[Yumi Matsutoya’s Masterpieces] A Collection of Heart-Touching Gems: Yuming’s Finest Hits

contrailMatsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Vapor Trail (Yumi Arai The Concert with Old Friends)

It is the title track from Yumi Matsutoya’s first original album, Hikōkigumo, released in 1973.

The song drew renewed attention in 2013 when it was chosen as the theme song for The Wind Rises, an animated film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

give it a shakeMatsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – I’ll Make It Snow for You

The title “Futte Ageru” (“I’ll Dump You”) is so typically Yuming and really great.

Yuming is always on women’s side! That’s how she makes you feel.

This song seems to express the complexities of a woman’s heart, with sad lyrics set to a bright melody.

In the end, the attitude of “I’ll be the one to say goodbye!” is irresistibly cutting.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, maybe you can’t move forward unless you learn to cherish yourself in the end.

Rougelian of the StarsMatsutōya Yumi

I tried singing ♪ Star Rouge Lian

It’s a single released by Yumi Matsutoya in August 1980, featured in a commercial for Pola cosmetics.

It peaked at No.

46 on the Oricon weekly chart.

A CD single version was released in 1989.

This video is a cover version.

Happy birthday!Matsutōya Yumi

Happy birthday!

It’s said that Yumi Matsutoya—so famous that there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know her as “Yuming”—was considering retiring when she got married.

However, unable to settle into being a full-time housewife, she continued her musical career as Yumi Matsutoya and went on to release numerous hit songs.

Passing TimeMatsutōya Yumi

Passing Time / Yumi Matsutoya (cover)

This is a song you listen to while picturing an elderly couple.

It’s sprinkled with the distinctive sensibility of Yumi Matsutoya, and the lyrics beautifully express the passage of life—likening a lifetime to falling cherry blossoms and petals piled on the ground.

It’s a track that feels both heartbreaking and warm.

The Country of Apples’ Scent and WindMatsutōya Yumi

The Country of Apple Scents and Wind — Yumi Matsutoya / Let’s Sing Favorite Songs 36

It was included on the album Olive from the early period in 1979, when Yuming had just become Matsutoya.

Many of Yuming’s early songs have sparkling lyrics and mainly acoustic sounds, giving them a nostalgic feel.

Wasn’t Yuming just about the only one singing about Halloween in that era?

Connected by the night skyMatsutōya Yumi

Connected through the night sky - Yumi Matsutoya by Otokogumi

A love song originally sung by a woman.

The video features a male cover, but it also lends itself well to band arrangements that make it easy to convey emotion.

The melody is accessible across generations, and the lyrics are straightforward.