On a winter day when the cold seeps into your bones, how about spending a cozy time singing beloved Showa-era classics?
In this article, we introduce timeless Japanese songs—especially recommended winter masterpieces for those in their 70s.
Sing the nostalgic tunes that bring back memories of your youth, and your heart will be full and your body warmed from the inside out—no doubt about it!
Listen to and sing your favorite songs, and let’s get through winter while savoring the profound lyrics and wistful melodies that resonate in the heart.
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Recommended for people in their 70s! A curated selection of Japanese songs to listen to and sing in the cold winter (1–10)
The Color of WinterYamaguchi Momoe
A wistful ballad that paints winter scenes while expressing the warm emotions of lovers.
Momoe Yamaguchi’s deep emotional expression and delicate vocals leave a strong impression.
Released in 1974, the song climbed high on Japan’s music charts.
The lyrics convey the pure, heartrending feelings of unrequited love, reflecting Yamaguchi’s youth and inner strength.
Why not listen to it on a cold winter’s day, along with nostalgic memories? It may warm your heart and bring back recollections of your youth.
I think people in their seventies, too, can enjoy it at a relaxed pace.
Freeze my heartTakayama Iwao
This song, imbued with deep emotion, warms the winter chill with the heart.
It portrays the feelings of overcoming past failures and pain, holding hope for a new relationship while still feeling anxious.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Shugyoku no Onna,” it was released in August 1992.
Its estimated cumulative sales on Oricon reached 758,000 copies, making it a major hit among Heisei-era enka.
Takayama Iwao’s powerful yet warm vocals resonate with older listeners, inviting empathy.
On a long winter night, why not listen slowly and reflect on life and love?
From the northern innMiyako Harumi
One of the star vocalists who brightened the late Showa-era enka scene, Harumi Miyako’s signature song “Kita no Yado kara” (From an Inn in the North), released in 1975, sold over 1.4 million copies and won numerous awards, including the Japan Record Awards—a true classic of the Showa period.
Sung with Miyako’s powerful, kobushi-inflected voice, the lyrics portray profound loneliness, heartache, and solitude—perfect for a cold winter night when you’re prone to bittersweet nostalgia.
Why not give it a listen while recalling the tender pangs of young love?
Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo
Released in 1986, Ikuzo Yoshi’s signature song “Yukiguni” is a Showa-era hit that depicts deep love and aching longing set against the backdrop of a snowy landscape.
It’s a winter classic that tightens the heart with its portrayal of a love confined to a world sealed by snow—perfect for listening intently in a warm room on a cold winter’s day.
Its soul-stirring melody and lyrics are the very definition of a song you want to hear when winter makes you sentimental.
On a chilly night, why not savor this timeless masterpiece that has been beloved by many for generations?
Farewell, Siberian RailwayŌta Hiromi
It’s a classic that overlays a harsh winter landscape with a love that has been lost.
Hiromi Ohta’s clear, transparent voice beautifully conveys both the cold of Siberia and the chill within the heart.
Although the song, released in November 1980, peaked only at No.
70 on the charts at the time, it was later reappraised as many artists covered it.
Centered on themes of love, parting, and self-discovery along life’s journey, it’s perfect for quiet, contemplative moments.
With deeply affecting lyrics and a wistful melody, it will help warm the long winter nights.
Realm of the StarsSakushi: Sugitani Daikai / Sakkyoku: Chaaruzu Konvâzu
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?
Northern fishing groundsKitajima Saburō
The monumental song “Kita no Gyoba” (Northern Fishing Grounds) by enka legend Saburo Kitajima, released in 1986.
Reflecting hope for life, loneliness, and the indomitable spirit of fishermen, this work has been loved by many fans across generations.
Through its portrayal of fishermen who live beautifully even under extreme conditions, it conveys the weight and depth of life.
On a cold winter night, listening with family, Kitajima’s powerful voice and vivid lyrics will resonate in your heart and make you forget the chill.
City LightsSakai Masaaki
Amid the bustle of the city, a warm singing voice that nestles close to people’s hearts.
The gentle melodies woven by Masakazu Sakai warm the soul, wrapping it like a blanket on a cold winter night.
This work stands beside those who carry loneliness and solitude, conveying the importance of bonds between people.
It delicately portrays the love and warmth that sprout in moments illuminated by the city lights.
Released in 1973, the song has continued to resonate with many, later covered by artists such as Hiromi Iwasaki and Misato Watanabe.
It’s best enjoyed on a winter night, quietly, in a warm room.
The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku
Sazanka no Yado, a signature song by Eisaku Okawa, one of the leading enka singers of the Showa era, was released in 1982 and became a huge hit, selling over 1.8 million copies.
With its poignant melody and lyrics themed around the forbidden love of an affair, it has continued to be cherished by many.
In particular, for those experiencing a sorrowful romance or carrying the bitter memories of a broken heart, its wistful tone, like a warmth that thaws the chill from within, will resonate deeply.
On a cold winter night, immerse yourself in the world of its lyrics and feel Eisaku Okawa’s warm voice and the profound message of love.
Fallen leaves in the snowFuse Akira
In this season when the winter cold makes our hearts shrink, why not let yourself be wrapped in the warm singing voice of Akira Fuse? Released in October 1976, this gem is a song for which Fuse himself wrote both the lyrics and the music.
Its lyrics delicately portray emotions that shift with the changing seasons, and the beautiful harmony woven by his soaring voice resonates deep within.
Also featured in a Suntory “Gold Label” commercial, the song struck a chord with many and reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
On a cold winter night, it might be nice to listen quietly in a warm room and look back on life.
It’s a wonderful piece that speaks gently to listeners in their seventies.