Recommended for people in their 70s! A curated selection of Japanese songs to listen to and sing during the cold winter

wintering swallowMori Masako

Masako Mori - Wintering Swallow (1984)

Released on August 21, 1983, Masako Mori’s signature song “Ettō Tsubame” is memorable for its sad yet beautiful melody themed around winter, and lyrics that delicately portray the feelings of a woman in a heartrending love.

Many listeners may have empathized with the image of someone consumed by love and sharing in the pain of being with the one they adore.

Winter often brings a vague sense of loneliness.

Every so often, it might be nice to feel the cold winter wind on your cheeks and look back on memories of a bittersweet romance from long ago.

Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri

Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene

Since her debut in 1973, Sayuri Ishikawa has produced numerous hit songs and has led Japan’s music scene in both name and substance.

Released in 1977, “Tsugaru Straits—Winter Scene” is renowned as a standout masterpiece in her career.

Its lyrics portray the poignant beauty felt during a journey from Aomori to Hokkaido, and her voice—combining tenderness with strength—blends perfectly with the song, conveying both loneliness and warmth.

For those with ties to Aomori or Hokkaido in particular, this piece is sure to resonate deeply.

Before winter comeskami fuusen

Before Winter Comes (’77) Paper Balloon KAMI FUSEN

Highly recommended for those seeking a heartwarming classic for the winter season.

This song, which poignantly sings of a breakup with a lover and the wish to meet again, became a major hit upon its release in November 1977.

Set to a melody with a hint of folk-song flavor, it beautifully depicts scenes from the end of summer to the arrival of winter.

The lyrics evoke nostalgic landscapes—slopes, seaside vistas, and streets dyed in cosmos pink—making it perfect for moments when you want to bask in memories.

As a signature song by Kamifusen, listening to it will warm your heart along with a wave of nostalgia.

Lingering Snowiruka

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

Set against an unseasonal snowfall, this song portrays two people at the moment of parting.

Its understated delivery carries a poignant emotion that resonates with many listeners.

Iruka’s gentle, beautiful voice delicately expresses the sorrow and lingering attachment of farewell.

Released in 1975, it became a major hit.

Loved across generations, it has come to be cherished as a song that symbolizes early spring in Japan.

It’s familiar to people in their seventies as well, often prompting reflections on their youthful days.

Listened to on a cold winter’s day, it warms the heart, evoking nostalgia while also inspiring a sense of new hope.

Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō

Ishihara Yujiro "Traveler of the North"

Yujiro Ishihara—a multi-talented figure who made a tremendous impact on Japan’s entertainment world as an actor, singer, and founder of Ishihara Promotion.

Released in 1987, his final single during his lifetime, “Kita no Tabibito” (Northern Traveler), stands out as one of the most memorable among his many classic songs.

After its release, it topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and sold 1.25 million copies.

Painting a picture of the grand northern landscapes and the bittersweet feelings of a traveler, the song has continued to be loved across generations.

Its melody and lyrics, which evoke bygone days and distant memories, are a perfect fit for long winter nights when one is prone to nostalgia.

Boat SongYashiro Aki

Boat Song Aki Yashiro

When the winter cold grows sharper, you can’t help but want to spend some quietly reflective time in a warm room.

A song that truly seeps into the heart in such a season is Aki Yashiro’s classic “Funauta” (Boat Song).

Released as a single in May 1979, it paints an adult scene of quietly enjoying a drink at a tavern in a port town.

It’s also well known for being played in the 1981 film “Station,” and many older viewers likely still remember the poignant scene it accompanied.

Its wistful melody has a mysterious power that seems to warm you from the core, even when you’re chilled.

Gather together over some hot tea and reminisce about memories of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen from those days.

Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

Singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya, who has been active in Japan’s music scene for many years, has a song that captures delicate, fleeting spring scenery and the feelings she brings to it: “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”).

Released in 1994 as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series, this classic is also included on the album THE DANCING SUN.

Those who watched the drama at the time surely remember being encouraged each morning by its gentle melody.

With lyrics so beautifully written in Japanese that they appear in language textbooks, it’s perfect for everyone to sing along together.

Shall we share the hope of waiting for warm spring after a harsh winter through this song, and spend some peaceful time together?

Goodbyeofukōsu

Sayonara

As winter’s chill settles in, why not listen to a heartwarming classic? One of Off Course’s signature songs is a gem that portrays the sorrow of parting and the fragility of love.

Kazumasa Oda’s clear, transparent vocals blend exquisitely with the band’s warm sound, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in December 1979 and reaching No.

2 on the Oricon chart, this work has continued to be loved by many.

It’s perfect for a cold winter’s day, quietly enjoyed in a warm room.

How about spending some time soothing your heart, while indulging in nostalgic memories?

Snowy TownNakata Yoshinao

Takashi Hideo / A Town Where Snow Falls

Yoshinao Nakada was a composer who left a profound mark on the Japanese music world.

Among his many works, “Yuki no Furu Machi o” (“A Town Where Snow Is Falling”) stands out as a quintessential winter piece that lingers in the heart.

Set against the quiet of winter and a gentle snowy landscape, its lyrics trace the shifting emotions from bygone memories and loneliness to the dawn of new hope, while the wistful melody beautifully brings the song’s world to life—never fading with time.

On a cold winter’s day, taking the time indoors to listen closely to this piece and quietly reflect can feel like a cleansing of the heart.

For those who have lived many years, the song may also call back memories of youth and gently warm the heart.

snowyoshida takurou

snow

In this season when the winter cold seeps into your bones, why not wrap yourself in Takuro Yoshida’s warm singing voice? Set on a quiet, snowy night, this work delicately portrays feelings for times gone by.

With a bossa nova rhythm woven into its arrangement, it evokes both nostalgia and freshness.

Included on his debut album “Seishun no Uta” (Poems of Youth), released in November 1970, it brought a fresh breeze to the folk scene.

Its gentle lyrics, which tenderly accompany older listeners, stir a profound emotion that resonates in the heart.

On a winter night, why not listen quietly in a warm room and paint the landscapes of your memories in your mind?