RAG MusicWinter-Songs
Lovely winter song

Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s. Timeless masterpieces of winter songs.

Among the four seasons, there have long been many songs that take winter as their theme.

What’s more, the cold of winter can stir a certain wistfulness, and that’s part of the appeal—so many winter songs slip gently into the heart when you listen.

In this article, we’ll introduce, all at once, a selection of winter tunes that we especially hope people in their 60s will enjoy.

We’ve chosen not only the songs you still often hear when winter comes around, but also nostalgic tracks that may bring back memories of your youth.

They’re all timeless masterpieces that haven’t lost their luster, so please take this opportunity to give them another listen.

Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s. Timeless classic winter tunes (1–10).

Winter SongKiroro

Kiroro "Winter Song" Official Music Video
Winter SongKiroro

A winter song filled with kindness that paints heartwarming feelings amid the quiet of the season.

The lyrics evoke the gentle fall of powdery snow, and Chiharu Tamashiro’s soft vocals sink deep into the heart.

Released in November 1998 as Kiroro’s third single, it was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial in 2001.

It’s a song that keeps you company as you gaze at snowy landscapes and think of someone special far away.

A classic you’ll want to hear on long winter nights, when warmth can be felt even in the cold.

Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo

This is a song that richly portrays a winter snowscape and a bittersweet longing for love.

The lyrics convey a deep yearning for someone you wish to see but cannot.

Written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi himself, it was released in February 1986.

It became a million seller, topped the Oricon charts, and overturned his image as a comic-song performer, helping him establish his status as an enka singer.

He also appeared on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen with this song.

The fact that many artists, including Satoshi Ohno and Yoshie Kashiwabara, have covered it speaks to its universal appeal.

It’s a soul-stirring piece perfect for a cold winter night spent alone.

Before winter comeskami fuusen

Before Winter Comes (’77) Paper Balloon KAMI FUSEN
Before winter comeskami fuusen

Known as Paper Balloon’s signature song, this piece became a major hit, selling 450,000 copies.

Released by CBS/Sony on November 1, 1977, it reached No.

4 on the Oricon weekly chart and ranked No.

27 on the 1978 year-end chart.

Its melody, imbued with a folkloric atmosphere, and lyrics expressing an unforgettable longing for a former lover resonated with many listeners.

Through depictions of sloping streets, seaside scenes, and urban landscapes, it conveys a poignant wish to reclaim lost love.

The shifting emotions that accompany the changing seasons are portrayed with finesse, revealing the delicate feelings of a woman hoping for a reunion as winter approaches.

Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s: Timeless winter classics (11–20)

Winter RivieraMori Shinichi

It’s a classic song that portrays winter’s loneliness and the sorrow of farewell.

Takashi Matsumoto’s lyrics and Eiichi Ohtaki’s composition blend beautifully, and Shinichi Mori’s distinctive husky voice resonates deeply.

Released in November 1982, it reached No.

10 on the Oricon weekly chart and No.

41 on the year-end ranking, and it also received the Special Gold Award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.

Noted as a new kind of enka incorporating pop elements, it has been covered by many artists.

It’s the kind of song you want to listen to on a winter night when you’re alone—a mature winter tune that stays close to the hearts of those who’ve experienced the end of a romance, and one that has been loved for a long time.

From the northern innMiyako Harumi

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Lyric Video]
From the northern innMiyako Harumi

It’s a classic that vividly and emotively portrays scenes of Japan’s northern regions and the lives of the people there.

Harumi Miyako’s powerful vocals bring the seasons to life—the winter chill and snowy vistas, the arrival of spring, and the autumn foliage.

Released in 1975 as her 67th single, it became a massive hit, selling over 1.4 million copies.

In 1976, it won the Japan Record Award and has remained one of Miyako’s signature songs, cherished by many.

Highly recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in the serene beauty of the North while listening to a voice that resonates deep in the heart.

coniferNoguchi Goro

A gem of a song that interweaves winter’s loneliness with the hope of renewal.

Since its release in November 1976, it has continued to resonate with many.

It was also performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1977, drawing a major response.

The piece beautifully portrays conifer trees, symbols of the harsh winter season, alongside the scene of two people parting.

The man’s strength and gentleness, mirrored in the dignified form of the evergreens, leave a strong impression.

It’s a song that gives you the courage to overcome the pain of farewell and step forward into a new season.

On a winter’s night, why not listen quietly by the window and let your thoughts drift to someone dear?

Fallen leaves in the snowFuse Akira

A timeless winter classic cherished across generations.

Chosen as a song for a Suntory commercial, it was released in October 1976.

It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and led to an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, becoming one of Akira Fuse’s signature songs.

The lyrics convey a deepening of emotion as the seasons change.

Nostalgia for days gone by and a delicate sense of present loneliness are expressed with subtlety, resonating deeply with listeners.

Combined with Akira Fuse’s soaring vocals, this is a song that gently envelops hearts trembling in the winter cold.