Lovely hit song

[Winter Songs] Classic Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter.

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

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!

[Winter Songs] Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you want to hear in winter (61–70)

wintering swallowMori Masako

Masako Mori - Wintering Swallow (1984)

wintering swallowMori Masako

A classic song that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman who throws herself into a forbidden love, using the image of a swallow taking flight in winter.

Released in August 1983 as Masako Mori’s 41st single, it won the Best Vocal Performance at the 25th Japan Record Awards.

The phrase “Hyururi hyururirara,” which evokes the sound of a cold wind, and the resolute choice to burn out together with her beloved have resonated with many listeners.

The lyrics strikingly contrast the chill of winter with the heat of passion, making it a must-listen for those consumed by a bittersweet love.

Combined with Mori’s lustrous vocals, it has remained a deeply moving winter classic beloved for many years.

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Blue ChristmasMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda Blue Christmas

Blue ChristmasMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda is a quintessential idol singer in the Japanese pop scene.

Among her many hits, the Christmas-themed song that stands out is Blue Christmas, included on the 1982 album Golden Ribbon.

It portrays a scene of spending Christmas Eve alone, feeling lonely, and sings of a bittersweet yearning while waiting for the person she loves to appear.

With bell chimes and clear, shimmering strings ringing through the sound, her vocals unfold with both strength and fragility.

A beautiful yet fleeting story that resonates as a moving Christmas song.

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Kantarō the North Wind Kid

Kantaro the North Wind Kid / Minna no Uta

Kantarō the North Wind Kid

It’s a classic song beloved across generations as a representative winter children’s song of the Showa era! Since it first aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1974, it has been rebroadcast many times and has secured its place as a national winter anthem.

Its lively rhythm and Masakazu Sakai’s vocals are distinctive, and the simple, catchy melody is part of its charm.

Featuring a personified north wind as the main character, the lyrics comically portray the harshness of winter, making it very popular with children.

It’s also interesting that lyricist Takao Ide wrote it with the winter scenery of Lake Matsubara in Nagano in mind.

In 2012, a monument to the song was erected at Lake Matsubara, underscoring its value as a cultural heritage.

When you want to feel the arrival of winter, be sure to give it a listen!

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In conclusion

The winter songs born in the Showa era are all gems that beautifully capture the warmth and bittersweetness people feel in the cold. These timeless winter classics, while evoking nostalgia, must have also felt fresh to younger music listeners. Along with their nostalgic atmosphere, they allow us to rediscover the brilliance that winter songs possess.