[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 to kick off the season! (41–50)
MagicMrs. GREEN APPLE
This one really amps up the excitement of “A long summer vacation—what should I do this year?!” It’s a track by the band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, known for numerous hit songs like “Dancehall,” released as a single in 2023.
Chosen as the campaign song for Coca-Cola’s “Coke STUDIO,” it became a hot topic.
The dramatic sound pairs perfectly with vocalist Motoki Omori’s bright, clear singing.
Its exhilarating vibe is sure to fill your heart.
fireworksaiko
When it comes to bittersweet summer love songs, isn’t this the classic choice? It’s a track by a singer-songwriter from Osaka, aiko.
Released in 1999 as her third single.
The catchy chorus phrase that makes you want to sing along is famous, right? It’s also a very popular karaoke song.
By the way, this was the song with which aiko made her first appearance on the music show “Music Station.”
Galaxy Express 999Godaigo
It’s a single by Godiego released on July 1, 1979, which became a hit as the theme song for the feature film Galaxy Express 999.
The song was composed with the image of a steam locomotive running, and is characterized by its upbeat melody and lyrics.
Thanks to its sense of speed, it has also become a piece frequently performed by wind bands.
A Midsummer Night’s DreamMatsutōya Yumi
Released in 1993 as Yumi Matsutoya’s 24th single, it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Dare ni mo Ienai” and became a major hit.
This track, which marked Matsutoya’s first million-seller, won the Silver Prize at the 12th JASRAC Awards and became one of the defining songs of 1993.
Surfing JohnnyKuwata Keisuke
Released in 2001 as Keisuke Kuwata’s sixth single.
As his first solo single in seven years, the song was featured in a Coca-Cola commercial, and the music video—showing Kuwata surfing in a suit—became a hot topic.
ultra soulB’z
B’z’s ‘ultra soul’ was selected as the official theme song for the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka and has often been used at professional baseball games and other events.
Released as a single in 2001, it topped the Oricon singles chart for two consecutive weeks and became one of B’z’s signature songs.
It’s a rock tune that incorporates techno beats and Latin sounds, making it a perfect number for summer.
The title call at the end of the chorus always gets you hyped up, no questions asked.
You and the summer music festivalSHISHAMO
SHISHAMO is a three-piece girls’ rock band.
They have plenty of killer tunes, but isn’t “Kimi to Natsu Fes” a particularly striking one? If you love rock bands, you probably spend the whole year eagerly waiting for this day to come.
Summer music festivals—natsu-fes—of course there are tons of them in July as well.
I think this song makes that already-too-fun special day even more special.
I’m jealous of anyone who’s actually gone to a summer festival and heard this song live!
