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

Tsugaru Jongara-bushiHosokawa Takashi

Tsugaru Jongara-bushi

A representative folk song from Aomori Prefecture, performed by Takashi Hosokawa at the opening of his December 1978 folk album “Bokyō” (Nostalgia).

With powerful shouts and melodic turns, it vividly sings of Tsugaru’s scenery—Mount Iwaki, apple orchards—and the lives of its people, conveying a deep love for the homeland.

Mitsunori Sasaki’s shamisen creates a sense of speed, and the way it interweaves with Hosokawa’s expansive vocals is breathtaking.

In January 1978, it was also performed on Fuji TV’s “Yoru no Hit Studio,” bringing the brilliance of folk music to audiences nationwide.

Why not hum along with family or friends while picturing Tsugaru’s winter landscape?

SubaruTanimura Shinji

[Shinji Tanimura “Subaru”] Recital 2023 “THE SINGER” to be held on Friday, April 14, at Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater, Large Hall!

How about a moving ballad that evokes the vastness of the universe? Released in 1980, it is one of Shinji Tanimura’s signature songs, featured multiple times in high school music textbooks since 1985 and performed five times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its poetic lyrics, likening life to a journey, possess a literary depth and convey a strong determination to keep moving forward while overcoming hardships.

Many older listeners may see their own lives reflected in the figure who continues walking with hope in their heart.

Why not join your voices together and sing it, savoring the poetry as you go?

Outside, it’s a night of white snow.yoshida takurou

A White Snowy Night Outside / Takuro Yoshida (with lyrics)

Created by the duo of Takuro Yoshida, a leading figure in folk music, and Takashi Matsumoto, this work was included on the 1978 album Rolling 30.

It portrays the final conversation between a man and a woman parting ways, with the steadily falling snow reflecting their emotions.

The scene of them talking while lining up their cigarettes, and their heartrending resolve to part with consolation rather than hurt each other, resonates deeply alongside the stillness of a winter night.

This song has long been loved as a karaoke standard.

On a night when snow dances outside the window, why not listen to it while reminiscing about old times?

Winter LightningArisu

Alice – Winter Lightning

This is Alice’s sixth single, released in November 1977, which reached No.

2 on the Oricon charts.

The song depicts an intense, fleeting impulse of love, like a bolt of lightning shining bright in the winter sky.

The powerful vocals of Shinji Tanimura and Takao Horiuchi convey a surge of fierce emotion intertwined with a aching sense of longing.

It evokes a love that burns in the cold, clear winter air, along with the foreboding of an impending farewell.

The track features Alice’s distinctive fusion of folk and rock, with a dramatic melody and guitar riffs that resonate deeply.

Celebrated as a classic of the Showa era, it continues to be sung by many today—why not give it a listen while reminiscing about old times?

coniferNoguchi Goro

Goro Noguchi – Conifer

This is a song released by Goro Noguchi in 1976 that overlays the bittersweetness of winter love with snowy scenery.

The lyrics were written by Kotaro Aso and the music composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi, and it reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Like a dignified conifer standing tall, it portrays a man who continues to care for his former lover even after their breakup, where sadness and kindness intersect.

The contrast between strength that does not wither in the cold wind and sighs as cold as snow is striking.

With this work, Goro Noguchi won the Vocal Performance Award at the Japan Record Awards, and he also performed it on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

Why not listen to it while recalling an old romance or picturing a winter scene? It can also be a great prompt to share memories with fellow residents at the facility.

Okuhida BojoRyū Tetsuya

Tetsuya Ryuu – Okuhida Yearning [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Okuhida Bojo (Yearning for Okuhida) is the debut song of Tetsuya Ryu that became a massive hit.

Set in the hot spring towns of the Hida region, it has long been loved for its delicately written lyrics that portray a traveler’s deep emotions and reflections on life, along with a performance brimming with passion for music.

In Ryu’s voice, you can feel the depth and warmth of someone who has overcome life’s joys and sorrows, gently comforting the hearts of listeners.

Evoking winter scenery, memories of the past, and the transience of life, this song is perfect for those who wish to feel nature and life more deeply.

North AirportHama Keisuke, Katsura Ginshuku

North Airport | Gin Yonsuk (Keiko Lee) · Keisuke Hama

Keisuke Hama and Eun-Sook Gye are a mentor–protégé duo widely known for their duet “Kita Kūkō” (North Airport), released in 1987.

Especially noted for its poignant portrayal of romance set in wintertime Sapporo, the song has continued to capture hearts since its release on November 5, 1987.

With the pair’s exquisite harmonies and a melody that resonates deeply, the track draws listeners into a richly emotional narrative world.

It’s particularly recommended for cold winter nights when you want to reminisce about days gone by, or when you’d like to reflect on the past slowly with a warm drink in hand.

What a nice bath.Za Dorifutāzu

Nice hot bath [The Drifters]

This is a song that celebrates the charms of hot spring resorts, beloved from the Showa-era hit TV program “It’s 8 o’clock! Everybody, Gather Round!” The original version, sung by the Duke Aces, was themed around hot spring areas in Gunma Prefecture, and The Drifters covered it on the B-side of their debut single.

The lyrics were adapted to feature hot spring resorts across Japan—such as Noboribetsu and Kusatsu—expressing fondness for onsen through a lively rhythm and call-and-response shouts.

The song was used as the ending theme for both “It’s 8 o’clock! Everybody, Gather Round!” and “Drifters’ Big Laughter,” and it also appeared in a 1969 film.

Humming it together with older adults while reminiscing about hot spring trips can make for a heartwarming moment.

Snow falls.Salvatore Adamo

Adamo / Snow Is Falling (Tombe La Neige) [Japanese Edition] (1969)

Released in 1963 by Salvatore Adamo, an Italian-born Belgian artist, “Tombe la neige,” known in Japan as “Yuki wa Furu” (“The Snow Falls”), remains beloved by many as a winter classic.

The beauty of this song lies in its lyrics, which delicately portray heartache and solitude against the backdrop of quietly falling snow.

On a tranquil winter night, whether you want a cozy moment or are feeling lonely, Adamo’s warm yet wistful melody will gently envelop the listener’s heart.

Hymn to the Snowy Mountainsdaakudakkusu

Hymn to the Snowy Mountains — The Dark Ducks

This is a powerful song that sings of both the harshness and beauty of snowy mountains.

Released in June 1959, it has long been cherished as one of the signature works of the Dark Ducks.

Based on an American folk song with Japanese lyrics by Eizaburo Nishibori, it beautifully expresses reverence for nature and a spirit of adventure.

For older listeners, it’s a lovely piece that overlaps with memories of their youth.

How about listening to it quietly on a winter night in a warm room? It will surely warm your heart and bring back nostalgic memories.