[For Seniors] Heartwarming Winter Classics: A Cozy Moment with Nostalgic Kayōkyoku and Traditional Songs

Hymn to the Snowy Mountainsshouka

Hymn to the Snowy Mountains

Among Japanese shoka (traditional school songs), “Yukiyama Sanka” (Hymn to Snowy Mountains) is counted as one of the most beloved.

Set to the melody of an American folk tune, the song became a huge hit when the Dark Ducks released their recording in 1959.

The lyrics, which praise mountains and nature, are based on the experiences of the lyricist Eizaburo Nishibori, celebrating both the ruggedness and the beauty of mountain life.

It is especially popular among mountaineers and nature enthusiasts.

In its birthplace, Tsumagoi Village, it is familiar as a time signal and as a “melody road,” and it has also been used in tourist information and as a chime on trains.

It’s also recommended to hum this tune while enjoying the grandeur of winter landscapes.

The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku

The Camellia Sasanqua Inn

A memorable song by Eisaku Okawa, featuring lyrics and a melody that portray a bittersweet love.

Centered on the forbidden theme of an extramarital affair, it poignantly conveys the obsession with an unrequited love and the sorrow of fate.

The feelings of the male and female protagonists are mirrored in the sasanqua flower, which also serves as a symbol of winter’s melancholy in the title.

Released in 1982 as his 32nd single, it became his biggest hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon charts in 1983.

It’s a perfect winter classic that anyone who has experienced heartbreak or struggled with love should hear.

Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō

Ishihara Yujiro "Traveler of the North"

A gem of a winter song produced in the later years of Yujiro Ishihara’s life.

The melancholic lyrics, which overlay the poignant scenery of the northern country with the feelings of a traveler, are truly moving.

After its 1987 release, it topped the annual singles chart that year and has since been included on numerous compilation albums, earning its place as a classic winter tune.

It’s a song we especially recommend for the winter season, when loneliness and solitude are easier to feel—perfect for immersing yourself in thoughts of your hometown or someone dear to you.

A Town Where It SnowsTakayoshio

A Town Where It Snows

A masterpiece that delicately expresses bittersweet emotions and various memories against the backdrop of a town quietly blanketed in snow.

Its beautiful melody and lyrics that resonate in the listener’s heart have the power to appeal to people’s experiences and feelings.

Composed in 1951 as the theme song for an NHK radio drama, it was later released as a single by King Records in 1953.

Sung by Hideo Takahashi, it became a hit and has been loved for many years, frequently broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” It’s a song with a timeless charm—one you’ll want to listen to on a quiet winter night alone or together with someone special.

Otaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchika

Otaru no hito yo

The debut single released by Masayoshi Tsuruoka and Tokyo Romantica in September 1967 is an evocative love song set in Otaru, Hokkaido.

Its lyrics, steeped in melancholy, interweave the cold of a northern winter with the sorrow of parting from a lover.

Based on the members’ real experiences, the song is also notable for its beautiful imagery, depicting scenes such as Otaru Station with powdery snow swirling and the shores of Shioya Beach.

It became a major hit, ranking 4th on Oricon’s 1968 year-end chart.

In 1969, it was also used as the theme song for Toei’s TV drama “Kiri no Roman: Otaru no Onna” (Romance in the Mist: The Woman of Otaru), winning the hearts of many.

How about listening to it slowly on a winter night while gazing out the window?