Songs to Play at the End of 2026! A Roundup of New Year’s Eve and Winter J‑Pop

Light of Firefliesshouka

Light of Fireflies

I think many of you remember singing it when you were students.

It’s the school song “Hotaru no Hikari,” which has been loved in Japan for many years.

The image many people have is that it’s the song that plays right before a store—like a supermarket—closes.

But in fact, this song is actually a New Year’s song.

It originally comes from the Scottish folk song “Auld Lang Syne,” which was sung at celebrations.

So it’s also sung around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The idea of it being a farewell song is unique to Japan.

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New Year’s Evethe pillows

The Pillows – New Year’s Eve

It’s a medium-tempo rock number that expresses the bittersweet feeling of “I was supposed to be happy with the one I love, but…” It’s a song by the rock band the pillows, known for hits like “Strange Chameleon” and “Hybrid Rainbow,” included on their 12th album, GOOD DREAMS, released in 2004.

The lyric “When I wake up, the new year has begun, and the reality that you’re gone is there” squeezes the heart.

But this is the pillows: they craft a crisp, dry sound that keeps the mood from getting too heavy, and it’s cool.

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White winter songCharcoal Filter

White winter song

This is CHARCOAL FILTER’s winter single, released in December 2002.

It capped off the year when “Brand-New Myself ~Boku ni Dekiru Koto” became a major hit, reaching No.

19 on the Oricon chart.

Produced by Seiji Kameda, it’s a gentle ballad featuring piano and strings.

The lyrics are memorable, expressing the belief that hearts can connect even when apart, set against year-end city streets glowing with illuminations.

As it contemplates a distance that can only be bridged by being close, the imagery contrasts winter’s chill with the warmth of human touch, leaving a deep impression.

It’s a perfect song for ringing in the New Year with someone special or reflecting on the past year alone.

DecemberSkoop On Somebody

Skoop On Somebody 『December』

A funky winter tune that turns the year-end hustle and bustle into a celebration.

It’s a track by Skoop On Somebody, an R&B/soul group from Osaka formed in 1995, released as their 24th single in December 2004.

Chosen as the opening theme for TBS’s variety show “Rank Oukoku,” its 16-beat rhythm guitar and unison brass make the winter city dance with lightness.

The lyrics by Utamaru of RHYMESTER cleverly depict year-end realities like client entertainment and traffic jams, humorously capturing the hectic feel of December.

It’s the perfect party number for anyone wanting to ring in the New Year with friends and family.

I’m here (feat. STUTS)butaji

butaji – I’m here feat. STUTS “RIGHT TIME / RIGHT PLACE at Shibuya WWW”

This is a song that paints an introspective scene—walking through the city at year’s end and reexamining the distance between people.

A collaboration between butaji and STUTS, it was included on the October 2021 album “RIGHT TIME.” While acknowledging one’s own immaturity and weakness, it quietly asserts, “I’m here,” in a way that’s deeply moving.

STUTS’s minimalist beat and butaji’s breathing-close vocals highlight the atmosphere of the city at night.

Listening to it alone as the New Year approaches might help you gently accept everything that happened this year.

Even if there weren’t any big changes, it’s the perfect number for a winter night when you want to look back on the path you’ve walked in your own way.

Hard Days,Holy NightPorunogurafiti

Hard Days, Holy Night

A bittersweet rock tune that captures the frustration of not being able to spend time with your lover during the hectic year-end season.

It’s included on Porno Graffitti’s 13th single, “Ai ga Yobu Hou e,” released in 2003, and marks the band’s first Christmas song.

The piece delicately portrays the feelings of working adults facing Christmas amid the bustle of December, and it’s easy to empathize with the narrator wavering between longing for the girlfriend who’s waiting and a sense of responsibility toward work.

The English lyrics, imbued with prayers for the holy night, leave a strong impression, and the transparent melody blends exquisitely with the band’s sound.

It’s the perfect song for those moments when you don’t want to forget your feelings for someone important, even as you’re swept up in the year-end rush.

End-of-year hydrangea double suicideIchikawa Yukino

End-of-year hydrangea double suicide

This is a song by enka singer Yukino Ichikawa, who vividly conveys the inner emotions of women with her expansive vocals.

Included on her October 2018 album “Uta Onna III: Showa Kayō Collection & Akuyu Songbook,” the piece is a newly composed number based on previously unreleased lyrics by Yū Aku.

Set at the year’s end, it portrays a woman’s resolve as she stays by the side of a man who has lost hope, determined to remain with him until the New Year’s Eve bells toll.

Kohei Kō’s melody and Megumi Wakakusa’s orchestral arrangement heighten the poignancy, while Ichikawa’s voice adds dimensional storytelling.

In July 2019, it was reissued as the coupling track commemorating her first starring performance at the Shin-Kabukiza Theatre.

It’s a touching kayō drama where the stillness of year-end meets the passion of decisive resolve.