[New Year’s Songs] Timeless classics and popular New Year tunes you’ll want to listen to at the start of the year

For New Year’s, you want to listen to songs that fit the season, right?

You might think of traditional pieces like “Haru no Umi,” but isn’t it surprisingly hard to find J-pop that feels perfect for New Year’s?

In fact, while there are tons of Christmas songs, there are relatively few songs for the New Year.

In this article, we’ll introduce lots of tracks you’ll want to play as the year begins, focusing mainly on J-pop!

Be sure to read to the end and soak up the New Year’s spirit!

Of course, we’ve also picked out the classic New Year’s staples!

Playlist

[New Year’s Songs] Timeless classics and popular New Year tunes you’ll want to listen to at the start of the year
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	the Twelve Zodiac Signs (the Chinese/Japanese zodiac)Jaa Baabonz		A fun song to learn the zodiac by singing
2	SHOW-GUTSOmede-tai atama de nani yori		A rock song to energetically spend the New Year
3	New Year’s DayELLEGARDEN		A symbol of youth, ELLEGARDEN’s classic song
4	O-SHO-GA-TSUONIGAWARA		A festive dance song to celebrate the New Year
5	A HAPPY NEW YEARMatsutōya Yumi		A song of straightforward feelings for someone you're meeting for the first time
6	this winterMakihara Noriyuki		A beautiful song depicting the gentle everyday life of winter
7	first shrine visit of the New YearPort Town FM		A song where past and present intersect in a winter port town
8	The Bell of BeginningsUguisumaru Tomonari (CV: Shimizu Ayaka) Namazuo Toushirou (CV: Watada Misaki) Hotarumaru Kunitoshi (CV: Tachibana Meemu)		A refreshing song that sings of hope for the New Year
9	Happy Happy GreetingKinKi Kids		A song that captures the excitement of New Year’s
10	Mochi GirlGesu no Kiwami Otome.		New Year's mochi, a captivating song
11	This is Nyaa’s way of life.nya~tan (CV: Murakawa Rie)		The upbeat cat song from Etotama
12	UFO ShrineLOVE JETS		New Year rock song from an alien’s perspective
13	Relative shock!gurūpu damashii		The sorrow of not receiving New Year’s otoshidama (gift money)
14	New Year Lovey!sutopuri		Wagakki Band’s New Year’s anthem by Wasabi
15	KadomatsuCRAZY KEN BAND		A jazz piece perfect for New Year celebrations
16	YAVAHAMAX ~ “Hey, let’s go to Shibahama,” said Atai and Chanhy4_4yh		Music that adapts the rakugo story “Shibahama” for the modern day
17	HAPPY NEW SHOW TIME!Katorina Guriiberu (CV: Amaki Sarii) Otori Kokona (CV: Iwami Manaka) Shizuka (CV: Hasegawa Ikumi)		A lively insert song that brightens up the New Year
18	The ending of EVEHattan Amika		Overcoming the past and walking toward a new self
19	Love multiplied by 100! New Year’s-holiday-defying training☆Mikoshiba Momotarō (CV: Kenichi Suzumura) Nitori Aiichirō (CV: Kousuke Miyata)		Anime character song, New Year's training
20	The first dream of the year with youTaka Fuji Nasu (CV: Morishita Rena)		A Japanese-style pop song themed around first dreams of the year
21	God of RomanceHirose Kōmi		A classic song for celebrating the New Year at a ski resort
22	New Year’s gift (money given to children)yunikōn		A song depicting the peaceful atmosphere of the New Year
23	A HAPPY NEW YEARBase Ball Bear		The song "" sings of hope for the New Year.
24	New Year’s gift (money given to children)UNICORN		Unicorn’s ‘Otoshidama’ is a fun song.
25	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
26	Rising SunEXILE		New Year’s energy, sunrise, and a song by EXILE
27	Tokyo Winter Session feat. Yuu Setoguchi, Natsuki Enomoto, Souta Mochizuki, Akari Hayasaka, Haruki Serizawa, Mio GoudaHONEY WORKS		A bittersweet winter love song spent with the one you love
28	Winter’s hype-uppy bakkon!iginari touhoku san		A Tohoku winter party song, full of energy!
29	Happy New YearBeibī Reizu JAPAN		Sing about New Year’s hope in an idol song
30	Come, springhappiiendo		A lonely New Year, but a resolve to keep going
31	Rat♡Ox♡Tiger♡Rabbit♡Dragon♡Snake♡denpagumi.inc		Worrying about compatibility in a zodiac-themed love song
32	Lively winterBerryz Kōbō & Yaguchi Mari		Express the fun and atmosphere of the New Year
