Welcome to episode 69 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the phenomenal 1987 compilation, “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album.”

When it comes to Japanese Christmas compilations from the 1980s, Yen Records’ “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” seems to get most of the attention. It’s a great, groundbreaking album, but I don’t think it holds a candle to Mint Sound’s. I actually prefer “Winter Lounge” to “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” but I think this one outshines them both. It has a great mix of songs and you never forget that you’re listening to a Christmas album. A few of the songs from Yen Records are a bit on the esoteric side.

One thing I think about when listening to my Japanese albums is how much return value they have. In other words, is this something I’d listen to repeatedly, or only when I’m dusting it off for the podcast? On the original vinyl, there’s not a single song I’d skip over. I’ve listened to the entire album dozens and dozens of times, and it holds up well to repeated listens. This is one of a dozen or so albums that I’d recommend to anyone wanting to start a collection of Japanese Christmas music.

That said, be sure to listen in on Christmas Day for an even bigger treat. As I started collecting Japanese Christmas music, I developed an appreciation for City Pop. I kept hoping to find a previously unknown City Pop Christmas collection. One of the guys in Japan uncovered just that about a year ago, and I finally managed to get a copy. It’s a spectacular collection you can’t hear anywhere else, and you’re sure to enjoy it!

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!