Masterpieces that color the hot season! Summer songs recommended for the Yutori generation

Twilight SurroundRIP SLYME

RIP SLYME – Twilight Surround

This piece feels like a sonic rendering of that unique atmosphere as summer dusk fades into night.

The warm tones of the acoustic guitar blend beautifully with the gentle scratches, wrapping you in a sensation that makes your heart feel a little lighter as you listen.

Released in October 2004 as their tenth single, it peaked at No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Celebrated as a classic that showcases the depth of their musicality, it continues to be cherished by many listeners.

It’s the kind of song that quietly keeps you company on a summer night—when you want to relax in a slightly cooled room or reflect on the day, lost in thought.

Summer Sky Graffitiikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari – Summer Sky Graffiti [Short Ver. / Verse 2]

It’s a song with an invigorating melody and the charmingly clear, transparent vocals of Kiyoe Yoshioka.

It paints sparkling summer memories, tender first love, and a touch of bittersweet emotion that tickles the listener’s heart.

Released in August 2007 as one of the tracks on a double A-side single, it also became well known as a soft drink commercial song.

When summer’s heat feels overwhelming, listening to this track might bring back those glittering days of youth and give you a boost of energy.

You two, SummerKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi “You Two, Summer”

It’s a song that vividly colored the summer of 2010.

A breezy 1970s disco sound layered with a buoyant soca-style beat lifts your spirits, and the tonal gradation that begins with acoustic guitar feels like a fanfare announcing the arrival of summer.

The lyrics, in lyrical strokes, depict bittersweet memories of driving along the coastline, as well as the nostalgia and yearning for the future that we feel precisely because we’re now adults.

Released in July 2010, the track also became familiar as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Onegai! Ranking” in August of the same year.

It’s a perfect classic for those moments when you reminisce about days gone by while making the most of the summer you’re living right now.

HOTEL PACIFICSazan Ōrusutāzu

HOTEL PACIFIC

This number perfectly fuses passionate Latin rhythms with the familiar melodies of Japanese pop, conjuring images of a blazing sun and an endless blue sea.

It was written for a large-scale outdoor concert held in the summer of 2000 in Chigasaki, the hometown of Southern All Stars.

Released in July 2000 as their 45th single, it also brightened living rooms across Japan as the theme song for WOWOW’s “Summer Campaign” commercials.

It’s the perfect track to lift your spirits even higher when you’re heading out for a seaside drive or a barbecue with friends.

Haneuma RiderPorunogurafiti

Pornograffitti “Haneuma Rider” MUSIC VIDEO

A smash hit by Porno Graffitti that makes everyone’s heart dance the moment they hear it! From the instant the intro guitar rings out, you’re wrapped in a refreshing feeling, as if sprinting under a clear blue sky.

Created around the theme of “rebirth,” this song feels like it’s cheering on our own fresh starts.

Released in June 2006, it reached many ears as the CM song for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Pocari Sweat.

Perfect for summer activities—and whenever you want to refresh your mood—listening to it will surely fill you with energy and a smile!

The summer you gave meieiri reo

Leo Ieiri - “The Summer You Gave Me” (Full Ver.)

This is a song by Leo Ieiri with a poignant yet beautiful melody that leaves a strong impression.

It portrays pure feelings, the distance born from missed connections, and the farewell that follows.

Even so, the protagonist resolves to look forward, engraving that encounter in their heart as a “miracle.” Ieiri’s voice—both clear and powerful—overlaps with these emotions and resonates deeply with listeners.

Released in August 2015 as her 10th single, the track also drew attention as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama “Koinaka,” starring Sota Fukushi and Tsubasa Honda.

It’s a song that can revive bittersweet memories, and now that we’ve grown a little older, it’s one we can relate to even more deeply.

Summer DreamTōhōshinki

TVXQ / Summer Dream

It’s an exhilarating dance number that conjures up Okinawa’s dazzling sunshine and blue sea.

Just listening to it makes your heart skip, and its catchy melody makes you want to sing along! This track is the main A-side song included on TVXQ’s single “SUMMER ~Summer Dream / Song for you / Love in the Ice~,” released in August 2007.

It was also used in a Baskin-Robbins commercial, so many of you may have heard it.

It’s the perfect song for summer drives and lively times with friends.