Get fired up for the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z
When you think of summer, there are all kinds of events—like the beach, fireworks, and festivals.
As exciting as it is, summer also has a way of leaving you with a bittersweet feeling when the season comes to an end.
The J-pop scene is full of songs that capture those moments.
This time, we’ve focused on Gen Z and put together a selection of summer songs released around 2011 to 2024—the years that generation likely spent their youth.
Whether you’re part of that generation or not, this is a must-see!
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Turn up the heat of the season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z (11–20)
SummertimeFIVE NEW OLD
This song beautifully captures both the brilliance and the bittersweetness of summer.
It vividly portrays the sweet moments of love and the fleeting sense that they’re drawing to a close.
Featured on the album “MUSIC WARDROBE,” released on April 7, 2021, the track was also used in a commercial for KOSÉ’s SUNCUT® Prodefense.
Its music video, which expresses both confinement and liberation, also drew attention.
It’s a perfect track for making summer memories—ideal as background music for special moments with someone important, like a seaside date or a fireworks festival.
ASOBONiziU
With a playful spirit, every day becomes more fun—that’s the feeling this NiziU track gives you.
Featuring house music and a Motown-style upbeat rhythm, it’s the kind of song that makes many listeners start moving without even realizing it.
Released in April 2022, it was also used in a Fanta commercial.
Its message, “Let’s enjoy everyday life no matter what,” amplifies that excited summer vacation mood.
It’s perfect for hanging out with friends or as background music for outings, so give it a listen when you want everyone to get hyped!
HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution
This is a song by T.M.Revolution that was featured as the commercial theme for Asahi Soft Drinks’ Mitsuya Cider.
Its energetic sound and bold lyrics are captivating, evoking the thrill of summer’s arrival.
Released in June 1998, the track conjures vivid images of one’s rational limits slipping away amid the excitement and heat of romantic push-and-pull.
It’s a song that blows away the everyday and gives a boost to anyone who wants to cut loose under the sun.
Sea Breeze and SelfishnessHinatazaka46
A Hinatazaka46 track that portrays a bittersweet romance unfolding by the summer seaside.
It delicately depicts the protagonist’s feelings as they’re swept around by a carefree partner, yet can’t look away from their perilous charm.
Even knowing it’s one-sided, the growing emotions ride on an acoustic sound and ring out refreshingly.
The song is included on the single “Love yourself!” released in May 2025.
Listen to it on a beach at sunset and you might sink into a sentimental mood.
It’s a summer tune that stays close to the aching first loves of youth.
A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo
It’s a cool dance tune suffused with the sultry heat of a summer night and a fleeting, ephemeral vibe.
The track is a duet featuring Ukigumo, the guitarist from the band Tokyo Jihen, on vocals.
The rhythm incorporates elements of Brazilian music, and the interplay of the two Auto-Tuned voices is irresistibly captivating.
The lyrics portray a man and woman’s cat-and-mouse game set during a festival night, along with a sense of urgency toward a season that slips away in an instant—evoking Shiina Ringo’s distinctly mature worldview to the fullest.
Released in August 2015 as part of a double A-side single, it was used in Coca-Cola’s summer campaign commercial, making it a familiar tune in many households.
It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly muggy summer night, soaking in a sentimental mood.
Paradise BabyRIP SLYME
This is a classic that lightly captures the sense of liberation and free-spirited romance you feel by the beach in summer.
Released in June 2002, the track blends hip-hop with bossa nova and samba rhythms, offering an innovative sound that transcends conventional genre boundaries.
The lyrics brightly depict the unique exhilaration of summer—sun-kissed skin, a longing for the ocean, and the flutter of seeing someone in a bikini.
It’s also featured on the album “TOKYO CLASSIC,” and became the first million-selling record in Japanese hip-hop.
Perfect for seaside drives, summer festivals, or relaxing by the pool.
Turn up the heat of the season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z (21–30)
Star-mineBegrazia
This is a song released as a single in August 2025 by Begrazia, a three-member unit born from the game “Gakuen Idolmaster.” The lyrics and composition are by Jin, a popular Vocaloid producer.
The track sings of the resolve and passion of girls who stake everything on a fleeting moment of brilliance, like rapid-fire fireworks vividly coloring the night sky.
Its exhilarating, fast-paced sound grabs the listener’s heart and won’t let go.
Whether you’re determined to take on a new challenge or want to boost your mood to the max, their voices, aiming for their dreams, are sure to give you a push forward.