[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!
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[July Songs] A selection of Japanese summer songs perfect for the start of summer! (111–120)
I can see you againKetsumeishi
This is a song by Ketsumeishi that captures both the anticipation of reuniting with someone special as summer arrives and the fleeting moments of bittersweet longing.
The rap and beautiful melody intertwine pleasantly, and you can almost picture your heart fluttering as you realize the person you haven’t seen for a while has become even more charming.
Released in June 2007 and included on the album “Ketsuno Police 5,” the track became etched in many people’s memories as the theme for Shiseido ANESSA’s commercial, featuring Yuri Ebihara in sun-drenched summer scenes.
It reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart—a number that resonates with sweet-and-sour summer memories and the wish to meet again.
BLUE BIRDHamasaki Ayumi
It’s a dazzlingly refreshing track that evokes a boundless blue sky and white sandy beaches.
It portrays the hope that awaits beyond hardship and the strong bond that lets you soar into the future with someone dear.
This work is Ayumi Hamasaki’s 40th single, released in June 2006, and it debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s also well known as the song used in the Zespri Gold Kiwi commercial, and it’s included on the album “Secret” as well as the summer best-of compilation “A SUMMER BEST.” Listen to it on a summer drive or while soaking up the sun at the beach, and your spirits are sure to soar.
When you’re ready to take a new step forward, this song will surely give you courage.
Why not listen to it with someone special and talk about your hopes for the future?
Ocean living roomSuzuki Suzuki
With the uniquely beautiful harmonies only siblings can create, Suzuki Suzuki deliver a perfect song to color the summer of the Reiwa era.
Its fresh, up-tempo melody lifts the listener’s spirits and whisks you away to glittering summertime scenes.
Upon its release in August 2021, the track became a hit, inspiring over 110,000 related videos on TikTok, and it topped the Billboard JAPAN charts for two consecutive weeks in September of the same year.
It’s also included on the album “313.” Ideal for a seaside drive or lively moments with friends, this is a song that’s sure to boost your mood.
Midsummer’s Sounds good!AKB48
It was released in 2012 as AKB48’s 26th major single.
Atsuko Maeda served as the center, and the song was used in multiple tie-ins, including NTT Docomo’s “Ouen Gakuwari: Sorezore no, Hajimeru” commercial.
It’s a very cute song featuring members in swimsuits.
The Summer Without YouDEEN
This is a song that was used as an ending theme for the popular anime Detective Conan.
Many of DEEN’s songs evoke the feeling of summer, and this one is no exception.
With a relaxed yet passionate chorus, it’s a very cool, emotionally resonant song.
Open your heartZARD
Released in 1996 as ZARD’s 18th single, it was used for a Pocari Sweat commercial for the second time.
The lyrics were written by Izumi Sakai and the music composed by Tetsuro Oda, and it became a hit, selling a total of about 700,000 copies.
It is considered one of ZARD’s signature summer songs.
Marigoldaimyon
Since its release in July 2018, Aimyon’s song “Marigold” has been heard absolutely everywhere—on TV, on the radio, and more.
It might even be fair to call it a pop song that could come to define the Reiwa era.
By the way, do you know when marigolds bloom? They flower from May to November and are popular for their hardiness against the cold.
So in July, right in the heart of their blooming season, listening to this song might offer a special experience that feels a little different from usual.
