RAG MusicXmas
Lovely Christmas

[2026] Recommended for your 40s! A roundup of perfect karaoke songs for Christmas

Those of you in your 40s today are the generation who spent your youth during the golden age of J-POP, from the 1990s to the early 2000s, when CDs sold the most.

It was an era that produced many timeless hits still sung in the Reiwa era, with countless songs that people of all ages perform at karaoke.

In this article, I—the author, currently in my 40s—have put together a list of winter songs perfect for Christmas, focusing mainly on tracks released from the ’90s through the mid-’00s.

Of course, younger music fans who are interested in Japanese music from that era are also encouraged to check it out!

Playlist

[2026] Recommended for your 40s! A roundup of perfect karaoke songs for Christmas
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastCinderella ChristmasKinKi Kids
Cinderella ChristmasKinKi Kidsplay_arrow
KinKi Kids' signature youthful hit song
2eastSomeday Merry ChristmasB’z
Someday Merry ChristmasB'zplay_arrow
B'z's classic Christmas song
3eastSECRET LOVE STORYKishidan
SECRET LOVE STORYKishidanplay_arrow
Bittersweet feelings of Christmas and love
4eastWonderful HolidayTakeuchi Mariya
Wonderful HolidayTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
A classic song that brings chicken to mind at Christmas
5eastSomewhere in a distant town…Nagayama Miho
Somewhere in a distant town...Nagayama Mihoplay_arrow
A nostalgic classic that portrays a long-distance romance
6eastWhite LoveSPEED
White LoveSPEEDplay_arrow
The winter classic by the child and junior high school idol group SPEED
7eastWhite LoversKuwata Keisuke
White LoversKuwata Keisukeplay_arrow
Keisuke Kuwata’s winter classic “Shiroi Koibito-tachi” (“White Lovers”)
8eastChristmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuroplay_arrow
The supreme masterpiece of Christmas songs, an eternal classic.
9eastMy lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi
My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
Yumi Matsutoya's Christmas song
10eastEverythingMISIA
EverythingMISIAplay_arrow
Signature songs by MISIA, a female singer with a captivating voice
11eastI totally hate Christmas!! Just kidding.CRAZY KEN BAND
I totally hate Christmas!! Just kidding.CRAZY KEN BANDplay_arrow
A love song that looks forward to Christmas
12eastBy the time of the Christmas carolsInagaki Junichi
By the time of the Christmas carolsInagaki Junichiplay_arrow
Junichi Inagaki’s Christmas song is a famous masterpiece filled with melancholy.
13eastSnow BlossomNakajima Mika
Snow BlossomNakajima Mikaplay_arrow
A poignant winter ballad themed around snow
14eastwhite keySuzuki Ami
white keySuzuki Amiplay_arrow
Ami Suzuki’s winter classic produced by Tetsuya Komuro
15eastChristmas Eve RapKICK THE CAN CREW
Christmas Eve RapKICK THE CAN CREWplay_arrow
Christmas song, expressing the emotions of heartbreak and celebration
16eastSanta ClausELLEGARDEN
Santa ClausELLEGARDENplay_arrow
The charm of Christmas songs and a bittersweet love
17eastLove Song in DecemberGACKT
Love Song in DecemberGACKTplay_arrow
GACKT’s winter love song, a heartwarming classic
18eastDEAR…againHirose Kōmi
DEAR…againHirose Kōmiplay_arrow
Winter Love Song, a classic by Kohmi Hirose
19eastWish Upon the SnowMakihara Noriyuki
Wish Upon the SnowMakihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Noriyuki Makihara's Winter Night Ballad
20eastMerry XmasBoA
Merry XmasBoAplay_arrow
Christmas song “Meri Kuri” — moving
21eastChristmas TimeNōna Rīvu
Christmas TimeNōna Rīvuplay_arrow
A winter classic: Nona Reeves’ Christmas
22eastHOLY NIGHTEXILE
HOLY NIGHTEXILEplay_arrow
A winter ballad on a street corner where powdery snow dances
23eastsnow-cappedEXILE ATSUSHI
snow-cappedEXILE ATSUSHIplay_arrow
A wistful winter ballad, a song by ATSUSHI
24eastA town where it snowsyunikōn
A town where it snowsyunikōnplay_arrow
A song that depicts year-end scenes and longing for one’s hometown.
25eastPowder Snow ~A Winter That Never Ends~Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
