Get fired up for the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z

fireworksaiko

aiko - “Hanabi” music video

It’s one of Aiko’s signature songs that gently cradles those bittersweet summer-night feelings of love.

A hit on TikTok every summer, this was her third single, released in August 1999, peaking at No.

10 on the Oricon charts, and it’s also included on the classic album “Sakura no Ki no Shita.” It beautifully captures that helpless feeling of thinking about the person you like right up until you fall asleep.

Set against summer constellations and the night sky, it portrays a love that swells in your chest and the frustration of it not coming true—cue the heart flutters.

If you listen to it on a night of unrequited love when your feelings for someone are overflowing, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself relating to every word.

Summer is comingDaikoku Maki

Summer is coming

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

Dai Hirai / Slow & Easy (Music Video)

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.

Atsuatsu Boogie BackSuzuki Suzuki

Atsuatsu Boogie Back – Suzuki Suzuki [Official Music Video]

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!

Summer Ice Fade-Outsoshina

Soshina – Summer Ice Fade-Out

As the end of summer approaches, we can’t help but feel a touch sentimental, can we? The song I’m introducing today beautifully captures the atmosphere of a season slipping away.

Weaving in everyday fragments like melting ice cream and streaming subscriptions, it expresses a desire to cherish the loneliness of summer’s end and those fleeting sparks of brilliance—sure to move anyone who listens.

The original version, produced with a Vocaloid, was released in August 2023, but in May 2025 it returned in a fresh band arrangement with Soshina himself on vocals and guitar.

The sound gains the heat and drive unique to live performance, making it perfect for an even more emotional summer drive.

It’s a number that evokes both nostalgia for days gone by and the energy to move toward tomorrow.

Ocean living roomSuzuki Suzuki

Sea Living – Suzuki Suzuki [Official Music Video]

With the uniquely beautiful harmonies only siblings can create, Suzuki Suzuki deliver a perfect song to color the summer of the Reiwa era.

Its fresh, up-tempo melody lifts the listener’s spirits and whisks you away to glittering summertime scenes.

Upon its release in August 2021, the track became a hit, inspiring over 110,000 related videos on TikTok, and it topped the Billboard JAPAN charts for two consecutive weeks in September of the same year.

It’s also included on the album “313.” Ideal for a seaside drive or lively moments with friends, this is a song that’s sure to boost your mood.

Bluebirdikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari "Blue Bird" Music Video

A powerful number that sings of a strong will for freedom under the theme of “longing for the blue sky and the resolve to take flight.” Written and composed by Yoshiki Mizuno and delivered through Kiyoe Yoshioka’s transparent vocals, it brilliantly captures the determination to break through the status quo and head toward a new world.

Released in July 2008, it was featured as the opening theme for the anime Naruto Shippuden.

Debuting at No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, it became Ikimono-gakari’s first Top 3 entry—a milestone release.

It’s an energizing track recommended for those striving toward their dreams or about to take a new step in life.