[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 to Listen to in Winter (51–60)
On a snowy daykaguya hime
A song that brilliantly depicts a winter scene was released to the world in April 1972, included on the album “Hajimemashite.” Known as a classic of the Showa folk era, this piece delicately conveys the bittersweet emotions of love on a snowy day.
Using the pure white world spread outside the window and the footprints left in the snow as motifs, its lyrics mournfully sing of lost love, leaving a deep impression on the heart.
As one of Kaguyahime’s signature songs, it has continued to be beloved by many.
It’s best enjoyed on a winter night, while the snow falls quietly outside.
It will surely become an unforgettable memory etched in your heart.
girlGorin Mayumi
Possessing a quiet and delicate atmosphere, this song was released in 1972 as Mayumi Itsuwa’s debut.
Through the image of a girl standing on a winter veranda, it portrays a mindset that quietly watches the changing seasons and the passage of time.
The poetic lyrics are striking, as they bring to the surface the subtle relationship between the girl’s inner world and the outer world amid the stillness of midwinter.
Combined with Itsuwa’s crystal-clear vocals, it has become a classic that gently moves the listener’s heart.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear on a winter night, alone with your thoughts.
My loverGorin Mayumi
This song was written after seeing the grief of the wife at the funeral of Mayumi Itsuwa’s producer, who died in a traffic accident at the time of her debut.
Confronted with the death of a loved one, the unbearable pain of a heart that still cannot accept it comes through vividly.
This became Mayumi Itsuwa’s biggest hit, sold over a million copies, and was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The lineup of artists who have released cover versions is stellar, including Hibari Misora, Akira Fuse, and Kiyoshi Hikawa.
It is a classic beloved across borders, with covers in Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Russia.
The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku
This is Eisaka Okawa’s biggest hit, which sold a total of 1.8 million copies.
It won the Japan Record Award’s Long Seller Award, and with this song he also achieved his long-awaited first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
There’s also a story that the composer, Shosuke Ichikawa, was so pleased with how well the song had turned out that he went straight to Okawa’s home and waited for him to come back so he could play it for him.
The song portrays the inner conflict of knowing you mustn’t truly love someone who is married, yet finding your feelings for them grow every time you meet.
Opera Glasses in WinterEri Nitta
Eri Nitta, also known as a member of Onyanko Club, an idol group symbolic of the Showa era.
Her debut single is “Fuyu no Opera Glass.” Many people may not have thought about it much, but opera glasses are small binoculars used for watching stage performances.
Calling them “winter” opera glasses shows real flair, doesn’t it? By the way, the song as a whole has a cute vibe and portrays an innocent first love.
It might be a good one to listen to when you want to get yourself pumped up, like before going out on a date.
