[For Seniors] February Songs You’ll Want to Hum: Enjoy Winter with Nostalgic Classics

Goodbyeofukōsu

Goodbye Off Course with lyrics

Released in 1979, this song is a cold, heartrending farewell that evokes the chill of winter.

Written and composed by Kazumasa Oda of Off Course, it delicately portrays the quiet acceptance of parting.

In the scene where the narrator says goodbye to a lover, you can feel the resolve to say “goodbye” even while holding back their feelings for the other person.

Its beautiful melody and clear, pure vocals deeply resonate with listeners.

For older adults as well, it’s a song that may feel nostalgic, bringing back memories of their youth.

On a leisurely winter afternoon, why not spend some time in a warm room listening to this song and reminiscing about the past?

Realm of the StarsSakushi: Sugitani Daikai / Sakkyoku: Chaaruzu Konvâzu

The Starry Realm (Traditional Children’s Song)

A timeless classic that makes you want to gaze up at the winter night sky, “Hoshi no Yo.” It’s a Ministry of Education song included in the 1910 publication Kyōka Tōgō Chūgaku Shōka, Volume II.

The lyrics were written by Shigeya Sugiya, and it was set to the melody of the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” composed by Charles Converse.

The lyrics, which highlight the brilliance of stars made all the more striking by a moonless, dark sky and send our thoughts out to the distant reaches of the universe, invite us into a mysterious world filled with romance.

For many, the gentle melody brings peace along with nostalgic memories of learning it at school.

Its familiar tune is also perfect for group sing-alongs during recreational time, so why not enjoy it on a winter night when the stars are especially clear, sharing stories as you sing?

From the northern innMiyako Harumi

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Lyric Video]

Kita no Yado kara, which sings of a woman’s bittersweet love set in a despair so deep that no ray of hope seems in sight, is a signature song by Harumi Miyako that achieved million-seller status.

The lyrics are such a mass of sadness, emptiness, and frustration that you might think many people came to associate winter with loneliness because of this song.

Reading the poem alone could sink you deeper into gloom, yet when it merges with Miyako’s powerful voice, it somehow conveys the strength of a woman who holds her ground despite hardship—a curious and compelling transformation.

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Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

Created as the theme song for an NHK morning drama, this piece is a gentle, hope-filled song.

Through springlike scenes such as winter daphne and sudden showers, it poignantly sings of parting from a loved one and the wish to meet again.

Yumi Matsutoya’s warm voice resonates deeply in the heart, stirring fond memories.

Released in October 1994, the song topped the Oricon chart and became a major hit, selling over 1.16 million copies.

It’s a perfect song to sing together with seniors while sharing nostalgic stories.

Bean-throwing (Mamemaki)

Mame-maki (with gestures) – “Demons out, good fortune in” [Japanese Song/Children’s Song]

When you listen to this song, it brings back memories of bean-throwing at daycare or kindergarten, doesn’t it? “Mamemaki” is a song that was published in the early Showa period in a collection of children’s songs called Ehon Shoka.

The lyrics even include the pattering sound of beans falling to the ground, and just by listening you can picture the children earnestly throwing beans at the ogre, which warms your heart.

There are other songs themed around Setsubun and ogres, but many people would probably say that this one just feels the most right!

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Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo

Snow Country by Ikuzo Yoshi

Ikuzo Yoshi’s “Yukiguni” is a song that vividly captures the atmosphere of winter.

With its memorable melody, the bittersweet lyrics convey a poignant emotion, carrying a lyricism that resonates with the listener’s own memories.

Evoking deep sentiment, this piece is loved by many regardless of season, and it leaves new memories in the hearts of those who hear it.

Within the gentle ambiance that music brings, one can enjoy time reflecting on personal experiences.

Familiar across generations, this song creates a tender moment of togetherness.

campfire

Bonfire – Taki Bi | By the hedge, by the hedge, around the corner—it's a bonfire, it's a bonfire, burning fallen leaves [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Even though Setsubun marks the beginning of spring, February still brings many cold days in reality.

Rather than feeling “Spring is here!”, many of us may feel, just like in the song Takibi, that “the wind is still chilly, and I’d like to warm myself by a bonfire.” Since its debut on NHK’s radio program Children’s Hour in 1941, this song has long been cherished as a winter tune.

Even in the harsh cold of winter, hearing it conjures up the orange glow of a bonfire and warms the heart.

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