[Winter Songs] Classic Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter.

The pavement in a cold wintry windtenchi mari

Mari Amachi ☆ The Wintry Wind on the Pavement

Released in December 1974, Mari Amachi’s 12th single is a winter ballad set on a street corner swept by a cold, wintry wind, expressing a poignant longing for a youth that has passed.

With lyrics by Michio Yamagami, music by Koichi Morita, and arrangement by Yusuke Hoguchi, the song overlays the protagonist’s nostalgia for past love and connections onto the chill of a winter landscape.

It reached No.

14 on the Oricon chart and sold approximately 125,000 copies, marking a work in which Mari Amachi—who had captivated the nation with her bright, refreshing image—took on a new mode of expression.

When you wish to immerse yourself in the nostalgia of lost time, why not listen quietly at dusk in the cold season?

The Color of WinterYamaguchi Momoe

Momoe Yamaguchi - Winter Colors

Momoe Yamaguchi, who enjoyed unwavering popularity as one of the defining idol singers of the 1970s.

Her seventh single, released in 1974, features a serene, ballad-like melody and restrained vocals that seep into the heart.

The lyrics—detailing the permitted shade of lipstick and a pure, budding love—delicately portray the scene of a distant romance, overlaying the chill and poignancy of winter.

Spending six weeks at No.

1 on the Oricon chart and becoming her first single to top the rankings, this work marked a turning point that signaled a deepening expressive power beyond the confines of idol pop.

An unfading winter classic you’ll want to listen to when you wish to quietly face your feelings of love.

Cactus Flowerchūrippu

Cactus Flower

Known as one of the signature songs of the Showa era, this track captivates with lyrics and a melody that blend poignancy and warmth.

Released in 1975, it has remained beloved by many as one of Tulip’s defining songs.

In 1997, a self-cover version was released as the theme song for the drama “Under One Roof 2,” bringing it back into the spotlight.

Its themes, which seem to symbolize family bonds and the complexities of life, resonate even more deeply when listened to in the winter season.

It’s a perfect song for spending a cold night alone or sharing a warm moment with someone special.

It’s recommended not only for those who feel nostalgic for the past, but also for younger listeners interested in classic Showa-era hits.

Ishikari ElegyKitahara Mirei

Ishikari Banka (2006 Remaster)

A classic song set in Ishikari, Hokkaido, portraying a man devoted to the herring fishery and the bittersweet feelings of the woman who stays by his side.

Released in June 1975 as Mirei Kitahara’s eighth single, it won both the Lyricist Award and the Arrangement Award at the Tokyo Music Festival.

Rei Nakanishi’s lyrically rich words, Keisuke Hama’s wistful melody, and Shunichi Makaino’s emotionally charged arrangement come together as one to dramatically express the sorrow and resignation of people who live by the northern sea.

Brimming with deep lyricism that conjures images of mending nets on a snow-swept winter shore, this piece is perfect for moments when you want to quietly reflect on the scenes of the Showa era.

White SundayNEW!REBECCA

WHITE SUNDAY

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)NEW!TM NETWORK

WINTER COMES AROUND (A Winter’s Day)

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 OctoberNEW!Asaka Yui

[Official] Yui Asaka “Christmas in October” (Music Video) YUI ASAKA / JUGATSU NO CHRISTMAS [5th Single]

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?