Tear-jerking summer classics: recommended popular songs
When you think of summer songs, many people might imagine upbeat, catchy tracks that everyone can sing and dance to together.
However, there are times in summer when you feel like listening to tearjerkers—like bittersweet love ballads or breakup songs.
So in this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of moving, cry-worthy songs with a summer theme, spanning different eras and genres!
We’ve picked not only heartbreak songs, but also tracks that express a variety of emotions and situations.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen closely!
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Tear-jerking summer classics: Recommended popular songs (11–20)
summer rainPan no Mimimi
A single that Mimimi Panno poured her heart into as her first attempt at writing lyrics.
Blending summer rain and romance, the lyrics brim with aching tenderness and the sparkle of youth.
Released in August 2023, the song is a collaboration with Tomo Wakabayashi.
Since hosting her first solo concert in 2022, Mimimi Panno has steadily broadened her musical activities.
On a summer night, if you open the window and listen to the rain while playing this track, it might bring back your own bittersweet memories.
WILLNakajima Mika
WILL is the fifth single by the charismatic and hugely popular singer Mika Nakashima, released on August 7, 2002.
It was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Observatory, and with this track she made her first appearance at the 53rd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
As a drama tie-in, the lyrics evoke summer stargazing with imagery like telescopes and constellations.
It’s a captivating song where her aching vocals intertwine with bittersweet memories of love.
Be sure to give it a listen on late summer nights or as summer draws to a close.
secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
ZONE is a girls’ band that sadly disbanded in 2013.
Their signature song is “secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~.” Although it was released in 2001, it’s still loved across generations as a classic summer song.
Many will also remember that in 2011 it was used as the theme song for the TV anime Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, which depicts a bittersweet summer romance.
The lyrics don’t just evoke heartache—they also convey hope for the future, making it perfect for a summer night.
fireworksAAA
This is a song by the performance group AAA that expresses summer landscapes and the various emotions tied to them.
Its rhythm carries an R&B sensibility, while the harmonized tones of piano and traditional Japanese instruments create an evocative sound that accentuates a sense of poignancy.
A notable feature is the inclusion of words in the lyrics that evoke the Japanese summer, which makes the story of the song come across more vividly.
The content conveys the sadness of a fleeting summer passing by, while also suggesting a wish for happy times to last.
With a calm atmosphere that encourages facing one’s own feelings, it’s a track that truly stirs the heart.
rememberUru
A bittersweet yet heartwarming ballad, this song showcases Uru’s crystal-clear vocals at their finest.
With a quiet piano accompaniment, the moving melody evokes the cool breeze at summer’s end.
Chosen as the theme song for the anime film Natsume’s Book of Friends the Movie: Tied to the Temporal World, it was released in September 2018 as her sixth single.
Its profound emotion, perfectly matched to the story’s worldview, truly stands out.
Like a clear summer night sky, the lyrics resonate deep within, awakening each listener’s nostalgic memories and, though introspective, giving the courage to accept something with a forward-looking heart.
planetariumOtsuka Ai
Ai Otsuka has released many love songs over the years, but when it comes to a moving summer ballad, this is the one.
While her own bright personality—and upbeat, glamorous image from popular tracks like “Sakuranbo” and “LOVE POP”—often stand out, this song features a gently poignant, tender vocal performance that’s especially memorable.
The lyrics use words anyone can relate to, speaking straight to our emotions.
Released in September 2005, this is a song I especially recommend to those feeling down after a breakup or holding onto feelings they can’t quite let go of.
Tear-jerking summer classics: recommended popular songs (21–30)
Night journeyYorushika
This is a moving song where a literary narrative and Suis’s pure vocals resonate deeply in the heart.
The melodies crafted by n-buna delicately portray the stillness and loneliness of the night, as well as a glimmer of hope.
Listening to this piece feels as if you’re standing beside the characters, and it might even bring some listeners to tears.
Released in March 2020, it is also included on the highly acclaimed album “Tōsaku” (“Plagiarism”).
This masterpiece won an award at the 13th CD Shop Awards in 2021, and it beautifully colored the story as an insert song in the anime film “A Whisker Away,” released in June 2020.
It’s perfect for listening when you’re gazing at the night sky alone or when you need a gentle push forward.
It’s an ideal song for those who want to feel the emotions woven into the lyrics.