Powder Snow ~A Winter That Never Ends~Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibuplay_arrow
A moving song that sings of bittersweet winter feelings
26eastChristmas LoversFLYING KIDS
Christmas LoversFLYING KIDSplay_arrow
The Charm and Warmth of Christmas Songs
27eastChristmas giftGAO
Christmas giftGAOplay_arrow
A heartwarming ballad representative of GAO in the 1990s
28eastThe Holy Night When You Were ThereSepia’n Roses
The Holy Night When You Were ThereSepia'n Rosesplay_arrow
Bittersweet memories of winter are revived by the snow.
29eastAlone at Christmas ~ Alone at X’masTHE toraburyū & Clarence Clemons
Alone at Christmas ~ Alone at X'masTHE toraburyū & Clarence Clemonsplay_arrow
A Christmas ballad that portrays deep, heartfelt feelings for a lover
30eastCHRISTMAS TIME FOREVERSazan Ōrusutāzu
CHRISTMAS TIME FOREVERSazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
Southern's quiet, deep Christmas song
31eastI want to say Merry Christmas.Inoue Shouko
I want to say Merry Christmas.Inoue Shoukoplay_arrow
Masaki Inoue’s Adult Christmas Song
32eastMerry X’mas of Love and CourageDaiji MAN Burazāzu Bando
Merry X'mas of Love and CourageDaiji MAN Burazāzu Bandoplay_arrow
An uplifting, heartwarming Christmas song
33eastMerry-Go-Round in DecemberTeraoka Yohito
Merry-Go-Round in DecemberTeraoka Yohitoplay_arrow
Thinking of a love that has passed in a Christmas town
34eastI LOVE YOUTokunaga Hideaki
I LOVE YOUTokunaga Hideakiplay_arrow
Hideaki Tokunaga’s classic, a heart-touching ballad
35eastChristmas BellYanagihara Yoichiro
Christmas BellYanagihara Yoichiroplay_arrow
A thrillingly ironic dark Christmas song
36eastI can’t wait until ChristmasWatanabe Misato
I can’t wait until ChristmasWatanabe Misatoplay_arrow
The charm of Misato Watanabe’s classic song “Snowman”
37eastI can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichi
I can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichiplay_arrow
Junichi Inagaki’s classic winter ballad
38eastDevil’s Merry ChristmasSeikima II
Devil’s Merry ChristmasSeikima IIplay_arrow
A masterpiece by Seikima-II that depicts the flip side of Christmas
39eastchicken riceHamada Masatoshi / Makihara Noriyuki
chicken riceHamada Masatoshi / Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Downtown and Noriyuki Makihara’s collaborative single
40eastBecause it’s a cold nightTRF
Because it’s a cold nightTRFplay_arrow
TRF colors our youth with their winter hit songs
41eastSilent EveKarashima Midori
Silent EveKarashima Midoriplay_arrow
A poignant Christmas song by Midori Karashima
42eastwinter fallL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
winter fallL'Arc〜en〜Cielplay_arrow
A big breakthrough with L’Arc~en~Ciel’s number-one song
43eastWinter, againGLAY
Winter, againGLAYplay_arrow
The famous GLAY song from Hokkaido, “Winter, again.”
44eastMerry Christmas to the worldCHAGE and ASKA
Merry Christmas to the worldCHAGE and ASKAplay_arrow
CHAGE and ASKA's classic Christmas song
45eastAll My Love To YouDA PUMP
All My Love To YouDA PUMPplay_arrow
A song that sings about the warm feelings of Christmas
46eastBurnin’ X’masT.M.Revolution
Burnin' X'masT.M.Revolutionplay_arrow
An unconventional love song among Christmas songs
47eastWinter Fantasykazan
Winter Fantasykazanplay_arrow
Comfortable, like a Christmas-themed commercial jingle.
48eastGod of RomanceHirose Kōmi
God of RomanceHirose Kōmiplay_arrow
Kohmi Hirose’s classic hit “God of Romance”
49eastThe Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka
The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotakaplay_arrow
The Charm of Christmas Songs and the Vibe of the ’80s
50eastWINTER SONGDREAMS COME TRUE
WINTER SONGDREAMS COME TRUEplay_arrow
DCT’s classic winter songs: English versions of Christmas songs
51eastDEAR…againHirose Kōmi
DEAR...againHirose Kōmiplay_arrow
A beautiful Christmas love song
52eastMy Gift to YouCHEMISTRY
My Gift to YouCHEMISTRYplay_arrow
CHEMISTRY’s classic that chronicles winter feelings
53eastWhite RoadGLAY
White RoadGLAYplay_arrow
A poignant ballad reminiscent of a winter night
54eastWhite ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)
