[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 pick-up of Japanese summer songs you’ll want to listen to at the start of summer! (151–160)
Don’t give upZARD
ZARD is the musical unit that Izumi Sakai formed when she re-debuted as a music artist after originally working as an idol.
At times, Izumi Sakai herself is also referred to as ZARD.
The message of “Makenaide” (“Don’t give up”) probably reflects the feelings of those who are cheering someone on.
Starting Oversumika
While the gradually rising temperatures are certainly a sign that summer is beginning, the breeze that brings a momentary coolness makes the arrival of summer feel even more tangible.
This song by sumika conveys positive emotions directly—like the refreshing wind that sweeps through summer and the heat building up inside the body.
The band sound is striking, with a buoyant drum rhythm that emphasizes a forward-moving image and piano tones that seem to express a bright, uplifting mood.
Another key point is the powerful vocal layered over the light, airy sound; the harmony of brightness and strength strongly evokes a sense of hope for the future.
July 7Sutādasuto☆Rebyū
Stardust Revue’s “July 7th” is a song about a beloved person you can never meet again, no matter how long you wait.
Written by the prolific lyricist Chinfa Kan, the track was released two months before Tanabata in 1998.
Even after parting from the special someone you met on Tanabata and trying to start a new romance, you just can’t forget the one who meant so much to you back then.
It paints a single-hearted, heartrending portrait of love.
As you listen, think of that unforgettable person in your own life—the one you can’t forget no matter whom you love.
It’s extremely hot.Higuchi Ai
This is a song by singer-songwriter Ai Higuchi that vividly portrays episodes from a sweltering summer.
Centered around a piano-driven sound that evokes a stripped-down, piano-and-vocal style, it also intriguingly weaves in Chinese-inspired melodies.
The lyrics depict both the scorching summer and a love story within it, conveying a sense of momentum spurred on by the heat.
Both the sound and the lyrics carry a floating, drifting quality, creating a mysterious atmosphere that suggests a hazy state of mind amid the extreme summer heat.
Summer MadnessSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
It’s a single from the album THE JSB LEGACY, released in 2015.
The track was created by STY and Afrojack, and it drew attention for being produced by Afrojack.
It’s an upbeat tune perfect for the hot summer.
WillNakajima Mika
When you think of the singer Mika Nakashima, which season comes to mind? Am I the only one who feels that her husky voice somehow suits the winter season? But did you know that she also has a classic summer song with a star theme? It’s “will,” her 2002 smash hit—a mesmerizing ballad carried by her voice.
The melody is simply beautiful, a dramatic tune you’ll want to hum while gazing up at the stunning July night sky.
[July Songs] A pick-up of Japanese summer songs perfect for the start of summer! (161–170)
TouchIwasaki Yoshimi
It’s a single by Yoshimi Iwasaki released on March 21, 1985, and it served as the opening theme for the anime Touch.
Since Touch is a manga centered on high school baseball, and because the song itself includes the sound of a bat hitting a ball, it became established as a cheer song for high school baseball.