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

Mock youthMEGA SHINNOSUKE

Mega Shinnosuke – Youth Play-Act (Visualizer)

This song is a perfect fit for the nostalgic mood at summer’s end.

Its refreshing guitar sound is soothing, yet carries a faint melancholy that really sinks into the heart.

What the piece portrays is the fleeting beauty and poignancy of youth—those radiant days passing by as if they were nothing more than a game of make-believe.

If you listen to it on a night when you’re reminiscing about the fun of summer and feeling a touch wistful, those shimmering days may feel all the more precious.

cotton candyback number

back number – Watagashi (full)

Set against the backdrop of a summer festival, this track portrays the frustrating ache of unspoken love.

You can’t help but relate to the protagonist, who, while gazing at their crush’s profile, can think of nothing but how to find the courage to hold hands.

Released as a single in July 2012, it was chosen as the opening theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV.” It’s a song that accompanies those sentimental feelings of lingering over a fleeting summer and basking in the memories of a delicate romance.

Summer MirageWada Kanako

Natsu No Mirage

Kanako Wada’s music captivates with its urban, sophisticated sound and clear, transparent vocals.

Released in May 1987, it was the first ending theme for the anime Kimagure Orange Road.

The song portrays the bittersweet feelings of a summer romance that flickers like a mirage.

Echo-drenched production and the resonance of slide guitar create a dreamlike mood that leaves listeners spellbound.

It’s a classic that’s perfect for savoring memories of love while bidding farewell to summer.

Rainy WednesdayOhtaki Eiichi

Eiichi Ohtaki - A Rainy Wednesday

One of Eiichi Ohtaki’s signature songs, where the gentle, soaking rain conveys the feel of summer.

You can picture yourself quietly gazing at the sea with someone dear, beside a battered old Volkswagen.

Before you know it, as you listen, you’re filled with a sentimental longing for the passing seasons.

The track was included on the classic 1981 album “A LONG VACATION,” and was later released as a single in May 1982.

With its clear, transparent vocals and wistful melody that sinks into the heart, it’s a perfect number for late summer.

The Last Song of MidsummerAratani Shota

Shota Aratani – Midsummer’s Last Number (Official Music Video)

As the dazzling sunlight softens and the season begins to feel like summer’s end, this is the perfect song to accompany the moment.

Released by Shota Araya in June 2025, the track features arrangements by ESME MORI and poignantly portrays the scenes of farewells that come with late summer.

The chorus, which calls out “Let’s dance,” even in the midst of parting, really strikes a chord.

It carries both sadness and gratitude for having met, leaving you with a bittersweet feeling just by listening.

A lyrical number perfectly suited for summer’s final days.

Writing down the summerrokudenashi

Jotting Down Summer / Good-for-Nothing (Piano Arrange)

A song carefully woven like writing a diary entry about an ordinary summer day.

Scenes come to life—the flowers blooming by the roadside, the fireworks rising over the neighboring town’s sky—stirring both tenderness for the shining season and a looming sense of its eventual end.

The appeal also lies in vocalist Ninjin’s steady, resonant voice and the nostalgic rock sound.

Featured on the EP “Hikage,” released in July 2025, this track is a work that will stay by your side throughout your summer.

Ms. SeptemberRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Ms. September [Official Live Video from “RADWIMPS Outdoor LIVE 2013 ‘Aoi to Mememe’”]

A classic song that sings about realizing your true feelings as summer draws to a close.

With lyrics crafted in Yojiro Noda’s signature style, this is the kind of track Japanese rock fans might find themselves wanting to hear every September.

Beyond the breezy sound that perfectly suits the end of summer, the real highlight is the lyrics.

People often talk about a “summer fling,” but what if, even after that fun, giddy summer passes, your feelings about love don’t change? Then it isn’t just a summer romance—it’s the real thing.

This song centers on that insight into one’s true feelings, personified by “September-san,” a track themed around September—the month that is neither quite summer nor autumn.

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Hane Keisuke

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