[New Year BGM] New Year Songs Loved Across Generations

Background music that enhances the New Year’s atmosphere is an essential part of kicking off a fresh year! The songs you choose may vary depending on the scene—whether it’s the cozy time spent gathered around osechi dishes, the lively moments with relatives, or music you’d like to play while getting ready for your first shrine visit of the year.

In this article, we’ve collected a wide range of music, from tracks that evoke traditional Japanese vibes to J-pop themed around the New Year.

You’re sure to find a song that will make your New Year’s celebration even more festive!

Playlist

[New Year BGM] New Year Songs Loved Across Generations
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	A HAPPY NEW YEARBase Ball Bear		Singing about the happiness of spending New Year’s with the one you love
2	Happy Happy GreetingKinKi Kids		KinKi Kids Tatsuro Yamashita Festive Song
3	Warbling of Spring Nightingales		A representative grand piece of Gagaku, the court music of Japan, …
4	The youngest’s vow		A jiuta (song) by Matsuura Kengyo, a late Edo-period composer...
5	O-SHO-GA-TSUONIGAWARA		Released in December 2016, this work...
6	scarecrowsadamasashi		A warm classic that portrays family love
7	Happy New Yeardongurizu		A song that humorously depicts New Year’s scenes
8	Happy New YearChatto Monchī		Chatmonchy released in 2011...
9	A HAPPY NEW YEARMatsutōya Yumi		A wish to welcome the New Year together with someone special...
10	Shin-Takasago		This jiuta composed by Ms. Terashima Kano in the early Meiji period...
11	Mochi GirlGesu no Kiwami Otome.		A song by Gesu no Kiwami Otome that sings about love for mochi
12	YOUNG BLOODSSano Motoharu		A passionate message of youth solidarity and opening a new era
13	New Year’s gift (money given to children)yunikōn		A song depicting the peaceful atmosphere of the New Year
14	Spring SeaMiyagi Michio		The Appeal of the New Year Classic “Spring Sea”
15	Rokudan no ShirabeYatsuhashi Kengyō		Rokudan no Shirabe, the masterpiece by Yatsuhashi Kengyō, with an air of tranquility
16	Sakura VariationsMiyagi Michio		“Sakura Variations” is a representative masterpiece of Japan.
17	Early Spring OdeNakada Akira		The classic song that depicts the scenery of spring, “Early Spring Song”
18	Runner of the SpiritHisaishi Joe		Joe Hisaishi’s Hakone Ekiden BGM, Melody of Hope!
19	Etenraku		The solemn tones of the gagaku piece Etenraku heard during New Year shrine visits
20	New Year (Japanese New Year)Denki Gurūvu		New Year’s music and a feeling of luxury
21	UFO ShrineLOVE JETS		New Year rock song from an alien’s perspective
22	Five Sections of Fulling BlocksKozaki Kengyo		The koto piece Godan Kinuta is a masterpiece that expresses Japanese culture.
23	Mount FujiSakushi: Iwaya Konami		A famous song with lyrics by Konami Iwaya that praises Mount Fuji.
24	Ise Ondo		A folk song from Ise in the Edo period, a New Year’s celebratory song.
25	Has the plum blossomed?		A New Year’s song of hope expressing Japan’s traditional culture through traditional Japanese instruments
26	Takasago		Takazago, a Noh play, is a masterpiece that depicts the bond between husband and wife.
27	Happy New Year WoO 165Ludwig van Beethoven		A short Beethoven piece expressing the joy of the New Year
28	Song of the PloversYoshizawa Kengyō		Yoshizawa Kengyō’s masterpiece “Chidori no Kyoku,” the essence of Japanese music
29	Grandma used to say—on the morning when a new year is born—magcafe at garden		The Folk Legend of Grandma’s Toshigami (New Year Deity) and a Child
30	New Year’s mochi pounding		A traditional Japanese musical piece for celebrating the New Year
31	Hitotsu to ya		The New Year counting song 'Hitotsu Toya' is interesting.
32	January 1st		New Year’s program theme song “Ichigatsu Tsuitachi” (January 1st)
33	Yachiyo Shishi		Traditional Japanese music, classic pieces to celebrate the New Year
34	The Kite Song		The etymology of the famous Japanese nursery rhyme, Tako Agari (Kite Flying)
35	Early spring		A short song that evokes the New Year’s atmosphere of early spring.
36	Kiyobushi		Akita folk songs played on the shamisen, the beauty of tradition
37	Longevity Lion		A celebratory piece of traditional lion dance music originating from Baekje
38	Spring comes even to the plum blossoms.		The charm of the short songs that sing of spring’s joy and budding love.
39	Light of Fireflies		A New Year’s staple song, a Scottish folk tune
40	The Blue DanubeJohann Strauss II		The beautiful waltz masterpiece of the Danube River
41	Genroku Cherry-Blossom Viewing DanceSandaime Kineya Shojiro		The New Year atmosphere evoked by the tones of traditional Japanese instruments.
42	mochi poundingSakushi: Kobayashi Junichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		Japanese New Year Told Through a Mochitsuki Children's Song
43	The Song of the Twelve Zodiac AnimalsMiyahira Rie		Learn the zodiac signs in a fun way with the Twelve Zodiac Song
44	Fantasia on the Kuroda-bushiSawai Tadao		A fantastical piece featuring traditional Japanese instruments of the Kuroda-bushi
45	Hakone HachiriTaki Rentarō		Taki Rentarō’s famous song singing of the mountains of Hakone
46	Moon over the Ruined CastleTaki Rentarō		Celebrate the New Year with Rentaro Taki’s “Kojo no Tsuki”
47	New Year (Japanese New Year)Taki Rentarō		Rentarō Taki’s famous piece “Oshōgatsu” expresses children’s feelings.
48	Radetzky MarchJohann Strauss I		Representative pieces of the Vienna New Year’s Concert
49	Oedo Nihonbashi		Enjoy the New Year spirit with the Edo folk song “Tokaido”
50	Shika-no-umi (Four Seas Waves) / Waves of the Four Seas		“Takasago” is a song that celebrates peace and conjugal love.
51	Cantata No. 190 “Sing to the Lord a New Song”J.S.Bach		Bach’s New Year Cantata: Hope and Joy