33	Rock ‘n’ Roll New Year’s Gift MoneyOhtaki Eiichi		Eiichi Ohtaki’s classic song about New Year’s gift money (otoshidama)
34	I love New Year’s the most in the world.tendou nabiki		A song of Nabiki Tendo delighted by New Year’s gift money
35	Is the bath nice?shiritsu ebisu chūgaku		The joy of spending the New Year holidays at my parents’ home with family
36	January 1st		It is a powerful hymn that celebrates the New Year.
37	Happy New Yeardongurizu		A song to spend the New Year joyfully and energetically
38	New Year (Japanese New Year)Denki Gurūvu		New Year’s music and a feeling of luxury
39	O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi		Fuyumi Sakamoto’s classic song “Yozakura Oshichi” is popular.
40	kite (traditional Japanese kite, lit. “servant/henchman kite”)fuki no tō		The freedom traced by a kite, the allure of music that transcends time
41	Has the plum blossomed?		Plum Songs are a beautiful tradition that colors the seasons and geisha.
42	New Year’s postcard of lovehofudiran		Introduction to classic songs themed around Hofdylan’s New Year’s cards
43	Kuroda-bushi		The origins of Kuroda-bushi, a folk song from Fukuoka sung at drinking banquets
44	CalendarDXTEEN		A heartwarming song that sings of hopes for the New Year
45	Doraemon New YearOoyama Nobuyo		To space in the New Year: the dreamy Doraemon song
46	New Year (Japanese New Year)Koumoto Hiroto		Hiroto Kōmoto’s songs overflow with humanity.
47	Happy New YearChatto Monchī		A New Year’s vibe love song that resonates with the heart
48	Etenraku		Etenraku is traditional music heard at Shinto shrines.
49	It’s the dawn of Japan!mowamowa P		New Year Vocaloid song: Hatsune Miku’s upbeat, positive vocals
50	A Boring New Yearsutoraiku kanpanī		Singing about adults’ boring New Year’s
51	Rokudan no ShirabeYatsuhashi Kengyō		Rokudan no Shirabe is a celebrated koto masterpiece that is enjoyed during the New Year.
52	YOUNG BLOODSSano Motoharu		A Motoharu Sano song that resets the New Year
53	Happy New Yearide ayaka		A heartwarming song that sings of the joy and hope of the New Year
54	lukewarm beerSuga Shikao		A song depicting going back home for the New Year holidays and gatherings with friends.
55	Spring SeaMiyagi Michio		The Appeal of the New Year Classic “Spring Sea”
56	Song of the PloversYoshizawa Kengyō		A masterpiece of the traditional koto piece “Chidori no Kyoku.”
57	New Year’s gift money ~TOUDAIMOTOKURASHI~misoshiru’s		A song about a fierce battle over New Year’s gift money
58	New Yearsayonara poniiteeru		SayoPoni’s new song, a track to celebrate the New Year
59	familyKitagawa Daisuke		Daisuke Kitagawa’s “Family,” a song that sings of gratitude to one’s family.
60	New Year (Japanese New Year)Taki Rentarō		Traditional New Year’s nursery rhymes and games
61	Counting song/New Year’s song		A traditional song that counts New Year’s games through its verses
62	National Sake-Drinking Festival Song of Japanbarakūda		A delightful classic song sung on celebratory occasions
63	festivalKitajima Saburō		Saburo Kitajima’s classic song “Matsuri” powerfully expresses the spirit of Japan.
64	JANUARYŌe Senri		Senri Oe’s classic song “JANUARY” is a love song.
65	HAPPY NEW YEARShirai Takako		Takako Shirai’s classic song “HAPPY NEW YEAR”
66	Hand game of rice-cake pounding		Experience rice-cake pounding with a hand-play song at New Year
67	Song of the Seven Herbs		Ward off illness and misfortune in the New Year with seven-herb rice porridge (nanakusa-gayu).
68	The Song of the Twelve Zodiac AnimalsYoshida Michiko		Remember them enjoyably with a rap-style song about the twelve zodiac signs
69	The Kite Song		A New Year’s symbolic kite-flying children’s song
70	NEW YEAR’S DAYtha BOSS feat. Hannya		A song that reflects on the past year and sings of resolutions for the New Year.
71	last year, this yearandāgurafu		A captivating track that fuses the koto with rock
72	Auld Lang Syne / Hotaru no Hikari		Auld Lang Syne has its origins in a Scottish folk song.
73	Seven Lucky GodsSuiyōbi no Campanella		Introduction to 'Shichifukujin' by Wednesday Campanella
74	New Year in Japan (NIPPON)Kamon Tatsuo		Funny scenes from a New Year’s “aruaru” song
75	New YearRepezen Chikyuu		Depict a child eager for New Year’s gift money (otoshidama).