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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Perfect for drive playlists and karaoke! Summer songs recommended for people in their 40s [2026] (91–100)
Like when we first metEvery Little Thing
When it comes to gem-like love songs packed with summer memories, this track surely comes to mind.
Its sweet, bittersweet lyrics and refreshing melody perfectly capture the flutter of hearts in the season of love.
Released in August 1997 as one of Every Little Thing’s signature songs, it reached No.
3 on the Oricon chart.
It was also featured in Morinaga’s ICE BOX TV commercial and became a major hit.
It’s the perfect tune for a driving playlist and remains a karaoke staple.
Highly recommended for those who want to reminisce about their first love or as a special summer song to share with someone important.
Yes,SummerdaysGLAY
A refreshing, summer-perfect track bursting with energy from the very first notes of its intro.
Released in August 1995 as GLAY’s sixth single, it was also featured in a Camelia Diamond TV commercial.
This popular song is included on their second album, “BEAT out!”.
The lyrics—depicting fleeting summer brilliance and ephemeral young love—leave a strong impression and resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a great pick for a driving playlist or karaoke.
Celebrated by fans, the song showcases the breadth of GLAY’s musicality.
Cold KissICE BOX
The hit song that swept the summer of 1994 continues to be loved as a classic that lingers in our hearts.
The lyrics are memorable for likening the protagonist’s feelings—sensing a cooling shift in their relationship with a lover—to an icy, cold kiss.
The track was produced as the campaign song for Morinaga’s ICE BOX ice cream and was also featured in its commercials.
ICE BOX’s captivating vocals and melody can make you forget the summer heat.
It’s perfect as driving music—highly recommended with the windows down, feeling the breeze.
Along with nostalgic memories, this is a song that will blow away the summer swelter.
BANG! BANG! Vacation!SMAP
The perfect BGM for fully enjoying summer is SMAP’s “BANG! BANG! Vacation!” Released in 2005 alongside the album “SAMPLE BANG!”, it was used as a theme song for sports broadcasts.
For many in their 40s—the exact SMAP generation—this might be an indispensable summer anthem.
The lyrics comically portray lazing around in summer and the attitude of “whatever’s going on, let’s just have fun!” It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for both drives and karaoke!
Body & SoulSPEED
SPEED’s debut song, which took the world by storm with its energetic sound that evokes the heat of summer and a performance bursting with youth.
Debuting at the age of just 13, the four members’ vocals and dance brought a fresh breeze to the late-’90s J-pop scene.
Released in August 1996, the track became a hit, reaching No.
8 on the Billboard Japan charts.
The lyrics, which encourage a positive outlook on life and the courage to take on new challenges, are particularly memorable.
It’s the perfect song to play as background music for a summer drive.
Still loved by many today, it’s a track that brings energy along with memories of youth.
I want to become the wind.THE BOOM
A perfect summer tune, marked by an irresistibly catchy chorus and a pleasant samba rhythm.
Released as a single in March 1995, it became a hit, peaking at No.
19 on the Oricon charts.
The track features a variety of instruments, and enjoying their tones is part of its charm.
It was also used in a Suzuki Landy commercial, making it widely familiar to many people.
The lyrics, which sing of a strong desire for freedom and the joy of being with a loved one, resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a refreshing choice for a driving soundtrack and guaranteed to get the crowd going at karaoke!
The sun is burning.THE YELLOW MONKEY
A song that portrays a passionate love blazing like the sun—perfect for the summer heat.
Its powerful rock sound and Kazuya Yoshii’s distinctive vocals weave a fiery message that can’t help but set listeners’ hearts ablaze.
Released in January 2022, it was also chosen as the opening theme for TV Asahi’s “J.League A GOGO!!,” earning love from a wide audience.
Recommended for those who want a refreshing feeling while driving or who want to belt it out at karaoke.
It’s sure to become the perfect track for making summer memories.