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[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!

[Winter Songs] Showa-era Masterpieces. Popular Songs to Listen to in Winter (51–60)

Farewell, Siberian RailwayŌta Hiromi

A Showa-era winter song masterpiece that intertwines Siberian cold with lost love.

Hiromi Ohta’s translucent vocals and Mitsuo Ogita’s dramatic string arrangement beautifully evoke a poignant scene.

Released in November 1980 as Ohta’s 19th single, the song features lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Eiichi Ohtaki—an all-star lineup.

While it initially peaked at No.

70 on the Oricon chart and wasn’t a major hit, it has since been reappraised through numerous cover versions by other artists.

On a harsh winter night, when you feel like quietly reflecting on life, why not give this song a listen?

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My loverGorin Mayumi

Mayumi Itsuwa “My Lover” / Mayumi Itsuwa “My Only Love”
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.

yuri
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Goodbyeofukōsu

[Off Course] ♪ Goodbye -Off Course ♪ SAYONARA- [HD]
Goodbyeofukōsu

This is a classic Off Course song about a winter heartbreak.

Since its 1979 release, it has been covered by many artists and featured in the drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3B, Season 1” as well as in commercials for Daihatsu.

Lovers facing a breakup as the snow pours down—yet, thanks to Kazumasa Oda’s clear, straightforward voice, the scene never becomes overly somber, which is quite remarkable.

Even if the parting was painful, don’t you feel that listening to “Sayonara” somehow makes it easier to sincerely wish the other person happiness?

yuri
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Full of ChristmasKudō Shizuka

Shizuka Kudo is a singer who thrives across a wide range of fields—not only in music, but also as an actor, TV personality, jewelry designer, and painter.

The song that closes her best-of album “gradation,” X’mas ga Ippai (Full of Christmas), features a dreamy intro that conjures the holiday just as the title suggests.

Its lyrics, filled with love for someone special, seem perfectly suited to color the holy night.

With a melody that blends pop brightness with a touch of wistfulness, it’s an unforgettable, timeless winter song.

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

Kanda Riverkaguya hime

With lyrics depicting the real love lives of young people that resonated widely, this became the biggest hit for Kaguya-hime, with Kosetsu Minami on vocals.

It was originally just an album track, but once it was played on the radio, a flood of listener requests poured in.

Thanks to the strong push from a famed producer, it was released as a single and is said to have ultimately sold two million copies.

“Amid the escalating student protests, when I go home, my girlfriend warmly welcomes me—can I really allow myself to lean on that kindness as things are?” The anguish of lyricist Tadao Kitajo seems to have struck a chord with the youth of the time.

yuri
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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.

mutō
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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.