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

Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Sakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku

Pechka (Winter Children's Song)

This is a nursery song that paints a warm scene of people gathered around a fireplace, talking on a cold, snowy night.

Created by the golden duo of Hakushū Kitahara and Kōsaku Yamada for children living in Manchuria, it was included in the 1924 collection Manchurian Songbook: For Elementary Grades 1 and 2.

Later, it was featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta from December 1965 to January 1966, and gained wider popularity thanks to visuals by picture-book artist Rokurō Taniuchi.

You can almost feel the quiet of the night as they gaze into the fire, savoring the aroma of roasted chestnuts and the crackle of sparks.

Even when it’s cold outside, the warmth of time spent with family seeps into the heart—making this a perfect song for winter.

Snow TrainMaekawa Kiyoshi

The Snow Train / Kiyoshi Maekawa - Gaijin’s Japanese Lyrics and Chinese Translation

Snow falls quietly, a train whistle echoes in the distance.

There’s a song that perfectly captures the mood of a winter journey—released by Kiyoshi Maekawa in 1982.

With lyrics by Shigesato Itoi and music and arrangement by Ryuichi Sakamoto, this work boasts an illustrious lineup and features a forward-thinking sound that transcends the bounds of enka.

There’s even a behind-the-scenes story: they spent three days crafting the drum part to evoke the resonance of a taiko drum—testament to their meticulous attention to detail.

How about listening to it while gazing at a snowy landscape and recalling memories of journeys past?

Waltz of StarlightSen Masao

Waltz of Starlight - Masao Sen

A gem of a waltz where the sorrow of parting and deep affection intertwine.

The lyrics were written by Sonoeda Shiratori and the music composed by Minoru Endo.

Released as Masao Sen’s single in 1966, it became a major hit in 1968, selling a total of 2.5 million copies.

The protagonist’s feelings—choosing a painful breakup while wishing happiness for a loved one—are deeply moving.

This classic has been covered across Asia, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, and is beloved across borders.

It’s a song I’d recommend for those winter nights when you gaze at the stars and reminisce about young love.

It also lends itself well to an emotionally rich performance at karaoke.

Mother’s Songkubota satoru

Mother's Song (with lyrics)

This is a children’s song by Satoshi Kubota that quietly stirs the heart with feelings for one’s mother.

Composed in 1956, it was also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1962, sung by Peggy Hayama.

The piece was born from Kubota’s own experiences of evacuation during the war and his memories of receiving hand-knitted items from his mother.

It portrays a mother staying up late into the night to knit gloves, and the warmth carried by letters from home.

It may bring back days when you were supported by your mother, or memories from when you were raising your own children.

A heartwarming song that renews one’s sense of gratitude to mothers.

Tsugaru Jongara-bushiHosokawa Takashi

Tsugaru Jongara-bushi

A representative folk song from Aomori Prefecture, performed by Takashi Hosokawa at the opening of his December 1978 folk album “Bokyō” (Nostalgia).

With powerful shouts and melodic turns, it vividly sings of Tsugaru’s scenery—Mount Iwaki, apple orchards—and the lives of its people, conveying a deep love for the homeland.

Mitsunori Sasaki’s shamisen creates a sense of speed, and the way it interweaves with Hosokawa’s expansive vocals is breathtaking.

In January 1978, it was also performed on Fuji TV’s “Yoru no Hit Studio,” bringing the brilliance of folk music to audiences nationwide.

Why not hum along with family or friends while picturing Tsugaru’s winter landscape?