[July Songs] A selection of Japanese summer tunes perfect for the start of the season!
July marks the opening act of full-fledged summer.
Fireworks, the start of beach season, Tanabata, festivals…
For students, it’s also when summer vacation begins—no shortage of events to get excited about.
In this article, we introduce songs that are perfect for July, a month when outings become more frequent.
From tracks that evoke the start of summer—like the sea, the stars, and festivals—to refreshing youth anthems, it’s a lineup packed with mood-boosting classics.
Crank up your favorite tune and power through the sweltering summer heat!
- [July Karaoke Songs] Carefully selected summer classics and popular Japanese summer hits!
- Recommended Summer Songs for People in Their 60s: Classic and Popular J-Pop Hits [2026]
- [August Songs] Carefully selected masterpieces, classics, and the latest hits you’ll want to listen to in midsummer!
- Youthful songs to listen to in summer. Classic summer hits and recommended popular tracks.
- [Classics] Timeless Summer Hits Recommended for All Ages [Summer Songs]
- Summer songs with great lyrics. Tracks that make your summer memories even more wonderful.
- [Summer Classics] When it comes to summer, it’s got to be this song! A roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks.
- Classic enka songs perfect for summer—tunes that sing of festivals and fireworks.
- [Summer Songs] Summer tracks recommended for teens: A roundup of the latest and classic hits
- [Oldies] Summer Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s [2026]
- Famous and popular Japanese summer songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke
- Reiwa-era summer songs: A roundup of new staple tracks that color the hot summer
- A collection of summer-like songs: tracks that go perfectly with summer, like the sea and the sky.
[Songs for July] A Pick of Japanese Summer Tracks to Kick Off the Season! (71–80)
Goldfish FireworksOtsuka Ai
When it comes to singer Ai Otsuka’s appeal, it’s that she can sing both cute, upbeat pop songs and ballads at a high level, right? Her summer classic ballad “Kingyo Hanabi” already evokes a sense of summer’s transience from the title alone.
It’s a beautiful melody that conjures up scenes in your mind like a moment from a film.
Although it was released in 2004, it’s still deeply moving today—a masterpiece you’ll want to listen to on the way home from fireworks or as they’re ending, wrapped in that distinctive summer mood.
Tanabata Streetjisoku 36 km
A single released in November 2018 by Jisoku 36km, a rock band from Ekoda, Tokyo.
Set to a 3-3-7 cheer rhythm, its lyrics portray the boredom and emptiness of everyday life, making it an emotional and powerful track that’s very much their style.
The realistic depiction of youthful conflict—where powerlessness and longing mix—is particularly striking.
It’s a moving message song you’ll want to listen to in July, when summer begins.
I especially recommend it to people in their late teens to twenties who are tired from daily life or often feel stuck in a haze.
secret base ~What You Gave Me~Chino Ai, Tomatsu Haruka, Hayami Saori
This is a version of ZONE’s song covered by the voice actors from the anime “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.” The original song already evokes a summer image, and since the anime’s story is set in summer, it fits very well.
[July Songs] Picked Japanese summer songs perfect for the start of summer! (81–90)
If it’s the rain in JulyNishiwaki Yui
Yui Nishiwaki’s songs capture the frustration and tenderness of love, as well as the desire to discover a new self.
Her vocals, carried by digital sounds, are sure to resonate with listeners.
Released in May 1993, this notable track was also used as an ending theme on a TV Asahi program.
July, with its sense of summer’s beginning, makes it a must-listen for those standing at a crossroads in love or in life.
Even while holding onto heartache, it will give you the push you need to face forward and start walking.
I want to be your lover.Abe Mao
This is one of Mao Abe’s signature songs, opening with the acoustic guitar’s tone, a heart-wrenchingly beautiful melody, and powerful vocals.
The lyrics unfold as she thinks about the person she secretly loves, still knowing so little about them, while the grand arrangement of the chorus heightens the poignancy.
It’s a masterpiece of a fleeting summer romance—where the transience of late summer intertwines with unrequited love—drawing you deeper into its world and guaranteeing an emotional experience.
Naughty SunORANGE RANGE
This is a track by ORANGE RANGE, a rock band from Okinawa, which served as the opening theme for the drama “Hana-Kimi: Ikemen Paradise.” Released in July 2007, it’s also included on the album “PANIC FANCY.” The song centers on the impulse of a dangerous love that can’t be stopped even when you know you shouldn’t—like a blazing sun.
It portrays “two people drawn to each other, forgetting reason,” through the passionate vocals of the group’s three singers and a retro-pop sound.
It’s guaranteed to boost your mood when you listen during summer drives or events! Even after its release, it’s continued to be loved as a cross-generational summer classic, with related videos on TikTok reaching the tens of millions.
UmitsukiClariS
This dreamy song likens the unique wistfulness and fragility of summer to a moon floating over the sea and drifting jellyfish.
Chosen as the opening theme for Season 4 of the TV anime “Rent-A-Girlfriend,” it will be released as a single in August 2025.
The lyrics were written after the members repeatedly read the original manga, crafting them to closely reflect the protagonist’s wavering feelings of love.
The frustration of not being able to be honest about your emotions and the aching longing for someone you care about perfectly mirror Kazuya Kinoshita’s state of mind.
If you’re struggling with your feelings for someone you like, listening to this track will surely give you the courage to face your own heart.