[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 tunes perfect for the start of summer! (21–30)
Summer Colorsyuzu
It’s the song that marked Yuzu’s debut and one of the duo’s signature tracks.
Throughout, it’s infused with a sense of rising excitement and a refreshing atmosphere for summer, and it’s loved as a song that symbolizes the season.
The light, acoustic-guitar-centered sound—highlighting their identity as a folk duo—also conveys positive feelings toward summer.
The straightforward expression of a heart that wholeheartedly welcomes summer, along with youthful memories associated with the season, is another point that communicates its fun.
Even if you don’t share the exact same summer memories depicted in the song, it invites listeners to imagine their own similar summer experiences.
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
A summer duet number by DAOKO and Kenshi Yonezu.
The band arrangement is beautiful, and the way the chorus begins gives the impression of the title “Uchiage Hanabi” blooming magnificently at the very moment the fireworks go up.
What’s more, DAOKO’s clear voice, carried by the delicate piano at the end of the chorus, even evokes the feeling of summer’s end—a masterpiece you’ll want to listen to at least once before the season is over.
Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu
When you think of summer songs, I bet many of you remember this one.
The Magokoro Brothers’ signature track and highly acclaimed summer classic, “SUMMER NUDE,” was released in 1995.
It also drew attention when Tomohisa Yamashita—YamaP, who starred in the 2013 drama “SUMMER NUDE”—performed the cover song “SUMMER NUDE ’13” as the show’s theme.
As July heats up, this is the perfect track to boost your summer mood—why not take it along on your next outing?
water lily blossomShonan no Kaze
When you think of the summer beach, many people picture having fun with friends and a party-like vibe.
Symbolic of that lively seaside atmosphere is Shonan no Kaze’s signature track, “Suirenka.” It builds from a quiet mood that evokes a sweltering summer night, gradually gaining momentum and unfolding into a bustling, high-energy feel, which makes the excitement stand out.
It’s a song packed with positive emotions tied to summer—like the desire to enjoy it to the fullest and the determination to be the star of the season.
astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN
Even if you wouldn’t call yourself a BUMP OF CHICKEN fan, I bet many of you know and love this song.
Capturing the sweet bittersweetness of youth and the thrill of summer nights, this track was released in 2001 as BUMP OF CHICKEN’s second single.
It inspired a drama of the same name that aired in 2002, with the song used as an insert track.
It’s not exactly a love song, yet it’s definitely about thinking of someone.
Does this song make you think of anyone?
long-distance relationshipRADWIMPS
An early masterpiece by RADWIMPS.
The lyrics unfold like two people in a long-distance relationship exchanging emails, and it’s a track with the kind of suggestive nuance that invites you to imagine the inner world of what’s being told in Yojiro Noda’s signature lyricism.
The arrangement becomes suddenly noisy in the chorus; with vocal effects, call-and-response between guitar and bass, key changes, and an incredibly diverse palette of guitar tones, it’s a song with far too many facets to dig into from every angle.
HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution
T.M.Revolution’s “HOT LIMIT” is a song that makes you feel summer from the very first notes of the intro.
Released as a single in 1998, it was used in Asahi Soft Drinks’ Mitsuya Cider commercial and reached No.
1 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
The sound, arranged by keyboardist Daisuke Asakura and featuring synthesizers and samplers, is especially striking.
Be sure to check out the music video as well—it was shot on the beaches of California in the United States, and the outfit became a hot topic!
