Heisei-era Christmas songs and classic tracks you want to listen to in winter

Mr.SnowmanE-girls

e-girls / Mr.Snowman

This pop tune depicts a love that boldly tries to reach someone who stands before you, cold and towering like snow.

Its catchy melody and fast-paced electro sound express both the heartache of being unable to take that first step toward him and the determined, positive feelings of not giving up.

Released in November 2014 as E-girls’ 12th single, it was featured in commercials for UHA Mikakuto’s e-ma throat lozenges and Prince Hotels’ snow resorts, and peaked at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

The music video, evoking a shimmering white world, is dreamlike and perfectly heightens the mood of winter romance.

It’s a winter song that’s perfect for those moments when you need a push in love or want to get hyped with friends at karaoke.

Song of a Winter DayGReeeeN

Fuyunoaruhinouta

A heartwarming ballad by GReeeeN that gently wraps the time spent with a lover during the cold season.

Included on the limited first pressing of the single “Tobira,” released in December 2008, this track is sprinkled with Christmas motifs like bell chimes and candlelight.

Soft acoustic guitar and piano tones intertwine with the group’s signature harmonies, carefully weaving honest feelings for a loved one.

Through its unadorned lyrics, you can feel the wish to celebrate this day together every year and the irreplaceable value of the time shared by two people.

“Tobira” reached No.

2 on the Oricon charts, and the album it appears on, “Shio, Kosho,” later won the Japan Record Award for Best Album.

It’s a hidden gem that gently accompanies quiet winter nights with your partner or moments when you want to convey your feelings to someone special.

ChristmasJUDY AND MARY

JUDY AND MARY / Christmas #JUDYANDMARY

This is a Christmas song by JUDY AND MARY, who took the music scene of the ’90s by storm.

Rather than dazzling presents, it portrays a straightforward longing to simply spend time with the one you love, which leaves you with such a warm feeling, doesn’t it? While the track is a guitar-driven rock number brimming with the band’s signature speed, YUKI’s cute vocals blend in to create a bittersweet yet sweet atmosphere.

Included on the single “Cheese “PIZZA”,” released in November 1994, the song was also used for Tokai Bank’s Christmas campaign.

It’s a buoyant, happy tune that’s perfect not only for a night with your significant other, but also for livening up a party with friends.

Winter MagicKARA

KARA – Winter Magic

KARA’s fifth Japanese single, released in October 2011, is a romantic mid-tempo love song that depicts the feelings of winter romance.

Written and composed by Simon Isogai, it blends a warm, ’90s J-pop-inspired melody with crystal-clear vocals.

Interweaving imagery of snow and starry skies, the song delicately conveys a poignant longing for a lover’s warmth on a cold winter night, striking an appealing balance between intimate storytelling and a sense of dynamism.

It reached No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, sold over 120,000 copies in total, and was certified Gold by the RIAJ.

It is also included on the Japanese album “Super Girl.” It’s the perfect track for a special Christmas-season night with your partner, or for quietly spending a winter evening while thinking of someone dear.

GIFTNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)

Nissy (Takahiro Nishijima) / “GIFT” Music Video

A winter song set in a snowy town that portrays feelings for someone special.

Nissy’s delicate vocals gently weave together the city’s holiday lights in the falling snow, a lover waiting at the station, and tender affection for that person.

The lyrics overflow with a bittersweet desire to keep the one you love all to yourself and with earnest expressions of love, wrapping the listener’s heart in warmth.

Released as a digital-only single in December 2014, it was later included on the 2016 album “HOCUS POCUS.” The music video features Moeka Nozaki and unfolds a beautiful visual world like a short film.

Beloved by fans as a winter staple, it’s a song perfect not only for spending Christmas with your partner, but also for those quiet winter nights when you find yourself thinking of someone.

SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – SNOW SOUND (MV)

A winter song by [Alexandros] where bittersweet melancholy and elation intersect.

Released in February 2017 as their 14th single, it was featured as the CM song for JR East’s JR SKISKI 2016–2017 campaign.

From the intro, the driving sound evocative of ’90s digital rock is striking, and vocalist Yohei Kawakami’s upper range accentuates winter’s crystalline clarity.

The lyrics reflect the creator’s own emotions, delicately portraying a love that overlaps with snowy scenery.

In the music video, snow is created with foam for a visual effect, further expressing a romantic winter worldview.

It’s the perfect track for strolling through illuminated streets or spending a winter night with someone special.

Heroineback number

back number – Heroine (full)

This back number song, which portrays the bittersweetness of a winter unrequited love, was released in January 2015 as their 11th single.

As the JR East “JR SKISKI” campaign song, together with a commercial starring Suzu Hirose, it left a lasting impression on many people.

The protagonist’s feelings—cherishing every moment of the person they like—are carried by a warm band sound.

The frustration of drafting and deleting confessions, the anxiety of not being a good match in the other person’s eyes, and the poignancy felt amid snowy scenery—all of the lyrics resonate deeply with anyone experiencing unrequited love.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while walking through a winter city, thinking of someone special.