Winter hit songs released in the Heisei era. Classic tracks that colored the winters of the Heisei period.
The Heisei era was a golden age with many million-selling songs and booming CD sales.
From among the many tracks that lit up that dazzling Japanese music scene, we’ve gathered a selection of “winter songs.”
These winter hits are nostalgic, and many of them are still heard today.
It’s packed with songs that remain karaoke favorites and frequently appear in music program specials!
Whether you’re from the generation that looks back on those youthful days, or you’re younger and discovering them for the first time, enjoy these hit winter songs from the Heisei era!
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Winter hit songs released in the Heisei era. Masterpieces that colored the winters of the Heisei era (51–60)
SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]
![SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e7GvXNOxhng/sddefault.jpg)
Among songs that depict winter scenery, this number is set in a white-covered town and expresses a childlike purity.
Chosen as the CM song for JR East’s “JR SKISKI,” it was included on a single released in February 2017.
[Alexandros]’s characteristically energetic, pop-tinged rock sound meshes beautifully with lyrics themed around silence and hope.
The lyrics, which portray two people amid a snow-blanketed landscape, gently stir quiet emotion in the listener.
It’s a perfect track to soundtrack outings in the cold season and seems sure to add a touch of color to winter memories.
BRAVO! Nippon: A Fantasy of Snow and IceHikaru GENJI
“BRAVO! Nippon ~A Fantasy of Snow and Ice~” brings back memories of the 90s J-POP boom.
Released in 1994, the song became a support campaign anthem for the Lillehammer Olympics and can be said to have colored that winter.
The beautiful melody paints a fantasy world of snow and ice, seeming to transform the winter chill into a gentle warmth that nestles close to each person’s heart.
Savor the lyrics brimming with dreams and hope as you listen, and let them illuminate tonight’s winter sky.
DEAR…againHirose Kōmi
As a warm song that accompanies the winter season, Kohmi Hirose’s works continue to captivate the hearts of many listeners.
This piece is a classic that poignantly sings of parting from and reuniting with a lover.
The lyrics, woven with her transparent vocals, are filled with feelings for a lover far away, and the warmth of love—contrasted with the cold of winter—resonates deeply.
Released in November 1996, this song was also used in an Alpen commercial and became beloved by many.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on a winter night while reminiscing about someone you love.
Midwinter MemoriesMatsu Takako
This classic winter song from the late ’90s was released in November 1997 as actress Takako Matsu’s fourth single.
Its lyrics delicately portray changes in relationships and a wistful longing for the past, leaving a strong impression, and the warm composition reminds us of the bonds with our loved ones even amid busy days.
Despite having no tie-in, its first performance at the FNS Music Festival still feels fresh in our memory.
Takako Matsu’s clear, translucent voice and the gentle melody make it a track that warms the heart in the cold season.
It might be the perfect song for creating winter memories with someone special.
Winter hit songs released in the Heisei era. Masterpieces that colored the winters of the Heisei era (61–70)
North Wind ~May It Reach You~Makihara Noriyuki
The winter song released by Noriyuki Makihara in October 1992 is a heartwarming ballad that tries to send bittersweet feelings of love on the north wind.
Using the snow piling up in a winter city as its motif, it delicately portrays the ache of being unable to express feelings to someone you love and the loneliness felt even in a crowd.
Makihara’s gentle vocals and the lyrics that touch the heart are a perfect match, and the song reached No.
6 on the Oricon chart soon after its release.
Despite no tie-ins with commercials or dramas, it became a major hit, selling over 620,000 copies in total.
It’s the perfect song to listen to on a winter night when you’re spending time alone thinking of someone.
appearsHamasaki Ayumi
When it comes to love songs that sing of a bittersweet winter romance, this track by Ayumi Hamasaki comes to mind.
Her delicate vocals and the occasional chime of bells resonate deeply.
The lyrics, which portray the true, complex feelings of lovers who may seem happy from the outside, are particularly striking.
Released in November 1999, the song is also included on the album LOVEppears.
It’s a perfect choice when you want to look back on past relationships or spend a cold winter night alone.
Listening to it, many people will likely overlay it with their own experiences and feel a poignant ache in their hearts.
I BELIEVEKahara Tomomi
A signature hit of the 1990s produced by Tetsuya Komuro.
Tomomi Kahara’s clear, transparent vocals capture both the beauty and the poignancy of winter.
Centered on themes of the joys and sorrows of love, as well as trust and hope, it resonates deeply with listeners.
Released in October 1995, it enjoyed strong popularity on the Oricon charts.
It also drew attention for donating part of its proceeds to relief funds for the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
The music video, set against majestic snowy mountains, is unforgettable.
If you listen while gazing out the window on a cold, windy night, it feels purifying—truly a perfect song for a long winter’s evening.