Akiko Kobayashi -- Stardust Memories

A bit of a stealth Xmas song since without the jingle bells and the chimes, "Stardust Memories" sounds more like an all-year adult contemporary piece if one doesn't understand the lyrics too well. Speaking of which, the lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto（秋元康）, the brains behind the 80s Onyanko Club and the current AKB 48.

However, it's Akiko Kobayashi（小林明子）who wrote the music for the second track of her debut album, "Fall In Love"which was released in November 1985. Like a number of Xmas songs I've come across in Japan, the plot seems to involve another person spending the Holidays alone; something strangely masochistic about that, although Kobayashi gives the proceedings a pretty happy lift.

Strangely enough, the final track on the album is another Xmas song, a somewhat more seasonal-sounding ballad titled "Anata ni Suteki na Christmas Present Agetai na"(あなたに素敵なクリスマスプレゼントあげたいな.....I'd Love to Give You a Wonderful Christmas Present).

A lovely scene at Roppongi Hills
back in 2010