Songs you want to listen to at the end of summer: Late-summer classics to look back on the season

parasolNanawo Akari

Parasol / Nanawo Akari

Akari Nanawo is an artist known for popular songs like “Turing Love feat.

Sou” and “Dadadadadadada Tenshi.” In 2022, she released “Higasa” (“Parasol”), which was selected as the theme song for the short film “Sunday and the Mermaid.” The song depicts the protagonist reflecting on their past self at the end of summer.

Distant summer memories can feel bittersweet—even happy ones—when you realize you can’t go back.

When you’re in the mood for something wistful, give this song a listen and let it touch those precious memories of summer.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

The Swirling Summer Fermataoishikuru meronpan

Swirling Summer Fermata

A song with a dreamlike melody that leaves a strong impression, perfect for the end of summer.

This work is one of the annually released “summer”-themed tracks by Oishikuru Melonpan.

It was released digitally in August 2024.

With rich musical expression, it conveys feelings toward time that has passed and things that have been lost.

Don’t you sometimes feel a sudden pang of loneliness while gazing out the window on a late-summer outing? This breezy track evokes just such emotions.

Marigoldaimyon

Marigold

This song captivates with a refreshing yet wistful feel that pairs perfectly with summer memories.

Released by Aimyon in August 2018, it became the first track by a Japanese artist to surpass 100 million streams the following year, making it a favorite across generations.

Its melody, which conjures vivid summer scenes, may stir a gentle sense of nostalgia.

Depicting summertime moments spent with someone special, it’s the kind of music that even elementary school children can enjoy and feel at ease with.

It’s perfect for summer outings or dusk—be sure to give it a listen!

Blue BookmarkGalileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei - Aoi Shiori (Blue Bookmark)

This is a song by Galileo Galilei that was used as the opening theme for the popular anime “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.” Released in June 2011, it features sparkling kalimba tones and a driving sound that evokes the exhilaration of summer.

At the same time, the lyrics conjure up poignant scenes that reminisce about days gone by and memories with friends.

It’s a track that brings back nostalgic times, and listening to it at the end of summer will make that bittersweet feeling sink even deeper into your heart.

Blue Summertime BluesZūkaraderu

Zookaraderu “Blue Summertime Blues” (Official Music Video)

Hailing from Sapporo, Hokkaido, the three-piece rock band ZOOKARADERU is beloved for their breezy pop sensibility and delicate lyrics that resonate with everyday life.

Their 2023 release “Blue Summertime Blues” feels like the perfect track to play at summer’s end.

Opening with a striking guitar arpeggio, the sound exudes a curious charm, blending nostalgia for the passing summer with a resolve to keep moving forward.

Coupled with vocalist Takanobu Yoshida’s slightly wistful tone, it’s like listening to the soundtrack of a page from youth.

Put this song on during a late-summer night as the heat begins to wane, and you’re sure to be swept into a wonderfully sentimental mood.

Ephemeral FireworksKami wa saikoro o furanai

God Doesn't Play Dice “Ephemeral Fireworks” [Official Lyric Video]

“Utakata Hanabi” is the first major digital single released in 2020 by the four-piece rock band Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai.

The music video, which premiered on YouTube simultaneously with the release, is a simple one that overlays lyrics on scenery, yet it has surpassed 2 million views.

The lyrics, depicting a faint, bittersweet love, carry the same kind of wistful melancholy found in fireworks and the atmosphere of summer’s end, resulting in a nostalgic finish that evokes a gentle sense of reminiscence.

It’s a song I highly recommend listening to while savoring the waning days of summer!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hamada Takuya

Report a problem

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

This song evokes scenes of summers gone by and fills you with a certain nostalgia.

One of its great charms is the combination of n-buna’s literary lyrics and suis’s clear, transparent vocals.

The bittersweetness everyone feels while growing up and the longing for days past gently resonate with the listener’s heart.

The track was included on the mini-album “Makeinu ni Encore wa Iranai” released in May 2018, and in December 2019 it was also used as the opening music for a live show by the comedy duo “Tarinai Futari.” It’s a perfect song for a summer drive or for nights when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.