[For Seniors] Recommended Songs for New Year’s Parties: Nursery Rhymes, Children’s Songs, and Popular Songs to Liven Up Even on Cold Days

EnchantedJudi Ongu

Judy Ongg - Mesararete (With Lyrics)

Let me introduce a signature song by Judy Ongg, which won the 1979 Japan Record Award.

It’s an impressive piece with a grand, expansive melody that evokes the blue seas and white towns of the Aegean.

The song boasts an all-star creative team: lyrics by Yoko Aki and composition by Kyohei Tsutsumi.

It was also used in a TV commercial for an underwear brand, becoming a major talking point at the time.

On the Oricon charts, it held the No.

1 spot for nine consecutive weeks and finished the year at No.

2.

The stage performance, featuring a large pure-white dress spread out as she sang, drew widespread attention and was showcased on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

In the cold season, why not lift your spirits with a song that conjures the sun and sea of the tropics? The dazzling chorus has a rhythm that naturally makes your body move, so it’s perfect for everyone to enjoy with hand claps.

It’s a track that will instantly liven up any New Year’s party.

Cape ErimoMori Shinichi

Shinichi Mori Erimo Misaki (with lyrics)

This is a famous song by Shinichi Mori that depicts the scenery of a cape at the edge of Hokkaido and the feelings of the people who visit it.

Released in January 1974 as his 29th single, it features lyrics by Osami Okamoto and music by Takuro Yoshida.

Celebrated as a remarkable fusion of folk and enka, it won both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Kayō Award that same year.

The song conveys warmth amidst a desolate landscape and a gentle embrace that quietly accepts wounded hearts, leaving a lasting impression on listeners.

It has been performed four times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and remains beloved to this day.

Its melody and lyrics resonate especially in the cold season, making it perfect for singing together at New Year gatherings.

With light handclaps, you can enjoy it at a relaxed pace—ideal for moments when you want to spend a peaceful time.

Always keep your dreamsHashi Yukio, Yoshinaga Sayuri

Yukio Hashi & Sayuri Yoshinaga / Itsudemo Yume o (Always Dream)

When it comes to duet songs that colored the youth of the Showa era, many people probably think of “Itsudemo Yume wo” sung by Yukio Hashi and Sayuri Yoshinaga.

Released in 1962, this song carries a positive message: keep a dream in your heart no matter what.

Its gently conversational melody warms the heart even in the cold season.

The song won the Japan Record Award the same year, and the following year it was chosen as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Championship.

It was memorably featured in the 2013 NHK morning drama Amachan, and it continues to be loved across generations.

At New Year’s parties, if a man and woman pair up to sing it as a duet, smiles naturally spread.

Add some handclaps and sing it with hope for the year ahead.

From the northern innMiyako Harumi

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Lyric Video]

This is one of Harumi Miyako’s signature songs, portraying a bittersweet woman’s love that tightens the heart in the cold of winter.

The image of the heroine, alone at an inn in the north, continuing to knit a sweater while thinking of the one she parted from, is deeply moving.

Lyricist Yū Aku is said to have depicted the act of knitting as a “ritual to bring closure to a breakup.” Even in her grief, you can feel a core strength as she tries to put her feelings in order.

Released in December 1975, it achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Cable Radio Award the following year.

Total sales reached 1.45 million copies, and it has been covered by many singers, including Sayuri Ishikawa and Yoshimi Tendo.

As the season’s cold air sinks into your bones, why not hum it together at a New Year’s gathering?

January 1stSakushi: Senke Sonpuku/Sakkyoku: Kami Magayuki

January 1st (♪ As a trial at the start of the year) New Year’s Day / New Year song by Himawari 🌻 with lyric meanings included

The song “Ichigatsu Ichijitsu,” often heard during the New Year, is a famous piece for celebrating the season and is perfect for a New Year’s party! Its lyrics depict New Year’s traditions such as displaying kadomatsu and watching the first sunrise of the year.

The gentle, unhurried melody that evokes the calm flow of New Year’s time should be easy for older adults to sing as well.

Although New Year’s parties often take place after the holiday break, why not sing it with the hope that everyone will spend time cheerfully and joyfully from January 1, the very first day of the new year?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

campfireSakushi: Tatsumi Seika / Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru

Bonfire | With Lyrics | 100 Best Japanese Songs | At the fence, at the fence, at the bend

This is a classic winter children’s song that depicts children warming themselves by a bonfire near a hedge.

The poet Seika Tatsumi wrote the lyrics based on a scene of burning fallen leaves he witnessed in Kamitakada, Nakano Ward, Tokyo, and Shigeru Watanabe composed the music.

It was first broadcast on NHK Radio in 1941, and after being sung again on “Uta no Obasan” in 1949, it spread nationwide.

In 2007, it was selected as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” The image of children rubbing their chilblained hands and asking each other, “Shall we warm up?” as they walk down a cold, windblown road evokes a certain nostalgic warmth.

The melody is easy to remember, and its charm lies in how naturally you find yourself humming along with handclaps.

If you sing it at a New Year’s gathering, it might spark lively conversations about old winter memories.

Boat SongYashiro Aki

Aki Yashiro 'Funauta' Latest Music Video

Aki Yashiro’s signature song is distinguished by lyrics that capture the atmosphere of an izakaya.

The protagonist’s feelings while drinking are delicately conveyed through vivid scene descriptions, expressing a lingering longing for a former lover.

Released in May 1979, the work received high acclaim, including a nomination for the 21st Japan Record Awards.

It was also featured in the 1981 film “Station.” For many older listeners, it’s a song that likely evokes nostalgic memories.

It would be lovely to spend time together humming along and reminiscing about the past.