Recommended for people in their 70s! A curated selection of Japanese songs to listen to and sing during the cold winter
On a winter day when the cold seeps into your bones, how about spending a cozy time singing beloved Showa-era classics?
In this article, we introduce timeless Japanese songs—especially recommended winter masterpieces for those in their 70s.
Sing the nostalgic tunes that bring back memories of your youth, and your heart will be full and your body warmed from the inside out—no doubt about it!
Listen to and sing your favorite songs, and let’s get through winter while savoring the profound lyrics and wistful melodies that resonate in the heart.
Recommended for people in their 70s! A curated selection of Japanese songs to listen to and sing in the cold winter (1–10)
Winter LightningNEW!Alice
This is Alice’s sixth single, released in November 1977, which reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
The song depicts an intense, fleeting impulse of love, like a bolt of lightning shining bright in the winter sky.
The powerful vocals of Shinji Tanimura and Takao Horiuchi convey a surge of fierce emotion intertwined with a aching sense of longing.
It evokes a love that burns in the cold, clear winter air, along with the foreboding of an impending farewell.
The track features Alice’s distinctive fusion of folk and rock, with a dramatic melody and guitar riffs that resonate deeply.
Celebrated as a classic of the Showa era, it continues to be sung by many today—why not give it a listen while reminiscing about old times?
Outside, it’s a night of white snow.NEW!Takuro Yoshida
Created by the duo of Takuro Yoshida, a leading figure in folk music, and Takashi Matsumoto, this work was included on the 1978 album Rolling 30.
It portrays the final conversation between a man and a woman parting ways, with the steadily falling snow reflecting their emotions.
The scene of them talking while lining up their cigarettes, and their heartrending resolve to part with consolation rather than hurt each other, resonates deeply alongside the stillness of a winter night.
This song has long been loved as a karaoke standard.
On a night when snow dances outside the window, why not listen to it while reminiscing about old times?
coniferNEW!Goro Noguchi
This is a song released by Goro Noguchi in 1976 that overlays the bittersweetness of winter love with snowy scenery.
The lyrics were written by Kotaro Aso and the music composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi, and it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
Like a dignified conifer standing tall, it portrays a man who continues to care for his former lover even after their breakup, where sadness and kindness intersect.
The contrast between strength that does not wither in the cold wind and sighs as cold as snow is striking.
With this work, Goro Noguchi won the Vocal Performance Award at the Japan Record Awards, and he also performed it on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Why not listen to it while recalling an old romance or picturing a winter scene? It can also be a great prompt to share memories with fellow residents at the facility.
From the northern innHarumi Miyako
One of the star vocalists who brightened the late Showa-era enka scene, Harumi Miyako’s signature song “Kita no Yado kara” (From an Inn in the North), released in 1975, sold over 1.
4 million copies and won numerous awards, including the Japan Record Awards—a true classic of the Showa period.
Sung with Miyako’s powerful, kobushi-inflected voice, the lyrics portray profound loneliness, heartache, and solitude—perfect for a cold winter night when you’re prone to bittersweet nostalgia.
Why not give it a listen while recalling the tender pangs of young love?
The Color of WinterMomoe Yamaguchi
A wistful ballad that paints winter scenes while expressing the warm emotions of lovers.
Momoe Yamaguchi’s deep emotional expression and delicate vocals leave a strong impression.
Released in 1974, the song climbed high on Japan’s music charts.
The lyrics convey the pure, heartrending feelings of unrequited love, reflecting Yamaguchi’s youth and inner strength.
Why not listen to it on a cold winter’s day, along with nostalgic memories? It may warm your heart and bring back recollections of your youth.
I think people in their seventies, too, can enjoy it at a relaxed pace.
Snow CountryIkuzo Yoshi
Released in 1986, Ikuzo Yoshi’s signature song “Yukiguni” is a Showa-era hit that depicts deep love and aching longing set against the backdrop of a snowy landscape.
It’s a winter classic that tightens the heart with its portrayal of a love confined to a world sealed by snow—perfect for listening intently in a warm room on a cold winter’s day.
Its soul-stirring melody and lyrics are the very definition of a song you want to hear when winter makes you sentimental.
On a chilly night, why not savor this timeless masterpiece that has been beloved by many for generations?
Farewell, Siberian RailwayHiromi Ohta
It’s a classic that overlays a harsh winter landscape with a love that has been lost.
Hiromi Ohta’s clear, transparent voice beautifully conveys both the cold of Siberia and the chill within the heart.
Although the song, released in November 1980, peaked only at No.
70 on the charts at the time, it was later reappraised as many artists covered it.
Centered on themes of love, parting, and self-discovery along life’s journey, it’s perfect for quiet, contemplative moments.
With deeply affecting lyrics and a wistful melody, it will help warm the long winter nights.