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 road trip tunes and karaoke! Summer songs recommended for people in their 40s [2026] (11–20)
A Perfect SkyBONNIE PINK
Singer-songwriter BONNIE PINK, highly acclaimed for her genre-blending musicality.
Released in June 2006, this song became a major hit as the CM track for Shiseido’s ANESSA.
Set to a breezy sound that feels like an endlessly expanding blue sky, the lyrics beautifully portray the summer romance of an independent woman.
The lyrics balance summer sparkle with a touch of wistfulness in a stylish way, making it perfect as a driving soundtrack for an exhilarating sense of freedom.
Summer MelancholyL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
Even among summer songs, there must be quite a few people who still remember this track that you want to listen to when you’re feeling sentimental.
It’s L’Arc~en~Ciel’s third single, released in October 1995, and it sets a dramatic soundscape to lyrics about the melancholic atmosphere at the end of summer and the emptiness of a love that cools, like sun-tanned skin fading in color.
In fact, this piece is a rearranged version of a song included on the classic album “heavenly,” redone for single release, and it was also used as an ending theme for a TBS program.
It’s a timeless song that’s perfect for a solo drive along the coast or for immersing yourself in a sentimental mood at karaoke.
It’s summer, isn’t it?TUBE
When it comes to early Heisei-era summer songs, this is surely the first track that comes to many people’s minds.
With lyrics about the passing of spring, the excitement for the season to come, and the flutter of a tender crush, the song rides on a piercingly refreshing guitar sound that lifts your spirits.
Released in May 1992, it also became widely known as the jingle for Ezaki Glico’s Pocky commercials.
It’s one of TUBE’s signature summer anthems, and the album that features it, “Noryo,” was a massive hit as well.
Put it on as driving music and you’ll be flooded with nostalgia; belt it out at karaoke and it’s guaranteed to get the crowd going.
Midsummer SunbeamsMōningu Musume.
Morning Musume has continued to evolve through repeated graduations and additions of members, and surely many people still cherish this early classic.
Released in May 1999 as the first single by the seven-member lineup, this track marked a new beginning for the group.
Centered on Natsumi Abe and backed by sophisticated harmonies that showcase their advanced vocal abilities, it demonstrates a musicality that transcends the idol-pop category.
Coupled with lyrics that depict the start of a summer romance, it’s an undeniable mood-lifter—a perfect killer tune for a drive! A different version is also included on the album “Second Morning.”
The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children
This is a song included on Mr.Children’s debut album and the title track of their first single—an early masterpiece that dates back to their amateur days.
Its gently performed sound leaves a strong impression, evoking images of a summer seaside and a breeze passing through.
The lyrics depict episodes of summer, expressing the bittersweet end of a romance as summer draws to a close.
While conveying the sorrow of parting, it also cherishes the memories, resulting in a song that feels tender and warm.
White kiteMy Little Lover
Younger listeners probably felt that this My Little Lover track is quintessentially summery.
At the same time, those who spent their youth in the ’90s may have had the sensation of being suddenly pulled back into a summer of that decade.
Released as a single in December 1995, the song is a refreshingly breezy tune overflowing with summertime imagery.
Beyond akko’s crystalline vocals, its contemporaneous UK rock flavor leaves a strong impression.
In 2021, it was also featured in a commercial for Suntory’s chu-hi “Horoyoi Shiroi Sour,” drawing renewed attention as a perfect song for the summer vibe.
Perfect for drive-time BGM and karaoke! Summer songs recommended for people in their 40s [2026] (21–30)
summer gameHimuro Kyosuke
Kyosuke Himuro, whose overwhelming charisma has led Japan’s rock scene.
His third single, “SUMMER GAME,” released in 1989, is an early masterpiece: its exhilarating, fast-paced sound and breezy vibe pair perfectly with a drive.
The world it evokes makes you want to floor it and go your own way, and Himuro’s vocals set your heart ablaze and lift your spirits.
You can even feel a strength that seems to break through walls.
Himurock, forever and always.
