Lovely Christmas

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

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

Every winter, Christmas songs begin to flow through the city.

Many tracks born in the Heisei era remain etched in our hearts as timeless favorites that are still just as popular today.

Those nostalgic melodies we can’t help but hum bring back lyrics filled with memories of lovers, warm times spent with family, and unforgettable scenes from TV dramas.

This Christmas season, experience the charm of these songs that continue to be loved even after the Heisei era ended.

Here are Christmas songs from the Heisei generation where nostalgia and freshness intersect.

Heisei-era Christmas songs and classic tracks to listen to in winter (31–40)

ChristmasJUDY AND MARY

JUDY AND MARY / Christmas #JUDYANDMARY

ChristmasJUDY AND MARY

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.

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Winter MagicKARA

KARA – Winter Magic

Winter MagicKARA

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.

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GIFTNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)

Nissy (Takahiro Nishijima) / “GIFT” Music Video

GIFTNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)

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.

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SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – SNOW SOUND (MV)

SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]

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.

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Heroineback number

back number – Heroine (full)

Heroineback number

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.

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