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

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?

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.

Realm of the StarsSakushi: Sugitani Daikai / Sakkyoku: Chaaruzu Konvâzu

The Starry Realm (Traditional Children’s Song)

A timeless classic that makes you want to gaze up at the winter night sky, “Hoshi no Yo.” It’s a Ministry of Education song included in the 1910 publication Kyōka Tōgō Chūgaku Shōka, Volume II.

The lyrics were written by Shigeya Sugiya, and it was set to the melody of the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” composed by Charles Converse.

The lyrics, which highlight the brilliance of stars made all the more striking by a moonless, dark sky and send our thoughts out to the distant reaches of the universe, invite us into a mysterious world filled with romance.

For many, the gentle melody brings peace along with nostalgic memories of learning it at school.

Its familiar tune is also perfect for group sing-alongs during recreational time, so why not enjoy it on a winter night when the stars are especially clear, sharing stories as you sing?

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.