White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)play_arrow
"POWWOW," a moving song, topped the Oricon chart for the first time.
55eastonly holy storySteady&Co.
only holy storySteady&Co.play_arrow
An adult Christmas song for a winter night
56eastloadTHE toraburyū
loadTHE toraburyūplay_arrow
A famous winter song by Tora Boryu that sings of the sorrow of love.
57eastA town where it snowsUNICORN
A town where it snowsUNICORNplay_arrow
UNICORN’s classic winter song where every member shines
58eastwhite flowerZONE
white flowerZONEplay_arrow
A Tale of Pure-White First Love on a Winter Night
59eastangel song -Eve’s Bell-the brilliant green
angel song -Eve's Bell-the brilliant greenplay_arrow
Tomoko Kawase’s band, a bittersweet Christmas song
60eastChristmas Love (After the Tears, White Snow Falls)Sazan Ōrusutāzu
Christmas Love (After the Tears, White Snow Falls)Sazan Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
The fun and poignancy of Christmas songs
61eastThe Night When Holy Bells Resoundtanpopo
The Night When Holy Bells Resoundtanpopoplay_arrow
A beloved love song ringing with Christmas bells
62eastWinter BellsKuraki Mai
Winter BellsKuraki Maiplay_arrow
Mai Kuraki’s “Winter Bells” is a classic song from Detective Conan.
63eastCan’t Wait ‘Til ChristmasUtada Hikaru
Can't Wait 'Til ChristmasUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada's Christmas song
64eastBecause it’s a cold winterSaitō Kazuyoshi
Because it's a cold winterSaitō Kazuyoshiplay_arrow
Sophisticated, jazzy Christmas music for adults
65eastStar FantasyMatsuda Seiko
Star FantasyMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s Christmas song “Fantasy of the Stars”
66eastKissin’ Christmas (It’s Not Just Because It’s Christmas)Kuwata Keisuke & His Friends
Kissin' Christmas (It's Not Just Because It's Christmas)Kuwata Keisuke & His Friendsplay_arrow
Christmas songs by Southern and Yumi
67eastJin jin jingle bellMoritaka Chisato
Jin jin jingle bellMoritaka Chisatoplay_arrow
Chisato Moritaka brimming with the charm of Christmas songs
68eastDiamond dustHimuro Kyosuke
Diamond dustHimuro Kyosukeplay_arrow
Kyosuke Himuro’s classic song “Winter Ballad”
69eastMIDNIGHT FLIGHT -Lonely Christmas Eve-Hamada Shogo
MIDNIGHT FLIGHT -Lonely Christmas Eve-Hamada Shogoplay_arrow
Memorable songs from Shogo Hamada’s “Wasted Tears”
70eastSorrow like snowHamada Shogo
Sorrow like snowHamada Shogoplay_arrow
Shogo Hamada’s masterpiece—melancholic lyrics that resonate with the heart.
71eastMy Very Own Merry ChristmasNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
My Very Own Merry ChristmasNagabuchi Tsuyoshiplay_arrow
The Appeal of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s Christmas Songs
72eastMerry Christmas, I Love Youkuroyume
Merry Christmas, I Love Youkuroyumeplay_arrow
Christmas song “Merry X’mas” — a melancholy tune
73eastTogether…MAX
Together…MAXplay_arrow
MAX's heart-wrenching ballad, a Christmas song
74eastNew Love SongUrufuruzu
New Love SongUrufuruzuplay_arrow
Introduction to love songs you can use at karaoke
75eastA town where it doesn’t snowKobukuro
A town where it doesn't snowKobukuroplay_arrow
Kobukuro’s winter song, a bittersweet love song
76eastChristmas time in blueSano Motoharu
Christmas time in blueSano Motoharuplay_arrow
Motoharu Sano: a one-of-a-kind singing voice and worldview
77eastWinter is starting.Makihara Noriyuki
Winter is starting.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Noriyuki Makihara’s winter song, a heartwarming classic
78eastEntrust me with eternity.DEEN
Entrust me with eternity.DEEN
DEEN’s classic song—be careful with the high notes at karaoke.
79eastTonight is a Hearty PartyTakeuchi Mariya
Tonight is a Hearty PartyTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
Hit song by the city pop singer Mariya Takeuchi
80eastChristmasJUDY AND MARY
ChristmasJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
JUDY AND MARY’s Christmas song, heart-throbbing
81eastWHITE BREATHT.M.Revolution
WHITE BREATHT.M.Revolutionplay_arrow
A classic winter song that evokes nostalgia and warmth