[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!
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[Summer Songs of the Heisei Era] A handpicked selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations! (1–10)
Nagisasupittsu
A song by Spitz that conveys a floating sensation as if dazed by the summer heat and a mystical worldview.
It’s said to have emerged while Masamune Kusano was experimenting with programming, and you can feel that episode in the mechanically repeating tones, which create a unique sense of buoyancy.
The gradual way the instruments assert themselves is another highlight, and it even feels like it expresses the rising anticipation as summer approaches.
The lyrics, centered on words that depict scenery, are also striking—altogether a refreshing track that blows away the clinging heat of summer.
Summer MemoriesKetsumeishi
An adult summertime song by Ketsumeishi, released in 2003—the same year Roppongi Hills made its dazzling grand opening.
It was also used in commercials for Vodafone’s Japan arm, now SoftBank.
The restrained sound, dialing back the hype and aggressive beats, evokes refined, grown-up memories.
Lyrics like “Every summer holds memories.
The summer I spent with you is now far away” conjure a mature love that doesn’t need to spell out like or dislike.
A smooth fusion of pop and rap, it’s a track you’ll want to play when summer comes—and share with someone else.
Rollercoaster RomanceKinKi Kids
Just hearing that sparkling intro instantly brings those Heisei-era summers back to life—many of us feel that way, I’m sure.
Released in April 1998 as KinKi Kids’ third single, this gem of summer pop captures the thrilling rush of a budding romance, carried by an exhilarating melody.
It was also featured in ANA’s Okinawa campaign commercials, conjuring vivid images of the island’s blue skies and sea.
There’s even an anecdote that it was once a candidate for their debut single.
With its buoyant, samba-infused sound, it’s perfect for summer drives or listening by the beach.
It’s a magical track that transports you straight back to your youth in an instant.
[Heisei Summer Songs] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations! (11–20)
Everyday, KachushaAKB48
Released in May 2011, this work is arguably the quintessential idol song of the Heisei-era summer.
Set on a sun-drenched sandy beach, the lyrics portray a growing crush on someone wearing a headband, distilling the sparkle and bittersweetness of youth.
It was AKB48’s 21st single and became widely known through its use in Asahi Soft Drinks’ “WONDA” commercial.
The tender love story carried by its catchy melody hasn’t lost any of its charm even today.
Put it on for a summer drive, and it’s as if the vivid memories of youth spent with friends come rushing back.
Can’t Say Anything… SummerTHE JAYWALK
Even within the countless classic and hit summer songs of the ’90s, many people surely find this particular masterpiece especially memorable.
Released by J-WALK in 1991, it became their signature song, enjoying long-running sales and tugging at the heart with its poignant lyrics.
In fact, this work is the summer version of a track included on the previous year’s album, “DOWN TOWN STORIES.” Koichi Nakamura’s husky voice, brimming with mature charm and allure, paints the helpless feelings of a protagonist who, at a farewell at summer’s end, finds themselves suddenly captivated by little gestures of their partner they had never noticed before.
It’s also well known as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Otona no Natsuyasumi” (An Adult’s Summer Vacation).
If you have unforgettable summer memories, why not let this song be your BGM and indulge in some nostalgia for those days you can never return to?
Roco LotionORANGE RANGE
This song by ORANGE RANGE, a rock band from Okinawa, was the one that cemented their image as a summer band.
The title and lyrics—often said to parody Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion”—are key points that emphasize energy and fun.
The weighty sound conveys a gradual rise in summer excitement.
The lyrics, which straightforwardly express the giddy mood of summer, are another major highlight; their light, chantable cadence amplifies the season’s joy.
It’s a track that directly captures the lively spirit of going all out and enjoying summer with your friends.
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
This is a memorable masterpiece distinguished by a wistful yet beautiful harmony that appeared at the end of the Heisei-era summers.
Performed by DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu, it was released in August 2017 as the theme song for the animated film “Fireworks (Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?).” It dominated the Billboard Japan charts for 11 consecutive weeks, making it no exaggeration to call it a song that defined its time.
The lyrics overlay fireworks fading into the night sky with the transience of youth, and the seamless fusion of DAOKO’s translucent vocals with Kenshi Yonezu’s rich tone stirs deep nostalgia in listeners.
It’s the perfect song to play on a summer night when you’re feeling a bit sentimental and want to bask in your memories.