[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)
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.
[Winter Songs] Showa-era Masterpieces. Popular Songs to Listen to in Winter (51–60)
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.
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
Tatsuro Yamashita’s 12th single overall, released in December 1983.
It’s no exaggeration to say this masterpiece has become a staple of Japanese Christmas songs.
Even today, it’s a track you’re sure to hear when the holiday season comes around.
The song itself is fantastic, of course, but what I’d like you to pay special attention to is the choral work.
The layered vocals are all performed by Yamashita himself through multitrack recording, and considering the recording environment at the time this song was made, I can’t help but marvel, thinking, “I’m amazed they managed to pull this off!”
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.
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.
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.
A love letter written in the snowKikuchi Momoko
This is Momoko Kikuchi’s third single.
It marked her first entry into the top ten on the music show “The Best Ten,” and sold about 350,000 copies.
It became a hit second only to her signature song “Sotsugyo – GRADUATION.” Sung in Kikuchi’s cute voice, it’s about a pure unrequited love.
She rewrites a letter or email confessing her feelings over and over, but in the end can’t bring herself to send it.
If you’ve ever had that experience, you’ll probably feel, almost painfully, the purity of a love that sighs as it writes a love letter in the snow.
