![[J-Pop] Showa-era Christmas songs: nostalgic yet fresh Christmas classics](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x8CgehqveLI/sddefault.jpg)
As Christmas draws near, we hear Christmas songs everywhere—from city streets to the radio.
What kind of Christmas songs do you like?
In this article, we’re featuring Japanese Christmas songs released in the Showa era!
Focusing on hit songs, we’ve selected a variety ranging from timeless classics that have been passed down for years to tracks with a refined charm.
For those who experienced them in real time, it’s a chance to look back with fond memories.
And for anyone curious about Showa-era Christmas songs, there may be new discoveries in store.
Make them the perfect companion to a wonderful Christmas!
- [80s Japanese Music] Popular Christmas songs: from hit tracks to hidden gems!
- [For Seniors] Christmas Songs That Touch the Heart: A Collection of Popular Classics and Nursery Rhymes
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- Recommended Christmas songs for people in their 70s: A collection of classic winter hits from the Showa era
- Classic Christmas Songs That Resonate with the Hearts of Those in Their 80s
- [For a Special Night] A Christmas Song for People in Their 60s
- [Winter Songs] Classic Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter.
- [For people in their 90s] Recommended Christmas songs: from nostalgic school songs and hymns to timeless classics
- [1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!
- Christmas Love Songs: Romantic Tracks to Listen to on a Holy Night
- Nostalgic yet new! Hit songs from the Showa era you’ll want to use as BGM
- Recommended for Christmas posts! Songs you can use for Instagram Reels
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
[Japanese Music] Showa-era Christmas Songs: Nostalgic yet Fresh Classics (1–10)
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
A signature work by Tatsuro Yamashita that rings like a bell heralding winter, touching the heart.
His warm, rich vocals gently envelop listeners even in the harshest cold.
The song’s calm, elegant sheen—tinged with the lingering aura of the Showa era—has never faded.
Released in December 1983 and adopted for JR Tokai’s commercials starting in 1988, it became a long-selling hit that sees a surge in sales every Christmas season.
Its lyrics, which empathize with those carrying the ache of a love that can’t become something more, fit any Christmas scene, and their warmth continues to soothe hearts without end.
Merry ChristmasItō Chieri
Chieri Ito released her debut single “Paradise Walker” to the world as an insert song for the drama “Easier Than a Kiss.” Featured on her album “HELLO,” released in December 1987, the track depicts a protagonist driving a Volkswagen while waiting for powdery snow, recording memories onto a cassette tape.
The sweet, bittersweet melody brims with youthful sensitivity, overlaying the feelings of first love onto a special Christmas day.
From its opening bars, the romantic atmosphere lingers in your ears—an underrated gem packed with the unique charm of Showa-era idol pop.
Christmas by the SeaHayami Yū
A classic that gently paints a romantic winter night.
Yu Hayami’s soft vocals beautifully weave a magical Christmas scene of spending time with a lover in a seaside cottage.
Included on the album “COLORFUL BOX,” released in November 1983, it showcases the sophisticated composition of Kyohei Tsutsumi in perfect harmony with the poetic lyrics by Kazuko Kobayashi.
Moments like two people alone by candlelight, the cheerful voices of friends gathered around the fireplace, and searching for Orion—all vividly express a quiet winter night by the sea.
It’s perfect not only for those nostalgic for the ’80s, but also for anyone who wants to unwind.
A heartwarming Christmas song you’ll want to listen to with someone special.
My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi
A classic song that brightens the Showa-era winter takes the stage.
It’s a track from the album “SURF & SNOW,” released in December 1980, and it was also featured as an insert song in the 1987 film “Take Me Out to the Snow.” The warm lyrics portray a lover likened to Santa, and the key change in the chorus leaves a memorable impression.
It’s filled with the anticipation and bittersweet feelings of Christmas night.
Yumi Matsutoya’s clear, translucent vocals wonderfully capture the crisp winter atmosphere.
Beloved by people of all ages, this song is perfect for the Christmas season spent with family and friends.
Merry Christmas Mr.LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi
Did you know that Ryuichi Sakamoto’s famous piece was composed for the film Merry Christmas, Mr.
Lawrence? Created as the soundtrack for the 1983 film of the same name, the work uses synthesizers and samplers to craft a distinctive musical language that conveys profound themes such as war and cultural conflict.
Although Sakamoto himself said it was “pure beginner’s luck,” the piece became a pivotal turning point in his musical career.
Its unforgettable melody continues to be cherished by many people year-round, not just during the Christmas season.
The piano’s quietly nostalgic tone makes it perfect for a peaceful night spent with someone special.
A love letter written in the snowKikuchi Momoko
A bittersweet love song you’ll want to listen to at Christmas.
Released by Momoko Kikuchi in 1984, it reached No.
3 on the Oricon weekly chart.
Set against a snowy Christmas Eve backdrop, it portrays the feelings of a girl writing a love letter, pouring her heart into the snow.
Kikuchi’s pure, delicate vocals meld with tender longing to create a timeless winter classic.
When this song plays in the city, it brings a gentle warmth to your heart.
Anyone who has felt pure, innocent love will surely relate.
A heartwarming ballad perfect for spending Christmas with someone special.
Christmas Ondo (Christmas Bon Dance)Ohtaki Eiichi
A signature bon-odori-style song by Eiichi Ohtaki, released in December 1977 as the track representing December on the album Niagara Calendar.
With humor and satire, the lyrics depict how Christmas became an annual custom in Japan, vividly capturing scenes of the holiday spreading through shopping streets and neon-lit districts.
Fusing the traditional ondō form with pop elements, the sound features a meticulously crafted structure highlighted by twelve key changes in the coda, offering new discoveries with every listen.
Its nimble wordplay and playful arrangement give it an appeal that goes beyond a mere novelty song.
A classic that portrays Showa-era Christmas from a unique perspective and remains enjoyable no matter how many times you hear it.