Classic “summer songs” you’ll want to listen to in summer. Timeless J-pop summertime anthems perfect for summer guys and summer girls.

Summer DreamBikkeburanka

Vicke Blanka – Summer Dream

An urban, mellow-sounding number that feels wonderfully smooth.

It’s a work by singer-songwriter Vickeblanka, and his signature delicate falsetto accentuates the fragility of summer nights.

The theme is the memory of a fleeting summer romance, and its charm lies in the coexistence of a dreamlike weightlessness and a heart-tightening wistfulness.

This track is one of the double A-side single “Natsu no Yume/WALK,” released in August 2018.

It’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to sink into a slightly sentimental mood at summer’s end.

A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo

Ringo Sheena – Long and Short Festival

It’s a cool dance tune suffused with the sultry heat of a summer night and a fleeting, ephemeral vibe.

The track is a duet featuring Ukigumo, the guitarist from the band Tokyo Jihen, on vocals.

The rhythm incorporates elements of Brazilian music, and the interplay of the two Auto-Tuned voices is irresistibly captivating.

The lyrics portray a man and woman’s cat-and-mouse game set during a festival night, along with a sense of urgency toward a season that slips away in an instant—evoking Shiina Ringo’s distinctly mature worldview to the fullest.

Released in August 2015 as part of a double A-side single, it was used in Coca-Cola’s summer campaign commercial, making it a familiar tune in many households.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly muggy summer night, soaking in a sentimental mood.

All of the YouthFujifaburikku

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

This is a classic song by Fujifabric that you suddenly feel like listening to in the season where summer ends and autumn begins.

The longing for the passing summer and the brilliance of youth that will never return are layered over the image of the “last fireworks,” and its bittersweet melody sinks deep into the heart.

Released as a single in November 2007, the track later stayed with many listeners as an insert song in the drama SUMMER NUDE.

There’s also a lovely anecdote that in the composer’s hometown, the song was played as the evening chime for three days in December 2012.

On nights when you want to bask in summer memories, or on a sentimental walk home, why not give it a quiet listen?

Mermaid RhapsodySEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI Mermaid Rhapsody

From the very beginning, SEKAI NO OWARI’s unique atmosphere is in full bloom.

Even the title conveys a song that brings a refreshing coolness to this hot summer.

The band’s distinctive sound lets you feel their signature summertime vibe.

tropical nightSPEED

SPEED / Tropical Night Re Track ~from BIBLE -SPEED BEST CLIPS-

When people think of popular summer songs, they often imagine up-tempo tracks or refreshing tunes that evoke the ocean, but there are actually quite a few mellow summer songs as well.

SPEED’s song “Nettaiya” (Tropical Night) doesn’t include many explicitly summery phrases in its lyrics, but it portrays the feelings of a woman who senses loneliness on a drooping, stifling tropical night.

Even though she’s devoted herself to the one she loves, his affection has faded, leaving her with a dark mood as if her heart were shrouded in a gloomy fog.

While SPEED is known for catchy, smile-filled dance numbers, their mature ballads are also very popular.

Raindrops and FireworksKobukuro

Kobukuro 'Raindrops and Fireworks'

Kobukuro’s new song is a ballad that perfectly captures the bittersweet feelings of love for the fireworks festival season.

Inspired by the Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival held in the rain, it delicately portrays the emotions of a protagonist waiting for their lover.

Included on the album “QUARTER CENTURY,” it was released digitally in advance in July 2024.

The song is notable for its lyrics depicting a fragile romance and a dreamlike world where raindrops and fireworks overlap.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear when summer draws to a close, especially if you’re struggling with love.

As you gaze up at the fireworks, it might be nice to think of someone special.

Nagisasupittsu

Spitz / Nagisa

Spitz’s “Nagisa” sparkles with a brisk, refreshing feel—Masamune Kusano’s vocals capture the breeziness of summer.

Released in 1996, the song was featured in commercials for Pocky and Subaru.

Portraying the shoreline as something mystical, the lyrics express a wish for a relationship not to fade away like a dream or an illusion.

It can be heard as a lament for parting from someone dear, and also as a hope that summer itself won’t end.

Think of a fleeting summer romance, a summer vacation you’re reluctant to leave behind, or a summer scene you never want to lose, and give it a listen.

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