[2026] A roundup of Reiwa-era Christmas songs: New classics to brighten the holy night

streetlightBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Streetlight - Official Audio -

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

INI | ’Present’ Official MV

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

Hitsujibungaku “1999” (Official Music Video)

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

Merry Special Day

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

Halves Christmas

≠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

Afterimage of Christmas – Kanau Matsumura [Official Music Video]

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.

LALALA (Baby it takes two)Hirai Dai

Hirai Dai / LALALA (Baby it takes two) (Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Dai Hirai is loved by a wide range of generations for his warm sound rooted in surf rock and acoustic pop.

This is the title track of the EP “LALALA (Baby it takes two),” which was released on November 26, 2025, and it was chosen as the image song for Christmas markets held in five locations across Japan.

The piece features an evocative acoustic guitar tone.

It’s a winter song that sings about the preciousness of everyday life spent with someone special, delivering a message that sharing feelings as a pair brings color to our days—a sentiment that truly resonates.

A perfect track for the holiday season.