[J-Pop] Showa-era Christmas songs: nostalgic yet fresh Christmas classics

AnnaKai Band

Kai Band “Anna”

A Kai Band ballad to keep you company on a long winter night.

Blending heartache and warmth, this song features lyrics that care for a loved one far away.

Released in 1979, it also saw a remake in 2012.

Yoshihiro Kai’s soaring vocals still feel fresh today.

Included on the album “Here We Come the (3→)4 Sounds,” it has long been cherished as one of the band’s signature tracks.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear in the cold season, perfect for times when you want to spend a moment thinking of someone special.

A classic that gently lights the heart—made for Christmas night.

April Fools in DecemberEPO

April Fools in December

It’s a bittersweet ballad where the festive sparkle of a winter city at Christmastime overlaps with the sorrow of a love’s end—an irony that cuts deep.

The song by EPO was released as a single in November 1985 and included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” With lyrics and composition by EPO herself and arrangement by Hiroshi Sato, its sophisticated sound blends AOR balladry with city pop.

The lyrics are striking for how they overlay the pain of heartbreak—realizing the person you believed was your only one was not—onto a title that deliberately invokes a “day of lies.” A self-cover version was released in 1993, and a completely re-arranged re-recording in 1999, keeping the song loved for many years.

It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you feel a little distant from the dazzling Christmas scene.

Flying Santa ClausMurata Kazuhito

Flying Santa Claus

This is a Christmas song included on GO POP, the first album Kazuhito Murata—one of the masters of ’80s city pop—made after moving to Toshiba EMI.

Released in October 1988, it drew attention for its ambitious sound design incorporating programmed beats.

The sophisticated arrangement, evocative of an urban nightscape, and Murata’s clear, soaring high-tone vocals gently wrap the winter air.

Its warm atmosphere—like spending Christmas Eve in the tropics—is especially appealing, striking a comfortable balance that avoids becoming overly sentimental.

Long out of print, it was passed down as a hidden gem, but its remastered reissue has spurred a fresh wave of appreciation.

It’s a song you’ll want to share with someone special on a quiet Christmas night.

Snowbound Party -Tonight Visitors OK!-Hamada Shogo

Snowbound Party -Tonight Visitors OK!-

A lively dance number that depicts a single night with a special someone met on a street corner as powdery snow falls.

It was included on the mini-album “CLUB SNOWBOUND,” released in November 1985, and later appeared on the album “CLUB SURF & SNOWBOUND.” The track features layered sounds reminiscent of oldies and doo-wop, with a pop arrangement that weaves in saxophone and backing vocals.

The lyrics intertwine the glamorous atmosphere of a Christmas party with the poignancy of parting, portraying a one-night, dreamlike romance.

Masakazu Itakura’s arrangement creates a three-dimensional sound image that simultaneously conveys the giddy cheer and bittersweetness of Christmas.

Crafted with a playful spirit by Shogo Hamada, this piece is perfect when you’re in the mood for upbeat rock ’n’ roll.

As if singing a Christmas songNakajima Miyuki

Midosuji 2022: Singing Christmas Songs – Miyuki Nakajima (Song Calendar)

Miyuki Nakajima, a leading figure among Japanese singer-songwriters.

The rare track included on her 1987 live album “Uta Goyomi” is a number that portrays a one-night-only romance entrusted to the special night of Christmas.

Against a backdrop of snow-covered streets and gently passing people, a tender yet fleeting sentiment is quietly spun.

The delicate expression of her live, guitar-and-voice performance—coupled with the restrained melody—seems to resonate deeply in the heart.

It is a winter love song for adults, overlaying the enchantment of the Christmas season with the reality of a relationship that returns to strangers when the calendar turns.

Christmas Once MoreŌe Senri

Christmas Once Again

A number by Senri Oe, who was active both as a singer-songwriter and as a songwriter for many other artists.

Featured on his 1985 album “Miseinen” (Minor), this track stands out with its poppy synthesizer tones that set it apart from other Christmas songs.

As it looks back on memories with a lover, the yearning to reclaim the warm Christmases of those days resonates with a bittersweet touch.

Its irresistibly danceable groove is sure to light up the room even if the audience doesn’t know the song! That delightful imbalance—feeling both fresh and of its era—will leave a strong impression on younger listeners who may not have known Senri Oe’s music until now.

Christmas Waiting at the LodgeMatsutōya Yumi

Christmas At The Lodge / Lodge De Matsu Christmas

Yumi Matsutoya’s song delicately depicts the quiet of a moonlit ski slope and the aching feelings of the protagonist waiting in the lodge.

The way the heart alone seems to glide—chasing a distant echo of a lover’s voice, slipping past windows and doors—symbolizes just how strong the longing is for someone far away.

Included as the opening track on her 1978 album “Ryūsenkei ’80,” the piece was also used as an insert song in the 1987 film “Take Me Out to the Snowland.” It’s a perfect song for that special scene of waiting for someone dear at a ski resort on Christmas night.