[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 want to listen to in winter (21–30)
White SundayREBECCA
An unforgettable winter ballad by REBECCA, with lyrics that conjure fogged-up windows, chilly air, and the quiet intimacy of two people alone.
It offers an introspective, beautiful world quite unlike their flashier hits.
The vocalist’s whisper-like delivery layers with crystalline synthesizer tones, evoking a sensation as if the cold itself were brushing your skin.
The track appears on the classic album TIME, which reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Though originally an album cut released in October 1986, its polished perfection explains why it’s remained a beloved winter staple among fans for so long.
It’s a must-listen not only for those who lived through the ’80s band boom, but also for anyone who wants to sink into music on a snowy holiday morning, warm and unhurried at home.
Winter Comes Around (A Winter Day)TM NETWORK
A little-known yet beloved ballad included on the classic album CAROL ~A DAY IN A GIRL’S LIFE 1991~, released in December 1988.
Its charm lies in an atmosphere that evokes stillness and chill—like suddenly stopping on a winter street corner.
Naoto Kine’s warm, woven melodies and Mitsuko Komuro’s lyrics, which blend loss and hope, seep into the depths of the heart.
Unlike the group’s dazzling singles, the delicate soundscape crafted by strings feels as if it captures a single winter’s day.
Though it had no major tie-ins, the song has long been cherished by fans as a vital piece that colors the album’s narrative.
It’s a winter song for grown-ups—one you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.
Christmas in OctoberAsaka Yui
This is Yui Asaka’s fifth single, released in September 1986.
It was used as the commercial song for “Snow Brand Yogurt,” in which she appeared, and was later included on the album “Star Lights.” Although the title references Christmas, the song endearingly portrays a world not of the day itself, but of an impatient, budding love and a promise made a little early.
Megumi Wakakusa’s lavish string arrangement creates a sophisticated wintry atmosphere within the brightness befitting an idol.
It could be called a hidden gem that blends the fresh innocence and bittersweetness of the night before her breakthrough.
Why not listen to it slowly as autumn dusks deepen and the footsteps of winter begin to sound, while letting your feelings swell for someone special?
Winter FairyMatsuda Seiko
This song, included on the masterful album The Wind Rises released in October 1981, was created by the star-studded team of Takashi Matsumoto and Eiichi Ohtaki.
It paints a fantasy-like world where a rose that blooms in winter is gifted along with mysterious powdered snow, delicately expressing the shifting emotions of a girl in love.
The shimmering, richly layered orchestration intertwined with Seiko Matsuda’s delicate vocals vividly colors winter scenes.
Despite never being released as a single, it remains a beloved hidden gem among fans.
April Fools in DecemberEPO
Released in 1985, this song is a ballad that captures the aching sadness lurking beneath the festive Christmas season.
As the title suggests, the paradox of “April Fool in December” symbolizes a love betrayed.
The lyrics intertwine the pain of discovering that the person believed to be the only one was not, with the loneliness of spending Christmas prioritizing work, vividly reflecting the gap between romantic ideals and reality.
Arranged by Hiroshi Sato, the adult-oriented sound weaves strings with restrained synthesizers.
Included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” and later re-recorded in a self-cover version, it has long been cherished as one of EPO’s signature songs.
Recommended for those entering winter with a broken heart, or anyone who resonates with the less-than-glittering side of Christmas.