through a blizzard, while the lyrics, depicting a love on the verge, set listeners’ hearts ablaze.
Although originally an album track released in December 1984, it cemented its status as a winter standard when it was used as an insert song in the 1987 film “Take Me Out to Snowland” (Watashi o Ski ni Tsuretette).
Despite not being a single, it is highly popular; play it in the car on the way to the slopes or as a winter driving BGM, and the glittering scenery of that era will unfold before your eyes.
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.