[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)
HANABIMr.Children
When it comes to Mr.Children’s summer songs, this has to be the one.
Released in 2008 as their 33rd single, it’s a heart-wrenching love song.
Known as the theme song for the Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyumei series, which expanded from a drama to a film, it’s one of their signature tracks.
The soaring vocals in the chorus are simply irresistible.
Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi
This song, the theme for the anime film Children of the Sea released in June 2019, is marked by its sparse arrangement and vocal effects, giving it a hazy feel like sweltering under the midsummer sun.
Instead of the familiar, glittering, upbeat image of summer, it conveys a gentle, human warmth—an emotion that seems to well up from deep within.
Nostalgic and beautiful in some way, it carries a fresh sensibility and feels like a masterpiece destined to become a new summer classic.
July Songs: A selection of Japanese summer tunes to kick off the season! (31–40)
summer festivalJITTERIN’JINN
One of the joys of summer is the festival—an essential part of the season.
Capturing a fleeting summer memory at such a festival is “Natsu Matsuri,” released by JITTERIN’JINN in 1990.
It reached No.
3 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and in 2000, Whiteberry covered the song, likewise peaking at No.
3.
It’s a staple cheer song in high school baseball; just hearing it performed by a brass band is enough to conjure up the feeling of summer.
The lyrics, which recall a summer festival you attended with someone after a breakup, are bittersweet, yet the song itself is an upbeat, fast-paced tune—definitely give it a listen!
The hottest summer in the worldPRINCESS PRINCESS
The original Japanese girls’ rock band Princess Princess’s 1986 song “The Hottest Summer in the World.” Kicking off straight with the chorus makes a big impact, and the track’s overflowing power is truly compelling.
As you’d expect from a band, the sound is strong and energizing—it’ll put you in a high-spirited mood.
Summer means leisure, and when you want to feel that exciting vibe, this is the song to play! It’s perfect for driving to your destination or as background music for a memory-filled video.
WingChinen Rina
As summer approaches and the temperatures rise, our body heat climbs as well.
This is one of Rina Chinen’s signature songs that evokes that uplifting summer mood.
With percussion that hints at a Latin vibe, the sound emphasizes a passionate atmosphere.
The lyrics, which seem to express a sense of a widening world, are also a highlight, and combined with the light rhythm, they convey a refreshing impression.
It’s a track that feels infused with positive emotions for the summer and a strong will to move forward into the future.
Earbuds and a chorus of cicadasOrangestar
“Earphones and Cicada Rain” is a track included on Vocaloid producer Orangestar’s 2015 album Unfinished Eight Beats.
It was his first song to enter the Hall of Fame by surpassing 100,000 views, and it reached a million in 2017.
The sound opens with cicada calls, perfectly evoking the feeling of summer and conjuring up an image of a clear blue sky with towering cumulonimbus clouds.
Once the song begins, its driving beat and somewhat bittersweet lyrics draw you right in.
Voice of the Seaurashima tarou
This is a song by Urashima Taro, a character played by Kenta Kiritani in au’s “Santaro” commercial series.
Performed in a sanshin-and-vocal style, the powerful image of him singing toward the sea drew significant attention.
The involvement of members of BEGIN—a band emblematic of Okinawa—is also an important point that evokes the sea and summer.
While the sanshin’s timbre is striking, the supporting piano tones also seem to emphasize the gentleness and vastness of the ocean.