From the Snow-Covered Platform to a Faraway Town: Momoe Yamaguchi, “A Good Day to Set Out,” 1978–1980

Momoe Yamaguchi’s “A Good Day to Set Out” is one of her signature songs, released on November 21, 1978. It is widely recognized in historical records as a hit song that symbolizes the late 1970s. The song was produced in conjunction with a Japan National Railways (JNR) tourism campaign, with Shinji Tanimura writing both the lyrics and the music. The romantic atmosphere of traveling by train to distant lands intertwines with nostalgia for times gone by, elevating the song beyond a mere tourism promotional track to become a melody etched in the memories of many. After its release, it peaked at No. 3 on the Oricon charts and remained on the charts for 23 weeks. At the time, Momoe Yamaguchi was in the midst of transitioning from a teenage singer to a mature female artist, following releases such as “Playback Part 2.” In “Ii Hi Tabidachi,” her understated vocal delivery evokes a world where farewells and departures, loneliness and hope are felt simultaneously. The JNR campaign itself ran for an extended period, and the song became deeply associated with the image of rail travel. In later years, the song was revived for a JR West campaign and remains beloved to this day as a classic hit representative of Showa-era pop music.