Perfect for driving BGM and karaoke! Recommended summer songs for people in their 40s [2026]
For those in their 40s today, what Japanese summer songs come to mind?
Many of you probably think right away of hit songs from the 1990s, the era when CDs sold the most in Japan.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of summer tracks recommended for people in their 40s.
Listening to these songs will likely bring back memories and feelings from back then, and the songs we’re about to introduce might just give you a warm sense of nostalgia.
Use them as a reference for your driving playlist or karaoke selections!
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- [Heisei-Era Summer Songs] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations!
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Perfect for driving BGM and karaoke!! Recommended summer songs for people in their 40s [2026] (61–70)
Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu
When it comes to the ultimate relaxing summer tune, isn’t it “Summer Nude”? Released by Magokoro Brothers in 1995, it’s a classic that continues to be covered over time.
The pop and funky melody and sound make your heart bounce! It’s a perfect match for a drive, and the music video’s summer vibe even features the duo PUFFY before their debut, set along the water’s edge.
The everlasting-summer mood and the childlike nostalgia it evokes feel gently laid-back and comfortable.
Sunny day sundaySENTIMENTAL:BUS
Sunny Day Sunday is the perfect song for a hot summer day, especially one that’s sweltering.
It’s a track released by Sentimental Bus and was used in a Pocari Sweat commercial.
The lyrics depict someone absorbed in an activity under the blazing sun.
Thanks to its theme and its fast-paced, driving sound, it’s also beloved as a baseball cheering song.
Since it’s sung quite fast, you might need some tips if you want to tackle it at karaoke.
BLUE BIRDHamasaki Ayumi
A singer-songwriter who enjoyed overwhelming popularity to the point of being called a high school girls’ icon, Ayumi Hamasaki has had a major impact on society beyond music, influencing makeup and fashion as well.
Her 40th single, “BLUE BIRD,” used as the CM song for Zespri Gold Kiwifruit, is memorable for its opening that begins with a clear, translucent sound.
The arrangement progresses from a catchy B melody into a liberating chorus, making it perfect for gradually lifting your mood while driving.
It’s a refreshing, exhilarating pop tune with a crisp, invigorating ensemble.
tsunamiSazan Ōrusutāzu
When you think of summer, a beloved national group comes to mind: Southern All Stars and their 2000 release, “TSUNAMI.” It’s an entrancing song that likens the heartache of a broken romance to surging waves, evoking a delicate, glass-like love story.
Unusually for a Southern single, the track has no intro.
The Door of MidsummerGLAY
With a propulsive sound that captures youthful impatience and hope for the future, it really makes you feel the arrival of summer.
This track is GLAY’s second single, released in June 1994, and many will remember it as the opening theme for the anime Yamato Takeru.
Later included on the classic album SPEED POP, it’s a song packed with their early raw energy.
The dry guitar tones and TERU’s soaring vocals deliver a refreshing sensation, like racing under an endless blue sky.
Put it on as summer driving music, and those bittersweet memories from back then are sure to come rushing back.
SunGO!GO!7188
Formed by members from Kagoshima, GO!GO!7188 gained popularity for their unique sound that fuses surf rock with Showa-era pop.
Their major-label debut, released in June 2000, is a refreshing rock tune that’s perfect for summer drives! The sound—combining edgy guitar riffs with vocals that are cute yet powerful—is an undeniable killer track that will raise your spirits whether you like it or not.
The song’s worldview, which sings of a passionate love that insists on getting what you want through your own strength, is also truly captivating.
This classic is included on their first album, “Dasoku Hokō.”
Natsu no HikariGRAPEVINE
GRAPEVINE is known for their humid, atmospheric guitar sound and literary lyrics, and their summer songs are exceptional as well.
Set to a wistful UK rock–inspired melody, they paint scenes of the blazing summer sun and the faint sadness lurking behind it.
The world they evoke—one that stirs bittersweet memories of youth and the steps we couldn’t quite take—is irresistibly emotional.
This release is their 12th single, put out in June 2002, and many may recognize it as the theme song from the TV program “Ousama no Brunch.” Play it on a late-summer drive, and it’s sure to wash you in nostalgia.