A wonderful, moving song

A poignant winter classic. A winter song that seeps into the heart on cold days.

POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Do you ever have those moments when, as it gets colder, you suddenly feel lonely for no clear reason?

You might find yourself craving someone’s warmth or wanting to see your partner more than usual—perhaps you’ve felt that too.

In this article, we’re introducing bittersweet songs that feel especially dear in winter scenes.

Why not listen to some poignant winter tunes that make you think of someone special or a partner you can’t meet?

We’ve picked out deeply relatable, heartrending songs—from new releases to timeless classics.

Be sure to listen with your winter days.

A poignant winter classic. Winter songs that touch the heart in the cold season (1–10)

Sound of SnowNovelbright

Novelbright – The Sound of Snow [Official Music Video]

Sound of SnowNovelbright

A love song that expresses feelings for a cherished person, set against the beautiful winter scenery painted by snow—a classic symbol of the season.

Released by Novelbright in December 2023, the track serves as the opening theme for the TV anime A Sign of Affection.

Vocalist Yudai Takenaka’s high tone gently sings of budding romance under the cold winter sky.

The lyrics, which portray the two sharing their love in a special place just for them and convey a heartwarming message about recognizing and accepting each other’s worlds, truly resonate.

It’s perfect for anyone wanting to savor the bittersweet feelings of Valentine’s Day.

If you need a bit of courage to confess your feelings to someone you like, why not give this song a listen?

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Sound of SnowGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Yukinone

Sound of SnowGReeeeN

When it comes to GReeeeN’s winter songs, this is the one! “Yuki no Ne” has charming, bittersweet lyrics that bring back memories of school days romance.

You like them but just can’t be honest… Isn’t that a feeling everyone’s experienced? The closer that person is to you, the stronger it gets.

Listening to the lyrics of this song will surely make you sink into nostalgia, thinking of that sweet yet heartrending love.

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Happy Endingback number

back number – Happy End (full)

Happy Endingback number

A ballad that’s perfect for the season when winter’s chill makes your heart tremble.

It matches the longing that comes as autumn turns to winter and the nostalgic atmosphere.

Overflowing with the earnest emotions that grip the listener’s heart, it’s a song brimming with the uniquely bittersweet flavor of back number.

Released in November 2016, it was also used as the theme song for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday.” The lyrics, which depict the complex feelings of two people who choose to part ways, allow for various interpretations and leave a deep aftertaste.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to quietly on a winter night—one that stays close to those separated from a lover or carrying the pain of heartbreak.

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A poignant winter classic. Winter songs that resonate with the heart in the cold season (11–20)

You said the moon is beautiful.berry meet

berry meet / The moon is beautiful [Music Video]

You said the moon is beautiful.berry meet

Berry meet’s Christmas song, which portrays a bittersweet love that deepens with the winter chill, is both heartrending and heartwarming.

Released digitally on November 15, 2023, it vividly expresses the inner conflicts of someone in love and their feelings for the other person.

Set against a winter night bathed in moonlight, the song traces the increasingly complex dynamics of love as we grow older, resonating with listeners.

It’s perfect for those troubled by love or those who want to remember someone dear.

Berry meet’s emotive vocals and warming melody are sure to seep into hearts during the cold season.

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painted skyNEW!Marushii

Marcy – Esora (Official Music Video)

painted skyNEW!Marushii

A delicate, heart-wrenching rock ballad that vividly captures indelible memories and the bittersweetness of farewell.

Released in May 2020 by the Fukuoka-based band Marcy, this song has remained a beloved classic through word of mouth among listeners.

It was also chosen as the theme song for the web drama “New World Makers,” where its dramatic sound enriched the story’s world.

The down-to-earth lyrics, spun from vocalist Ukyo Yoshida’s own experiences, will seep deep into your heart on a winter night when you can’t help but chase an unforgettable silhouette.

Let yourself feel the warmth that gently embraces even the pain of heartbreak.

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Snow Song – yukiutaNEW!Myuk

Myuk – Snow Song – yukiuta (Music Video)

Snow Song - yukiutaNEW!Myuk

Inspired by “The Grateful Crane,” this song portrays a heartrending farewell with a loved one.

The lyrics, which employ a distinctive, folk-like melodic phrasing and archaic expressions, beautifully capture both the chill of a snowy landscape and the pain of the heart.

Released by Myuk in December 2025, the track drew major attention, surpassing a cumulative 30 million plays on social media even in its demo stage.

Its sound, blending acoustic warmth with digital textures, feels contemporary yet somehow nostalgic.

It’s the perfect number for a quiet night with steady snowfall, when you want to immerse yourself alone in the world of the lyrics.

As her first self-composed song in about two years, it’s a track brimming with her charm—be sure to give it a listen.

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wishsumika

sumika / Wish [Music Video]

wishsumika

A heartrending love song that brings tears with the pain of “not being loved by the one you love,” Wish was chosen as the theme song for the drama Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.

There’s only one person you want to tell about the moments that move your heart and the little things in your day.

But the person you like loves someone else, and they’ll surely never feel the same way you do.

It’s a song about a painful love, yet in the end it says that you’re glad you encountered this love.

It’s a perfect winter love song for when you’re in the mood to listen to a heartbreak tune.

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