[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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[Heisei Summer Songs] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations! (21–30)
Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN
Among DEEN’s songs that colored the J-POP scene of the 1990s, here’s a masterpiece that can be called the very definition of a refreshing summer anthem.
Released in June 1994 as their fifth single, it became a million seller and can rightly be considered one of their signature tracks.
Many will remember the exhilarating sound of this song from the Otsuka Pharmaceutical “Pocari Sweat” commercial, which evokes the bittersweetness of youth.
The growing anxiety caused by drifting apart from a lover and the earnest longing for truth are expressed through Ikemori’s clear, soaring vocals.
It’s the perfect track to play on a summer drive while reminiscing about those days.
The summer you gave meieiri reo
Celebrated as an iconic summer anthem of the Heisei era, this song has left a deep impression on many listeners.
Leo Ieiri’s clear, crystalline vocals are a perfect match for lyrics that portray the ache of unrequited love.
It feels as if you’re reliving the flutter of a summertime crush under the bright sun.
Released in July 2016, it drew attention as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Koinaka.” It’s a captivating track that resonates not only with those who watched the drama but also with first-time listeners.
Perfect for reminiscing about summer memories or when you’re carrying a bittersweet love in your heart.
It will surely stay close to your feelings.
[Summer Songs of the Heisei Era] A curated selection of timeless summer tunes loved across generations! (31–40)
I Want to Be Embraced in a Sea of Tears ~SEA OF LOVE~Sazan Ōrusutāzu
A summer love song by Keisuke Kuwata, whose passionate yet somehow wistful voice resonates in the heart.
The anguish and frustration born of love are portrayed with rich emotion, like waves washing in and out, making you empathize almost involuntarily.
Released as a single in July 2003, it became well-known as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “My Only Madonna.” Listen to it on a summer drive or when you’re feeling a bit sentimental, and unforgettable scenes may come flooding back.
Summer Days of 1993class
When it comes to summer songs from the Heisei era, this is surely the first track that comes to many people’s minds.
Performed by the male duo class, it was their debut single and a million seller in 1993, topping 1.155 million copies.
It tells a bittersweet story of suddenly falling in love with a long-time friend under the dazzling summer sun.
Carried by a refreshing melody, it vividly sings of the protagonist’s heart being stolen by charms they had never noticed before.
It was also loved as the theme song for the TV show “Kimi to Itsumademo.” Its straightforward lyrics invite a variety of interpretations depending on the listener—perhaps one reason this song continues to be talked about for so long.
ultra soulB’z
B’z’s 31st single, released in 2001.
Even more than 20 years later, it’s still often used as a theme song in various settings and is embraced by a wide range of generations—a hot, classic summer anthem.
It’s a rock tune that blends guitar-driven sound with techno and Latin flavors, and, just as the title suggests, it surges with fiery spirit.
It’s also a motivational song that gives a powerful push to anyone striving forward.
Sing it out and blow away the summer heat!
Yes, SummerdaysGLAY
GLAY is a four-member band that dominated the 1990s J-POP scene with a musical concept that was neither pure pop nor rock.
Their sixth single, “Yes, Summerdays,” used in a Camellia Diamond commercial, opens with a lyrical guitar riff that really sticks in your ears.
Its slightly wistful melody evokes a sentimental summer atmosphere—not just heat, but something more reflective.
With touches like an acoustic guitar solo and a string interlude, the dramatic arrangement makes it an emotional number.
Naughty SunORANGE RANGE
Released in 2007 as ORANGE RANGE’s 17th single, this song was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV drama “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~ Ikemen Paradise ~.” It reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
On Oricon, it ranked No.
1 in the 2007 “Summer Memory Songs” ranking and took overall first place in both the men’s and women’s categories for “Songs That Liven Up Karaoke.”