A Christmas song written and performed by Japanese veteran pop singer Tatsuro Yamashita has been recognized by Guinness World Records as it has remained in the top 100 in Japan's weekly sales ranking for the 30th consecutive year, his agent said Thursday.
"Christmas Eve," released as a single in 1983, set the record when it ranked 39th in a ranking released by Japanese music information company Oricon Inc. dated last Dec. 28, according to Warner Music Japan Inc.
The song has become widely known and commonly used as a Christmas song in the country after being used in TV commercials for Central Japan Railway Co.
"This is all because of the many listeners who pick up this song at some point, somewhere over the past 30 years. I'm really glad to have continued to play music," the 63-year-old Yamashita said in a statement.