[For Seniors] Recommended Summer Songs for August [2026]

We are children of the sea.gasshou

Singing and Music Activities at the Day Service (2): We Are Children of the Sea [Fukukuru]

“Ware wa Umi no Ko” (I Am a Child of the Sea) is a recommended song for August.

Raising your voice isn’t just great for relieving stress; it also really helps improve your cardiopulmonary function.

Take deep breaths and sing children’s songs and beautiful Japanese tunes together in harmony—there are so many benefits, including better sleep.

Even if you feel shy about singing alone, you’ll surely enjoy it when you sing with others.

Advanced singers, try two-part or three-part harmonies.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Summer has comeshouka

Summer Has Come — Song Ayano Nonomura / pf Masakazu Inui

Many of you may remember singing this song in your classroom as children.

Its classical-style lyrics and beautiful melody vividly depict early summer scenes in Japan.

The piece was written by poet Nobutsuna Sasaki and composed by Sakunosuke Koyama, and it was published in May 1896 as part of a collection of songs.

The voice of the little cuckoo and the sight of rice planting conjure up images of a traditional Japanese summer.

In 2007, it was selected as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” and it is also familiar as the departure melody at Jōetsu-Myōkō Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

It is included on the album “Natsu no Uta (Songs of Summer)” by Saori Yuki and Sachiko Yasuda.

Listening to this song may even bring back your own nostalgic memories of summer.

Lady of the SeashoreFunaki Kazuo

Lady of the Seashore

It’s a song by Kazuo Funaki with a light, Hawaiian-style rhythm that feels as pleasant as a sunlit seaside scene springing to mind.

With his clear and sincere voice, he sings of the sweet and slightly bittersweet feelings of youthful love for an admired woman.

Released as a single in July 1965, the track drew attention at the time as an innovative rhythm-kayo number.

It continues to be loved to this day, included on classics like the album “A-side Collection 1963–2006.” If you listen to it together during a summer outing, the bustle of the seaside resorts you once visited and memories with someone special may vividly come back to life.

Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzu

The Wild Ones - Shore of Memories (with lyrics)

This iconic song, emblematic of the Group Sounds boom, is a refreshing piece of surf music that sings of youth by the seaside.

Released in November 1966 as their debut single, it became a massive hit, selling over a million copies.

The beautiful resonance of the 12-string electric guitar and the lyrics depicting memories on the beach are striking, vividly evoking summer scenes.

The song was also used as a movie theme and has continued to be covered by many artists.

It’s a perfect track for reminiscing about nostalgic youthful days or for summer recreation.

A Gift of a Summer Daygasshou

[Choral Piece] A Gift of Summer Days / Mixed Chorus in Two Parts [With Lyrics]

A song that lets you look back on many summer memories, “A Gift of a Summer Day.” The lyrics are by Akiko Takagi, a children’s author and lyricist, and the music is by opera singer Kiyotaka Kaga.

Summer overflows with a bright, lively atmosphere, so perhaps many people feel a certain loneliness as the season passes and gives way to autumn.

As the natural scenery changes and summer drifts farther away, this is a piece that makes you want to give thanks for all the fun memories, even while feeling a touch of wistfulness.

Try singing or listening to it as you reminisce about the happy moments from this summer.

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SAKI

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Rumors on the ShoreHirota Mieko

Rumors on the Shore

Set against a shoreline that feels like the end of summer, this work evokes a faint loneliness.

The delicate emotions of a woman who has lost her beloved are portrayed like waves that ebb and flow.

It’s curious how Mieko Hirota—known for her powerful vocals—sings this piece with gentle restraint, allowing a dignified strength to emerge even within sorrow.

Released in July 1967, it is said to have been composer Kyohei Tsutsumi’s first hit.

Some listeners may recall memories of youthful days on the beach or the bittersweet traces of a tender romance.

Why not let yourself drift into nostalgia, remembering those sweet-and-sour days of youth?

Hyokkori Hyoutan-jimaTanaka Mayumi

With Lyrics: Hyokkori Hyotan Island by Mayumi Tanaka

Hyokkori Hyotan Island was a puppet show that aired on NHK for five years starting in 1964.

Many older viewers may have watched it with their children.

The show’s theme song, which shares the same title, was released in 1964 and was sung at the time by Yoko Maekawa and the Hibari Children’s Chorus.

Set to a lively tempo, the lyrics follow the storyline of the show.

The image of an island floating on a blue sea perfectly suits the feeling of summer.

As you listen, try recalling the scenes you watched with your children and let your mind wander to an exciting seafaring adventure.

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SAKI

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