[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)
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?
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.
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.
SWITCH ON (Press the heart switch)Nagayama Miho
The work opens with the sorrowful expressions of people walking through a winter city.
It’s a classic of 80s J-pop, where Takashi Matsumoto’s delicate lyrics and Kyōhei Tsutsumi’s catchy melody blend exquisitely.
Miho Nakayama’s sweet, wistful vocals, paired with the memorable melodic line, make it a song you’ll want to listen to in the cold season.
Released in August 1985, the track appears on the album “EXOTIQUE.” As a piece that symbolizes Nakayama’s leap forward as an idol singer, it remains beloved by many fans today.
It’s perfect for those moments when the winter chill makes your heart shrink and you want to regain your true self.
Press the switch on your heart—this is a song that gives you the courage to meet a new you.
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.