Songs to Play at the End of 2026! A Roundup of New Year’s Eve and Winter J‑Pop
The year that felt both long and short is already coming to an end.
From around the time Christmas passes, you really start to sense that the year is winding down, don’t you?
And as we reach the year’s end, a variety of music programs and events take place, starting with the Red and White Song Battle on New Year’s Eve.
Every year, I bet a lot of people ring in the New Year while listening to music.
With that in mind, this article rounds up a bunch of songs perfect for the end of the year, including tracks about New Year’s Eve and classic winter tunes.
It’s a playlist you can enjoy on your own to reflect on the past year, or throw on with everyone to hype up the countdown.
- A classic that evokes the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Just a little left of this year!]
- [2026] Karaoke songs to sing on New Year’s Eve: classic and popular Japanese hits
- [Songs to Listen to in December] J-POP and Christmas Songs that Feel Like Winter [2026]
- Popular Winter Songs Ranking [2026]
- Masterpieces to Listen to in January: New Year-Themed, New Year-Ready, and Winter Songs
- [Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter
- [New Year’s Songs] Timeless classics and popular New Year tunes you’ll want to listen to at the start of the year
- Winter Songs: Classic tracks you want to listen to in winter. Songs you long for during the winter.
- Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
- Winter songs in 90s J-pop: a roundup of popular winter tunes
- [For Seniors] Beloved songs to sing in December: heartwarming moments with nostalgic kayōkyoku and children’s songs
- [For Seniors] Winter songs you'll want to hum along to. A collection of classic tunes recommended for BGM and recreational activities
- I want to hear more than just the classics! Hidden gems of winter songs
[2026] Songs to Hear at Year’s End! New Year’s Eve/Year-End Songs and Winter J‑Pop Roundup (41–50)
Shiroi Koibito-tachiKuwata Keisuke
Many people probably feel like listening to this during the colder season.
It’s a song by Keisuke Kuwata, the frontman of the beloved national rock band Southern All Stars.
It was released in 2001 as his seventh solo single.
Sparked by its use in a Coca-Cola commercial in which he also appeared, it became a major hit.
The lyrics alone—overflowing with the longing to see someone precious—are enough to bring you to tears.
And the piano and strings are truly beautiful.
Please give it a listen when you’re spending the end of the year on your own.
Snow halationμ’s
Love Live! has expanded so rapidly—into manga, live concerts, stage plays, novels—that it’s hard to keep up.
Its smartphone game is also a huge hit, and its standout winter song is Snow halation.
Of course, it’s performed by μ’s, idols who go beyond the bounds of a mere voice-actor unit! With the anime’s voice actors singing and dancing in their own voices, there may be no idols greater than this! The lyrics tell a story brimming with courage: a shy girl deciding to face love seriously.
Though it’s a winter song, it isn’t subdued—it’s a bright track that always lifts your spirits.
I hope even those who aren’t into anime or games will give it a listen!
Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo
Released in 1981 and then becoming a major hit again in 1992 as the theme song for the drama “Ai to Iu Na no Moto ni,” this track is so widely known that it could be called one of Shogo Hamada’s signature songs.
While Hamada’s music often carries the image of “singing a man’s heart” due to his voice and style, this song is a moving piece that “resonates deeply with anyone who listens.” It’s surely a song that strikes a chord across generations.
The word “snow” plays a particularly meaningful role in the lyrics.
Give it a listen during the busy year-end season and let it lift your spirits.
orionYonezu Kenshi
Orion is a winter constellation.
Like stars sparkling in a crisp, cold winter night sky, “orion” is a glittering song and Kenshi Yonezu’s sixth major-label single.
It was also used as the ending theme for the anime March Comes in Like a Lion.
The piece is a slightly sorrowful song that sings of a beloved person who is no longer by one’s side, wishing—like the stars of Orion—to be connected with you once more.
Overflowing feelings that will never again be delivered are woven into “orion,” whose strings resonate beautifully—perfect for the winter sky.
Why not spend a quiet New Year’s holiday listening to Kenshi Yonezu’s solemn “orion”?
Two Red-spotted Butterflieskinmokusei
Released in 2002, this was Kinmokusei’s biggest hit single, and it also marked their first appearance on that year’s New Year’s Eve Kohaku Uta Gassen.
Some listeners may be reminded of that year’s end precisely because it was performed on the show.
The city pop–style, gentle melody and the lyrics’ careful depiction of scenery are truly moving.
The song looks back on days gone by, while its dawn imagery evokes hopes for days to come—making it a perfect track for the day we head into a new year.
I feel like I’m about to cry feat. AimyonRADWIMPS
Up until now, they were mostly popular among rock fans, but after taking on the main theme songs for the film “Your Name,” their popularity spread to living rooms across the country.
Now they’ve collaborated with the hugely popular singer-songwriter Aimyon.
It’s a wonderful track where the charms of the two vocalists vie with each other, so be sure to try it as a duet at karaoke!
Irohakocchi no kento
Released in December 2023, the new song by Kocchi no Kento—who boasts back-to-back wins at the national A Cappella Spirits competition—is a warm, message-driven track about the importance of returning to your roots.
Set to a mellow dance groove, its lyrics resonate as they express self-doubt and frustration with the world while yearning to revisit a more beautiful time in the past.
This work showcases Kento’s creative talent to the fullest, with him personally handling the filming and editing of the music video.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone looking to refocus on what truly matters amid the year-end rush.
As the New Year approaches, this song will help you remember your beginnings and give you the courage to step into tomorrow with a renewed spirit.