[90s Christmas Songs] Nostalgic and Beloved Christmas Classics
The 1990s were the golden era of J-pop, when CDs sold more than ever and million-selling hits kept coming one after another.
There were countless songs everyone could talk about, and as you walked through the city, hit after hit played everywhere—that’s what those times were like.
Naturally, many staple J-pop Christmas songs you can’t skip during the winter season were released in that era.
In this article, we’re highlighting timeless Christmas classics born in the ’90s, offering a lineup anyone can enjoy, regardless of generation!
Many of these masterpieces have been covered by later artists, so especially if you’re younger, you might discover that a song you know actually originated from a different band or artist.
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[90s Christmas Songs] Nostalgic and Beloved Christmas Classics (21–30)
I can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichi
This song portrays the bittersweet hearts of lovers in winter.
Junichi Inagaki’s rich, velvety vocals gently enfold an eternal vow exchanged beneath a velvet-like sky.
Released in November 1990 as his 20th single and featured in a commercial for Mitsutaka’s “Boutique JOY,” the piece masterfully marries Yasushi Akimoto’s poetic lyrics with Toshiaki Matsumoto’s warm melody, vividly painting a Christmas night scene.
It’s a track for those who dream of a special night with their loved one or hold deep feelings for someone dear.
It also makes a perfect BGM choice for a Christmas party.
Wonderful HolidayTakeuchi Mariya
Mariya Takeuchi is a singer-songwriter who represents Japan, who breezed through the music scenes of the ’90s, 2000s, and 2010s and still enjoys immense popularity in the 2020s.
Released in November 2001, this work is a heartwarming song themed around a cozy, family Christmas.
Created as a tie-in for Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan’s Christmas commercials, the track features rich orchestral arrangements.
It opens with imagery that evokes the arrival of winter, and its lyrics, expressing the joy of Christmas and the bonds of family, are sure to resonate with many listeners.
It has become one of those songs you often hear around town during the holiday season.
Why not play it as background music for a homey Christmas party with family or a loved one?
Winter Fantasykazan
Winter Fantasy by Cousin, a duo formed by two cousins.
Released in 1995, this song became their signature hit after being featured in a commercial for Fuyu Monogatari, Sapporo Beer’s winter-limited brew.
It’s a heartwarming track about lovers who had grown a bit distant before Christmas but rediscover each other’s warmth and rekindle their love.
The harmonies of the two members of Cousin are as beautiful as a Christmas carol hymn, making it a perfect song for the holiday season.
Even in the cold of winter, it’s a piece that lets you feel warmth through the power of love.
Silent EveKarashima Midori
It’s a love ballad that remains a beloved staple of Christmas songs in the J-POP scene, not just in the ’90s but even today.
It became a breakout hit when it was used as the theme song for the drama “Christmas Eve.” Beyond the vocalist’s beautiful voice, the melody is so familiar and soothing that listening to it feels almost purifying.
She’s also highly regarded for her lyric-writing, and although the lyrics of this song aren’t long, they evoke a variety of heartrending stories and a straightforward, earnest love.
Somewhere in a distant townNagayama Miho
Miho Nakayama’s 23rd single, released in November 1991, was written as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Aitai Toki ni Anata wa Inai…” in which she herself starred.
The lyrics, which echo the drama’s long-distance romance storyline, are distinctive.
They warmly express the growing longing and anxieties for a lover living far away.
The song peaked at No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and became a major hit, selling over 670,000 copies.
It’s a ballad that resonates with those who have experienced long-distance love or who are spending Christmas apart from someone special.
Christmas Love (After the Tears, White Snow Falls)Sazan Ōrusutāzu
It’s a poignant Christmas love song about thinking of a precious person you can no longer meet.
The track is by Southern All Stars, a band that has remained at the top of the Japanese music scene for many years, and it was released in 1993 as their 34th single.
The relaxed rhythm and Christmas-tinged arrangement match perfectly with Keisuke Kuwata’s sweet vocals.
And the loneliness conveyed through the lyrics is heart-wrenching.
Listening to it alone might make your chest tighten.
ChristmasJUDY AND MARY
It’s a Christmas love song that conveys a heartfelt desire to cherish this relationship.
It’s a track by the rock band JUDY AND MARY, who led the music scene in the ’90s, released in 1994 as the single “Cheese “PIZZA”/Christmas.” With its driving guitar-rock sound, it’s incredibly catchy.
And it’s easy to relate to the protagonist, who, while carrying the anxiety of wondering, “Can I really be with this person for the rest of my life?” still wishes this moment could last forever.