[Winter Songs] Classic Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter.
In the Showa era, countless classic and hit songs were born and cherished by many listeners.
Winter, in particular, was a season packed with events like Christmas and New Year’s, and filled with dramatic themes such as snowy landscapes.
In this special feature, we introduce some of the finest winter songs from the Showa period.
We hope that those who experienced the era in real time will feel nostalgic, while those who did not will find it fresh and enjoyable.
Please enjoy!
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[Winter Songs] Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter (41–50)
A love letter written in the snowKikuchi Momoko
This is Momoko Kikuchi’s third single.
It marked her first entry into the top ten on the music show “The Best Ten,” and sold about 350,000 copies.
It became a hit second only to her signature song “Sotsugyo – GRADUATION.” Sung in Kikuchi’s cute voice, it’s about a pure unrequited love.
She rewrites a letter or email confessing her feelings over and over, but in the end can’t bring herself to send it.
If you’ve ever had that experience, you’ll probably feel, almost painfully, the purity of a love that sighs as it writes a love letter in the snow.
Farewell, Siberian RailwayŌta Hiromi
A Showa-era winter song masterpiece that intertwines Siberian cold with lost love.
Hiromi Ohta’s translucent vocals and Mitsuo Ogita’s dramatic string arrangement beautifully evoke a poignant scene.
Released in November 1980 as Ohta’s 19th single, the song features lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Eiichi Ohtaki—an all-star lineup.
While it initially peaked at No.
70 on the Oricon chart and wasn’t a major hit, it has since been reappraised through numerous cover versions by other artists.
On a harsh winter night, when you feel like quietly reflecting on life, why not give this song a listen?
The prank of timeMatsuyama Chiharu
A masterpiece that delicately depicts a winter landscape was created by Chiharu Matsuyama.
It sings of the sorrow of relationships that have changed with the passage of time, as a cold wind blows.
Former affection has now become a memory, and the lyrics—filled with a sense of resignation toward the flow of time—pierce the heart.
Released in November 1977 as Matsuyama’s third single, this song captured the hearts of many fans.
The anecdote involving Miyuki Nakajima’s “Wakare Uta” is also well known.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to alone in a quiet moment when winter’s chill overlaps with the coldness in your heart.
As a classic winter song of the Showa era, why not give it a listen on a cold, windy day?
Goodbyeofukōsu
This is a classic Off Course song about a winter heartbreak.
Since its 1979 release, it has been covered by many artists and featured in the drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B, Season 1” as well as in commercials for Daihatsu.
Lovers facing a breakup as the snow pours down—yet, thanks to Kazumasa Oda’s clear, straightforward voice, the scene never becomes overly somber, which is quite remarkable.
Even if the parting was painful, don’t you feel that listening to “Sayonara” somehow makes it easier to sincerely wish the other person happiness?
Surf Paradise, Ski ParadiseMatsutōya Yumi
Known by the nickname “Yuming,” singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya has released numerous hit songs, from her own original works to tracks she’s written for others.
Her song “Surf Tengoku, Ski Tengoku,” included on her 10th album SURF & SNOW, was used as the theme song for the film Take Me Out to the Snowland.
Its lyrics, which heighten the anticipation of winter’s snowy landscapes, set hearts dancing alongside an urban ensemble.
Despite never being released as a single, it has become a staple winter song and stands as a representative number of the 1980s.
