[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 (31–40)
Winter AlbumMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda, known as a quintessential idol singer of the 1980s and a singer-songwriter whose popularity rose to the level of a social phenomenon.
The song “Fuyu no Album” included on her second album, North Wind, features a stylish ensemble and a gently sung melody that evokes winter scenery.
Its lyrics, which conjure up the image of sharing a space with someone you love, warm the heart precisely because it’s the cold season.
For those of that generation, it’s an unfading winter classic that likely brings back memories of their youth.
Lovers in MidwinterMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda is an idol singer who represents the Showa-era kayōkyoku.
Included on her 1982 album “Candy” is “Mafuyu no Koibitotachi” (“Midwinter Lovers”).
It depicts a love story unfolding at an ice skating rink, expressing a heart-fluttering romance.
The beautiful sound centered on piano and strings evokes a crystal-clear winter landscape.
It’s a soothing song featuring her cute vocals as she sings about a girl falling in love.
Be sure to listen closely to the love story of the two who adore each other.
AnnaKai Band
A title written with a woman’s name in kanji makes a strong impact! This is Kaiband’s 13th single.
Although there’s no mention of who inspired “Anna,” it’s said that the first verse was conceived in a bar in Hakodate and the second in a bar in Shibuya—both born in drinking spots.
Perhaps there was a beautiful woman in a wonderful bar who made them want to turn the moment into lyrics.
The feelings of a man thinking about a woman he parted with seep in deeply, carried by Yoshihiro Kai’s vocals that exude a mature composure.
It’s said that the intro guitar was played by Shogo Hamada, who happened to be at the recording session!
EVE to the TERMINALNakamori Akina
One of the tracks included in Akina Nakamori’s four-disc CD box set “AKINA,” which gathers carefully selected songs from a vast catalog.
This song, “TERMINAL made no EVE” (“Eve Until the Terminal”), originally appears on a concept album produced by Shizuka Ijūin, and once you know that, it sounds as if it captures a single scene from a larger story.
The slightly bittersweet lyrics are also noteworthy: “an unstable Christmas that hints at a breakup, yet the woman still can’t quite let go…” When sung by Nakamori, that poignancy is all the more profound.
It may be a Christmas masterpiece that isn’t widely known—at least outside her core fanbase.
On the night when the rain turned to snowAsaka Yui
A classic song that depicts winter scenery and a wistful love is included on the album “HERSTORY,” released in December 1988.
With lyrics by Keiko Aso and music by Naoto Kine of TM NETWORK, it delicately captures the stillness of a winter night and the tremors of the heart.
The gentle melody line and the subtle arrangement by Akira Inoue create a dreamlike atmosphere that conveys both the chill and warmth of winter at the same time.
Released around Yui Asaka’s early twenties, the piece can be seen as a song symbolizing her transition from idol to mature woman.
Its evocative, retrospective theme leaves a strong impression, making it a track you’ll want to savor quietly on a winter night.
[Winter Songs] Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter (41–50)
Winter RivieraMori Shinichi
This is Shinichi Mori’s 56th single, notable for its fresh pop style.
When you think of Shinichi Mori, you think of enka—his husky, seasoned voice that really touches the heart! In this song, however, while still husky, his vocals are refreshing and light, letting you enjoy a different charm from enka.
Lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, music by Eiichi Ohtaki.
In 2013, when Eiichi Ohtaki passed away suddenly, Shinichi Mori performed this song on a music program as a tribute.
The song tells of a man who says goodbye and leaves a woman behind.
That surge of loneliness so strong you tell yourself, “I’m not sad at all!”—haven’t many of us felt that before?
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.