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

Winter RivieraMori Shinichi

Winter Riviera

Shinichi Mori is an enka singer who continues to captivate many fans with his uniquely husky, deep, and refined voice.

His signature song “Fuyu no Riviera,” released in 1982, is a moving piece that portrays parting and melancholy.

In this song, the delicate feelings of sensing an impending farewell while still wishing for happiness are richly expressed through Mori’s husky vocals.

Beyond the depth of the lyrics, the arrangement—unbound by the conventional framework of enka and incorporating elements of pop—may be one reason this song has continued to be loved across generations.

North TavernHosokawa Takashi

Takashi Hosokawa / North Tavern [Live Video]

Released on March 21, 1982, Takashi Hosokawa’s “Kita Sakaba” is a beloved Showa-era classic and one of his signature songs.

Set to a light, catchy melody, it paints a scene of a fleeting encounter and budding romance in a bar in the cold northern country—making it a perfect track for the winter season when one tends to sink into a pensive mood.

In the harsh chill of winter, listening to this warm yet uplifting song will surely ease the tension in your heart and body and help you feel more positive.

campfireSakushi: Tatsumi Seika / Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru

Bonfire | With Lyrics | 100 Best Japanese Songs | At the fence, at the fence, at the bend

This is a classic winter children’s song that depicts children warming themselves by a bonfire near a hedge.

The poet Seika Tatsumi wrote the lyrics based on a scene of burning fallen leaves he witnessed in Kamitakada, Nakano Ward, Tokyo, and Shigeru Watanabe composed the music.

It was first broadcast on NHK Radio in 1941, and after being sung again on “Uta no Obasan” in 1949, it spread nationwide.

In 2007, it was selected as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” The image of children rubbing their chilblained hands and asking each other, “Shall we warm up?” as they walk down a cold, windblown road evokes a certain nostalgic warmth.

The melody is easy to remember, and its charm lies in how naturally you find yourself humming along with handclaps.

If you sing it at a New Year’s gathering, it might spark lively conversations about old winter memories.

Cape ErimoMori Shinichi

Shinichi Mori Erimo Misaki (with lyrics)

This is a famous song by Shinichi Mori that depicts the scenery of a cape at the edge of Hokkaido and the feelings of the people who visit it.

Released in January 1974 as his 29th single, it features lyrics by Osami Okamoto and music by Takuro Yoshida.

Celebrated as a remarkable fusion of folk and enka, it won both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Kayō Award that same year.

The song conveys warmth amidst a desolate landscape and a gentle embrace that quietly accepts wounded hearts, leaving a lasting impression on listeners.

It has been performed four times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and remains beloved to this day.

Its melody and lyrics resonate especially in the cold season, making it perfect for singing together at New Year gatherings.

With light handclaps, you can enjoy it at a relaxed pace—ideal for moments when you want to spend a peaceful time.

Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari

Like the flow of a river

A signature song by Hibari Misora that likens life to the flow of a river and celebrates the importance of living by gently going with the current.

It conveys hope that even on rain-soaked roads, a sunny day will eventually come, and it depicts a heart that accepts the changing seasons, resonating quietly with listeners.

The anecdote that lyricist Yasushi Akimoto wrote it while gazing at the East River in New York is also memorable.

Released as a single in January 1989, it became Hibari Misora’s final work.

It won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards and sold over two million copies.

Its flowing, beautiful melody and profound lyrics are likely to touch the hearts of older listeners who have experienced many stages of life.

In February, as winter gives way to spring, why not hum along?

Early Spring OdeSakushi: Ichimasa Yoshimaru / Sakkyoku: Akira Nakata

Early Spring Anthem (♪ Only the name is spring) with lyrics explained by Himawari 🌻×9, Chorus [One of Japan’s 100 Selected Songs]

Although the calendar says it is spring, this piece sings of the lingering chill and the faint unease of the season.

It is said that lyricist Isshō Yoshimaru drew inspiration from the scenery of Azumino, waiting for the snow to melt, when he visited Ōmachi City in Nagano Prefecture to compose a school anthem for a local junior high.

The delicate wording vividly depicts an early-spring scene: in the valleys the nightingales have yet to sing, the ice thaws and reeds begin to sprout, yet snow-filled skies persist.

Since its inclusion in the 1913 songbook New Compositions for Singing, Volume III, it has been passed down in schools and choral settings.

As the cold winds of January still blow, why not hum this piece while looking forward to the spring that is soon to come?

mochi poundingSakushi: Amano Chou / Sakkyoku: Ichinomiya Michiko

Mochitsuki (♪ Pattan-ko, Sore Pattan-ko) by Himawari 🌻 with Lyrics | Children's Song | Mochi-tsuki |

This children’s song energetically celebrates mochitsuki, a traditional New Year’s custom.

With lyrics by Chō Amano and music by Michiko Ichimiya, it has long been beloved in early childhood education.

Onomatopoeic words that mimic the sound of the pestle striking the mortar bounce in rhythmic repetition, creating a lively beat that makes the act of pounding rice itself feel like music.

Its bright major-key melody and easy-to-remember lyrics naturally get bodies moving.

Included in a 2004 music collection for preschool use, it has become a staple for New Year’s festivities.

Singing it together face-to-face while clapping or pretending to pound mochi may bring back fond memories of New Year’s past.

Octopus SongMonbushō shōka

Octopus Song (♪ Kite, kite, fly high ~) by Himawari 🌻 with Lyrics [One Hundred Selected Japanese Songs]

When New Year’s comes around, many of us may remember gazing up at kites soaring high in the sky.

Published in school textbooks in 1910 as a Ministry of Education song, this piece lists neither lyricist nor composer.

In simple, child-friendly language, it depicts a kite catching the wind and rising to the clouds, to the very heavens, as well as the playful scene of guiding it by pulling and loosening the string.

Despite its simple melody, the composition naturally conveys the lively sense of the kite climbing into the sky.

Humming it together at a New Year’s gathering will bring back memories of nostalgic winter days and make for a heartwarming moment.

Snow TrainMaekawa Kiyoshi

The Snow Train / Kiyoshi Maekawa - Gaijin’s Japanese Lyrics and Chinese Translation

Snow falls quietly, a train whistle echoes in the distance.

There’s a song that perfectly captures the mood of a winter journey—released by Kiyoshi Maekawa in 1982.

With lyrics by Shigesato Itoi and music and arrangement by Ryuichi Sakamoto, this work boasts an illustrious lineup and features a forward-thinking sound that transcends the bounds of enka.

There’s even a behind-the-scenes story: they spent three days crafting the drum part to evoke the resonance of a taiko drum—testament to their meticulous attention to detail.

How about listening to it while gazing at a snowy landscape and recalling memories of journeys past?

A Journey Through Wind and SnowKitajima Saburō

Saburo Kitajima “Kansetsu Nagare Tabi” (Official Audio)

Released in 1980 by Saburō Kitajima, a giant of the enka world, this song was created by the golden duo of lyricist Tetsurō Hoshino and composer Tōru Funamura.

It portrays the life of a traveling performer journeying through the snowbound north with a Tsugaru shamisen in hand.

From childhood, he has roamed from place to place with only his shamisen, and his struggle to live on even amid blizzards is deeply moving.

The lyrics mention northern locales such as Tsugaru, Hakodate, and Otaru, conveying both the harshness of winter and the loneliness of the road.

As the chill of December sinks in, why not hum along while picturing the nostalgic scenery of the far north?