Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
There have long been countless classic winter songs in the J-pop scene.
Of course there are Christmas songs, but there are also many beautiful tracks that depict winter scenery without any connection to Christmas.
So this time, we’re introducing winter songs recommended for the yutori generation.
From songs that warm you up in the cold season to heart-wrenching ballads, we’ve compiled a wide-ranging list.
We hope you’ll imagine the scenes as you listen and find numbers to spend the chilly season with.
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Perfect for the cold season! Winter songs recommended for the Yutori Generation (21–30)
Santa ClausELLEGARDEN
As a song perfect for the cold season, let us introduce a classic winter track included on ELLEGARDEN’s first album, “DON’T TRUST ANYONE BUT US.” Characterized by poignant lyrics and an exhilarating, fast-paced melody, this piece expresses love for a significant other.
It portrays the protagonist giving a present to their lover as Santa Claus, conveying a romantic and exciting feeling.
Released in 2002, this work is beloved by many fans as a quintessential early ELLEGARDEN track.
It’s recommended for those looking for a song to warm up the cold season or for anyone who wants to reminisce about joyful moments with their partner.
I am Santa Claus.FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
A winter classic by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS whose warm melody and emotional lyrics resonate deeply.
Released in October 2007, this song expresses gentle compassion—wishing an ex-lover happiness—through the image of Santa Claus watching over them on Christmas night.
With a seamless blend of rap and melody, it stands out for its powerful message that truly touches listeners.
It’s a bittersweet yet heartwarming number you’ll want to hear during the cold season.
A song we especially recommend to anyone carrying feelings for someone important.
Christmas songback number
Set against the chill of winter and Christmas scenery, this song by back number—depicting a bittersweet longing for a lover—is one of their most popular tracks.
The lyrics capture the loneliness of being unable to see a loved one and the inner conflict over how to express one’s feelings, resonating with many listeners.
Released in 2015, it was also used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “5→9: From Five to Nine,” and was embraced by a wide audience.
The track is included on the album “Chandelier,” which reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to in the cold season—not just at Christmas, but throughout the entire winter.
chicken riceHamada Masatoshi / Makihara Noriyuki
A collaboration between Noriyuki Makihara, a singer-songwriter who has been a leading figure in Japan, and Masatoshi Hamada of Downtown, this track was released in November 2004.
The lyrics, which question the essence of happiness and convey compassion for family, are based on episodes from Hitoshi Matsumoto’s childhood.
Its heartwarming words and pop melody feel like they could blow away the chill of winter.
It’s a recommended song that can prompt even the yutori generation to reflect on memories with their families.
snowNakanomori BAND
A winter classic written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, beautifully performed by Nakanomori BAND.
Against a backdrop of white, piling snow, a bittersweet story unfolds in which distant memories and warmth quietly return.
It opens with images of snow drifting down onto everyday scenes like the morning assembly platform and cherry tree branches, and features striking lyrics where the scent and echoes of someone nostalgic fall into the heart like tiny particles.
Released in October 2007 as the double A-side single “Isoburavo/Yuki,” it was also selected for power play on Nippon TV’s “Ongaku Senshi MUSIC FIGHTER.” It’s a song that gently stays with you on a winter night when you find yourself wanting to drift into old memories.
White LoversKuwata Keisuke
It is a lyrical ballad that depicts the bittersweet feelings of love in winter.
Released in October 2001, it is a work by Keisuke Kuwata themed around the winter season.
Rather than simply mourning a love that has passed, it also carries a sense of celebrating the memories of love, portraying warm emotions alongside scenes of a city blanketed in falling snow.
It was used as the theme song for Coca-Cola’s “No Reason” campaign commercial, and later featured in UNIQLO’s “LifeWear” commercial, earning affection from a wide audience.
It is a heartwarming song to listen to when you want to heal a heart hurt by love or reflect on cherished memories.
White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)
A love song that weaves a poignant breakup story in the romantic season of Christmas.
While the title evokes images of a pure white snowy landscape, the song actually paints an indelible picture of a parting scene unfolding in a torrential downpour.
Released in November 1989, this track by JUN SKY WALKER(S) became the band’s first number-one hit on the Oricon charts.
It was also featured in a commercial for Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic) promoting their CD radio-cassette player, earning widespread acclaim.
In this work, the punk rock band takes on a ballad, skillfully contrasting the city’s glamorous Christmas atmosphere with the protagonist’s heart swaying with a sense of impending separation, creating a unique world of its own.
It’s the perfect song for spending a winter night alone or soothing a heart unsettled by love.