![[2026] A roundup of Reiwa-era Christmas songs: New classics to brighten the holy night](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/OHhkYTGcCUM/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] A roundup of Reiwa-era Christmas songs: New classics to brighten the holy night
When it comes to Christmas songs, countless masterpieces that have gone down in J-pop history have been released over many years.
Many of them are still beloved as staples today, and I think there are plenty of younger listeners who are very familiar with Christmas songs that were released even before they were born.
In this article, we’re focusing on songs among those many classics that are likely to become the new standards for the coming era.
We’ll be introducing Christmas songs released in the Reiwa era all at once, so try finding your new favorite!
[2026] A roundup of Reiwa-era Christmas songs: new standard tunes to brighten the holy night (1–10)
streetlightBE:FIRST
A BE:FIRST track released in December 2025 that brilliantly fuses the uplifting spirit of gospel with the accessibility of pop.
Produced by Chaki Zulu with lyrics by SKY-HI, it charms by evoking both the sacred feel of worship music and the fun of a party song at the same time.
The lyrics, which spotlight the small joys found in everyday life, are also memorable.
It makes you realize that simply walking down a winter night street with someone dear is a priceless treasure in itself.
The song was selected as the tie-in for FamilyMart’s Christmas campaign commercial.
PresentINI
This song, included on the first winter single THE WINTER MAGIC released in November 2025, is a romantic dance-pop number that colors winter scenery and the holiday season.
Interweaving images like powdery snow and glowing lights, it gently portrays a pure desire to convey one’s feelings to someone special.
With lyrics penned by Rihito Ikezaki and Hiroto Nishi, the words, spun with an intimate sense of distance, resonate deeply.
The same single also features Because You Were There, written as the theme song for the film INI THE MOVIE “I Need I,” resulting in a work where festivity and sentiment coexist.
The exhilarating blend of shimmering synths and harmonies makes it a perfect track for those special winter moments spent with lovers or family.
1999Hitsuji Bungaku
The song by Hitsujibungaku that depicts Christmas Eve at the end of the century really resonates.
Set on a night in 1999, it expresses the protagonist’s inner conflicts and changes through childhood memories and their relationship with a loved one.
It was included as the title track of the single released on December 4, 2019, and is regarded as one of the band’s emblematic songs.
An English version was also released digitally in November 2021, re-recorded to align with the Christmas season.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel the complex mix of anticipation and hope for the new year, along with the anxiety that comes with change.
Merry Special daySoala
Singer-songwriter Soala, whose bittersweet voice and highly relatable lyrics have earned strong support from younger listeners.
Her first-ever Christmas song, released in November 2025, is a love song imbued with the wish to finally spend the holidays with the one she loves this year.
Interweaving seasonal motifs like illuminations and snowy landscapes, the lyrics delicately portray a yearning for a love not yet realized, striking straight to the heart.
The structure, which layers prayers to Santa Claus, brings into sharp relief the earnest longing of someone dreaming of meeting their ideal partner.
Released as part of a series of consecutive drops leading up to year’s end, the song also became available for karaoke in December.
True to an artist whose total streams have exceeded 100 million, its sing-along-friendly melody is a major draw.
It’s a Reiwa-era Christmas number perfect for those dreaming of a special night with a loved one, or quietly making a wish amid the city’s twinkling lights.
Halves Christmas≠ME
≠ME, the idol group produced by Rino Sashihara.
The song included as a coupling track on their 11th single “Exclusive Fighter,” released in December 2025, drew attention as the group’s first Christmas song.
It weaves delicate imagery—like white knitwear and chilly ears—to portray moments spent with a lover in a winter city.
The motif of sharing a cake overflows with tenderness toward someone special.
Rather than dazzling festivity, the lyrics focus on the warmth of two people growing closer, making it easy to overlay with one’s own Christmas memories.
It’s a perfect track for those who want to spend a quiet moment with their partner or are looking for a heartwarming love song.
Afterimage of Christmasmatsumura kanau
Singer-songwriter Kanau Matsumura, known for her clear, translucent vocals and relatable lyrics, has been winning wide support.
Released in December 2025, this song is a poignant winter ballad that contrasts the bustle of city streets in December with the quiet of spending Christmas alone.
Concrete motifs—like the cold in the weather forecast, buying a cake by yourself, and gifts from the past—vividly revive memories of a lost love.
The lyrics, rendered in an intimate voice, gently portray the ache of loneliness that stands out all the more in a festive season, and they really hit home.
The music video features Honoka Kitahara, visually expressing the world of the song.
It’s a track that will softly accompany those spending Christmas without a partner, or on nights when old loves come back to mind.
Dear SantaKoresawa
Since the dawn of the Reiwa era, a song that seems poised to become a new Christmas classic has arrived.
This track by Koresawa is the official recording of a song she had performed only during Christmas since her indie days.
The lyrics, which entrust to Santa Claus a wish for something far more important than material desires, are striking and resonate deeply with listeners.
It was released digitally on November 29, 2023, accompanied by a live stream and a music video premiere on YouTube.
It’s a piece that carries a pure wish—slightly different from Koresawa’s characteristically edgy lyrics—so be sure to give it a listen.