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 (21–30)
Summer is comingDaikoku Maki
Set to passionate Latin rhythms, this Maki Ohguro number portrays the rising anticipation that comes with summer and the impatience hidden deep in the heart.
It’s said that the lyrics reflect a strong will to push back against social pressure to marry and to forge one’s own career.
The timbales-driven beat dramatizes those complex emotions.
Released in April 1994 as her eighth single, it was chosen as the opening theme for TBS’s music program “COUNT DOWN TV” and is also included on the classic album “Eien no Yume ni Mukatte.” For anyone who wants to shine in their own way, this song might just give you the powerful push you need.
Slow & EasyHirai Dai
This song, distinguished by the gentle sound of the ukulele, is a piece that symbolizes Dai Hirai’s lifestyle.
It’s the title track of the album “Slow & Easy,” released in May 2015, and it was also used in a Sumitomo Forestry commercial.
Over time, it surpassed 100 million total streams in June 2022.
While it might seem like a simple, relaxing summer tune, the piece carries a profound message: happiness isn’t something you create—it’s something you notice.
In the rush of everyday life, do you ever find yourself comparing with others and feeling anxious? This is the kind of song that, when you listen to it at such moments, gives you a gentle pause that lightens your heart.
Heats up the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z (31–40)
Atsuatsu Boogie BackSuzuki Suzuki
This irresistibly upbeat boogie track heralds the arrival of summer.
Released in July 2023 by the brother duo Suzuki Suzuki, it’s a Reiwa-era summer anthem that fuses a hip-hop-flavored, snappy beat with a catchy melody.
The lyrics are bursting with the giddy excitement of summer heat and the spark of a budding romance—just listening makes your body start to move.
The music video, featuring over 50 influencers, also became a hot topic, and dance videos took off on TikTok.
Put it on during a drive with friends or at a beach party, and you’re guaranteed to make the best summer memories!
Love♡Scream!AiScReam
An irresistibly cute summer tune that compares the feeling of being in love to ice cream! It’s the title track of AiScReam’s debut single “Ai♡Scream!”, a special unit born from the Love Live! series, released in January 2025.
Overflowing feelings for a crush—so sweet and tangy they might just melt—are sung over an electronic dance sound.
Fans are hooked, saying, “It’s so cute I keep replaying it!” The dance video went viral mainly on social media, drawing huge attention.
It’s also perfect as BGM to hype up summer drives and BBQs! Its irresistibly catchy melody might just help create your best summer memories.
Burning FlowerHANA
An energetic summer dance track that ignites a passion like roaring flames! Released in June 2025 by HANA, a girl group born from an audition program, this song follows the success of their debut hit “ROSE.” It’s as if the track captures the very image of the members blooming through adversity, carried by a blazing beat.
The member-crafted synchronized choreography and addictive chorus are sure to make anyone want to start dancing.
Its surprise premiere at a major festival in May 2025 instantly sent the crowd into a frenzy, a testament to the song’s raw energy.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the perfect anthem for beach parties in summer and late-night drives alike!
mermaidSuiyōbi no Campanella
A mermaid from the sea takes a prince from the land by the hand and leads him to a summer festival! Wednesday Campanella captured this cute story with genre-defying dance music.
The track shifts from a laid-back, reggae-style beat to a thrilling section where fierce jungle rhythms and dazzling brass burst forth—sure to set your heart racing.
Released digitally in July 2023, it was also featured as a campaign song for Coca-Cola’s “Coke STUDIO.” Just imagining the mermaid dancing her heart out, forgetting the pain in her feet, swells our excitement for summer events! Put it on during a drive or a barbecue, and it’ll herald the perfect start to summer.
Somewhere in the summerWANIMA
A sky so blue it pierces through, and the heady scent of lush greenery.
Energizing Japan’s summer with just that vibe is a classic by WANIMA, the rock band from Kumamoto.
Riding on their signature, fast-paced sound, the song delivers a straightforward message that hits home: blow away past sorrows and future doubts, and live out your best summer as yourself.
Included on the single “Summer Trap!!” released in July 2019, it’s also well-known as the theme song for the Mitsuya Cider commercial featuring Suzu Hirose.
It’s a refreshingly fizzy track perfect not only as background music to hype up kids’ summer vacations, but also to give a push to anyone taking on a challenge.