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

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?

campfireSakushi: Tatsumi Seika / Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru

Bonfire | With Lyrics | At the Fence, At the Fence, Around the Corner | Nursery Rhyme and Song for Adults | English: EN subs

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.