[Heisei-Era Summer Songs] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations!
A summer when you hung out with friends and made tons of memories, a summer of passionate love, a summer when you poured your sweat into club activities and studying.
What kind of memories do you have of summer?
In this article, we’ll introduce summer songs released during the Heisei era.
We’ve gathered a variety of Heisei summer tracks, including songs by artists strongly associated with summer and timeless summer classics loved across generations.
You might even find a song that colored your own Heisei summers!
If you spent the Heisei years with the songs we introduce, take a trip down memory lane.
And if you’re discovering them for the first time, find your favorites and be sure to give them a listen this summer!
- Summer Songs That Hit in the 2000s | A Look Back at Nostalgic Summer Tunes!
- 1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: classic and hit summer songs
- Heisei Song Collection: Iconic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s
- Summer songs with great lyrics. Tracks that make your summer memories even more wonderful.
- Reiwa-era summer songs: A roundup of new staple tracks that color the hot summer
- [Summer Classics] When it comes to summer, it’s got to be this song! A roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks.
- A collection of summer-like songs: tracks that go perfectly with summer, like the sea and the sky.
- Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)
- A song by a rock band bursting with exhilarating energy and a sense of speed that you want to listen to in the summer.
- [Summer Songs Recommended for Your 30s] A Selection of Nostalgic Hit Tunes!
- Classic “summer songs” you’ll want to listen to in summer. Timeless J-pop summertime anthems perfect for summer guys and summer girls.
- Songs of Summer from the Showa Era: A comprehensive introduction, from nostalgic Japanese hits to timeless favorites still popular today
- [Classics] Timeless Summer Hits Recommended for All Ages [Summer Songs]
[Heisei Summer Songs] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations! (61–70)
I can’t wait for summerTUBE
When it comes to artists who embody summer, many people immediately think of the four-piece rock band TUBE.
Their 16th single, Natsu wo Machikire Nakute (Can’t Wait for Summer), which was used as the ending theme for TBS’s weekday variety slot “Move,” is memorable for its dramatic ensemble and wistful melody.
The lyrics, depicting a sentimental romance, seem to resonate with the uniquely bittersweet atmosphere of summer and stir the heart.
With passionate vocals that color the season, it’s a classic summer anthem in J-pop.
The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell
Supercell’s “The Story You Don’t Know” expresses an unrequited love through the summer night sky.
Released in 2009 as their debut single, it was used as the ending theme for the anime Bakemonogatari and reached No.
5 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
The memory of going to stargaze with the person you have feelings for makes the unfulfilled love all the more poignant and heartrending.
In contrast, the song itself is a pop tune with a driving beat and a refreshing chord progression that feels great to listen to.
I recommend listening to it while gazing at the summer night sky!
LIFEkimaguren
Kimaguren was a music duo formed by two people who met at a swimming school during their high school days, though they disbanded in 2015.
Their second single, “LIFE,” which had multiple tie-ins including serving as the opening theme for the music show PVTV, sticks in your ears with its refreshing acoustic guitar sound and sing-along-worthy choral work.
The contrast between the strongly messaged lyrics and the passionate beat seems perfect for elevating those once-in-a-lifetime summer moments.
It’s a catchy, feel-good pop tune that pairs beautifully with summertime scenery.
I can see you againKetsumeishi
Ketsumeishi is a four-member hip-hop group that made their major debut in 2001 with Familia.
Their 2007 release Mata Kimi ni Aeru is a bright track that pairs a summery, upbeat sound with emotional rap.
The song was also used in a Shiseido ANESSA commercial featuring model Yuri Ebihara—nicknamed “Ebi-chan,” who was immensely popular at the time.
Ebihara also appears in the music video, which, including her makeup and fashion, exudes a nostalgic 2000s vibe—so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
Fujifabric is a three-piece rock band that made their major debut in 2004 with the album Alamode.
Their song Wakamos no Subete is captivating for its lyrics that poignantly capture the melancholy of summer’s end.
“Gazing at the last fireworks of the year, I find myself recalling those memories no matter how many years go by…”—such beautiful lines leave a lasting impression.
Songs like this, which express what young people feel in everyday life in down-to-earth words, were born in great numbers in the 2000s, which is why they feel so nostalgic.
Music HourPorunogurafiti
This is the third single by Porno Graffitti, who debuted with “Apollo” in 1999—a song that seems to capture a sense of rising excitement for summer.
Overall, it feels like it’s modeled after a radio program, and combined with the breezy sound, it conjures up an image of music playing from a car stereo cruising along the coastline.
The lyrics, which depict a radio host responding to messages from listeners, are memorable and give the impression of encouraging people to enjoy the summer.
It’s a track that conveys a refreshing yet powerful energy—highlighting the thrill of the season’s arrival as temperatures climb, and the determination to fully savor a youth that can only be found in summer.
PEACHOtsuka Ai
Ai Otsuka, a singer-songwriter whose 2003 release ‘Sakuranbo’ became a long-running hit.
She has put out many bright, pop songs, and there are plenty that fit the summer vibe.
Among them, the 2007 release ‘PEACH’ is a standout with its summery, bursting rhythm and provocative lyrics.
It was also chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama ‘Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~ Ikemen Paradise ~,’ and its dreamy, otherworldly lyrics are irresistible!