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

the first strong spring windkyandīzu

Haru Ichiban / Candies (with lyrics)

We’d like to introduce a beloved classic that evokes the thaw of snow and the arrival of spring.

It’s the ninth single by Candies, released in March 1976, originally included on the previous year’s album “Toshishita no Otokonoko.” Spurred by the enthusiastic response at live shows, it was released as a single and became a hit, reaching No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart.

The lyrics, which straightforwardly capture the exhilaration of the changing seasons and the anticipation of love, make your heart skip a beat every time you listen.

Its poppy, fast-paced sound feels like it could blow away the lingering February chill.

Play it during recreation time and you’ll likely see people start moving naturally—or even humming along.

We hope you’ll enjoy a moment of waiting for spring, while reminiscing about memories from those days.

Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue OgreBito Isao

Red Ogre and Blue Ogre Tango – Isao Bitō

Do you know a uniquely charming children’s song that depicts a red ogre and a blue ogre breaking into a dance under the moonlight? Sung by Isao Bito, the track was released as a single in January 1978 and aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” Set to a tango rhythm, it paints a lively scene of ogres living deep in the mountains joyfully dancing.

Though ogres are often seen as scary, in this piece they’re comical and full of charm.

Its upbeat, catchy melody will make you want to sway along.

Isao Bito, known for his career as a rockabilly singer and for opening for The Beatles during their 1966 Japan tour, brings a crisp, dynamic vocal that amplifies the song’s fun.

It’s perfect for the Setsubun season—why not clap along and sing it together with everyone?

The two are young.dikku mine

The two are young.

A duet released in August 1935 whose playful call-and-response is truly delightful.

Sung by Dick Mine and Reiko Hoshi, the song was included on the theme record for the Nikkatsu film “The Peeped-at Bride.” The music is by Masao Koga, and the lyrics were written by Hachiro Sato under the pen name Eiji Tamagawa.

Its charm lies in lyrics that evoke bright scenes like blue skies and gentle breezes, paired with an easy-to-remember melody.

With its conversational back-and-forth, singing it as a duo is sure to bring smiles.

It’s also great for recreation time—try pairing up and giving it a go.

Why not enjoy it with some handclaps to the lively rhythm? A heartwarming song that can spark fond memories and lively reminiscences.

White Plum Blossoms of YushimaObata Minoru

White Plum Blossoms of Yushima (Song from Onna Keizu), 1942 (Vocals: Minoru Obata), Lyrics: Takao Saeki, Music: Yasuo Shimizu

The popular song based on Kyoka Izumi’s masterpiece Onna Keizu (A Woman’s Lineage) beautifully sings of a heartrending farewell set at Yushima Tenjin.

You can almost see the evocative scenes of old Tokyo: the shrine grounds where plum blossoms bloom, the streets of Hongo, and the nightscape lit by blue gas lamps.

Minoru Obata was a singer who was active from before the war into the postwar era, known for his distinctive, sweet, conversational vocal style.

The song was released by Victor in 1942 and became widely loved as the theme song for a Toho film.

It was originally titled “The Song of Onna Keizu,” but later became widely known by its present name.

It’s a perfect piece for the season when, even in the cold air of February, the fragrance of white plum blossoms hints at the coming of spring.

Memories of strolling around the Yushima area depicted in the lyrics, or of watching a Shingeki/Shinpa stage production, are sure to spark nostalgic conversation.

A Love Story in GinzaYūjirō Ishihara · Junko Makimura

Love Story in Ginza (Yūjirō Ishihara) with Japanese lyrics

A classic duet by Yujiro Ishihara and Junko Makimura that portrays an urban romance as the neon lights of Ginza glow brilliantly at night.

Released in January 1961, the song was used that same year as an insert song in the Nikkatsu film “A Whirlwind from Town to Town,” and in 1962 it became the theme song for a film of the same title.

It was a massive hit, selling over three million copies, and in 1990 a monument to the song was erected in Ginza.

It remains beloved as part of the city’s collective memory.

With its relaxed tempo and memorable call-and-response between male and female vocals, it is a karaoke staple for duets.

Why not hum along with your spouse or friends, picturing the nostalgic nightscape of Ginza?

Evening PrimroseSakushi: Takehisa Yumeji / Sakkyoku: Tada Tadaaki

Yoimachigusa | Yoimachigusa | With Lyrics | The person I wait for never comes, no matter how long I wait

This is a lyrical song that overlays the poignant feeling of waiting for someone who never comes onto the evening primrose, a flower that opens from dusk into night.

Tadaaki Ōno, who was also a violinist, set a melody to a short poem written by Yumeji Takehisa, and it was published by Senoo Music in May 1918.

It became a topic of conversation because Yumeji himself created the cover illustration, and it is said to have spread across the country in no time.

Around 1938, it was also featured as a movie theme song and became a hit through the vocals of Mieko Takamine.

Its wistful melody is easy to sing, and merely humming it seems to bring the scenes of that era back to life.

It’s perfect for spending a leisurely moment on a long winter night or for singing together in recreational settings.

Why not enjoy a heartwarming time while sharing fond memories?

The person I fell in love withMiyako Harumi

The person I fell in love with

Even while singing of parting, this enka masterpiece somehow gives you the strength to look ahead.

Released as a single by Harumi Miyako in September 1968, its repeated opening words strikingly capture a heart in turmoil.

Rather than blaming the other person, the song resonates for the way it sends them off while bearing one’s own pain.

Although it peaked at No.

24 on the Oricon chart, it stayed ranked for 38 weeks, becoming a long‑loved bestseller.

It was used as an insert song in the 1991 animated film “Only Yesterday” (Omohide Poro Poro) and chosen as the ending theme for the 1999 film “Big Show! Utaeba Hawai.” A legendary moment often recalled is its performance as the first-ever encore in the 1984 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

On a winter’s day, why not hum it softly as you look back on your memories?