[July Songs] A selection of Japanese summer tunes perfect for the start of the season!

A Little Love SongMONGOL800

A Little Love Song / MONGOL800 (cover)

When it comes to love songs, this is the one! It’s a track loved by people of all ages.

I get the impression that students who’ve just started a band often cover it.

The pure, heartfelt lyrics match perfectly with the punk vibe of the song, making it a really cool track.

The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children

Mr.Children 'The Summer You Were There'

It was released in 1992 as Mr.Children’s first single.

The track was cut as a single from their major-label debut album, “EVERYTHING,” and its title was taken from an American film of the same name.

It’s a slightly wistful love song that captures the fresh innocence of early Mr.Children.

LIFEkimaguren

Kimaguren – LIFE

It was released in 2008 as Kimaguren’s second single.

Chosen as the image song for the au Smart Sports commercial, it debuted at No.

14 on the Oricon chart, marking the duo’s first entry into the Oricon Top 20.

It’s a summer song by two artists from Zushi City, Kanagawa.

A Town with an Ocean ViewHisaishi Joe

A seaside town (Fingerstyle Guitar) / Yuki Matsui

Listening to this piece makes the summer heat feel a little more bearable, doesn’t it? It’s a composition by Joe Hisaishi used in the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Doesn’t the image of a town lined with red rooftops pop into your mind as you listen? By the way, there’s also a rearranged version with lyrics and a melody called “Mahō no Nukumori” (“The Warmth of Magic”), so if you’re interested, be sure to check that out too.

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Araki Jakkan

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Music HourPorunogurafiti

Porno Graffitti “Music Hour” Music Video

It’s an exceptionally happy classic you can’t help but want to play when the sun is blazing.

This work by Porno Graffitti is uniquely structured like a radio show! It fills you with the pure emotion of “this is just fun!” as if you were letting a DJ’s breezy patter and music carry you along.

Released in July 2000 as their third single, it became a hit with about 460,000 copies sold.

It’s also well known as a Pocari Sweat commercial song and is included on the album “foo?”.

Put it on for a summer drive or lively moments with friends, and it’ll color a page of your youth with the highest vibes.

Brilliant RainKing Gnu

King Gnu – Rain Radiantly

This song, which depicts the relentlessly pouring rain from a unique perspective, is a moving piece that sings of the strong will to keep moving forward even in difficult times.

The arrangement woven by violins, cellos, and female chorus gently envelops the noisy guitar sound, suggesting a new musical frontier for King Gnu.

Released in July 2022, it captured the hearts of many viewers as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama Old Rookie.

It is also included on the album Stardom.

Lyrics that evoke summer and an open, liberating sound enhance the feeling of the season.

flying getAKB48

[MV full] Flying Get (Dancing Version) / AKB48 [Official]

After all, July is the height of summer—a season when you want to go all out and have fun at full throttle, right? Japan has tons of upbeat, high-energy tunes, and how about AKB48’s 2011 hit song “Flying Get”? It’s one of AKB48’s signature tracks and is sure to be a hit at karaoke and more.

It might not have a strong summertime image, but don’t overthink it—just sing and dance along to the music and enjoy the ride with its momentum!

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Murakami Shinpei

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