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

Mahoro in SummerHarukamirai

Harukamirai – Summer Mahoro (Official Music Video)

This is a heart-thumping track by Harukamirai that vividly captures the blazing summer sun and the days of youth gone by.

The song leaves a strong impression with its protagonist looking back, amid the encroaching heat, on the self who once acted tough and the past when they couldn’t be a little more honest.

Alongside motifs like sunflowers and white baseballs, the nostalgia for those burning days and the resolve to step into the future ride on an energetic rock sound that’s sure to move listeners.

The track is included on the album “THE BAND STAR,” released in July 2020, and was also selected as a J-pop recommendation on MUSIC ON! TV that same month.

It’s perfect for summer drives or outings with friends, and if you want to rekindle that fiery feeling from back then, be sure to give it a listen!

August 888 — This is way too much summerrisaitaruzu

Recitals – “Month 888 ~It’s Way Too Much Like Summer~” [Official Music Video]

This is a song that instantly amps up the summer vibe.

Created by Recitals, a unit that sprang from the popular YouTuber group Tokai On Air, this track is packed with a catchy melody that makes your heart dance and playful word choices that are pure fun.

It’s like painting a picture of an endless summer—you can almost see the glittering scenes unfold before your eyes.

Released in August 2022, the song was also chosen as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Zenryoku! Datsuryoku Times” from August to September 2022.

Whether you’re on a summer drive, hanging out at the beach, or firing up a barbecue, this track will take your excitement to the next level.

Add it to your playlist and soak up the summer!

Summer MadnessSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu

Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE / Summer Madness feat. Afrojack

It’s a song that perfectly suits the sun, as if announcing the arrival of summer.

The EDM sound crafted by world-renowned DJ Afrojack delivers an exhilarating rush that makes your body move the moment you hear it.

STY’s catchy, lyrical melody seems to sing of summer’s sense of freedom and the thrill in your chest—before you know it, you’ll be humming along.

Released in July 2015 as the 18th single, it was also featured in ANA’s “2015 Summer Tabiwari” commercial.

Included on the acclaimed album THE JSB LEGACY, it became a hit, selling 195,000 copies in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Put it on when you want to get the crowd going at karaoke or as the perfect BGM for a summer drive!

Our Summer DreamYamashita Tatsuro

Our Summer Dream

This is a song by Tatsuro Yamashita that evokes a nostalgic feeling, like a summer evening.

The beautiful melody woven by piano and strings makes it feel as if you’re watching a film from start to finish.

The lyrics seem to carry images of Japan’s lost pastoral landscapes and a gentle wish for the future, and listening to it may slowly warm your heart.

It’s a track with a warm theme that conveys bonds with loved ones and a sense of hope.

Released as a single in August 2009, it moved many people as the theme song for director Mamoru Hosoda’s animated film “Summer Wars.” It’s perfect for a summer drive with the windows down, feeling the breeze, and just as fitting for nights when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.

Sing it at karaoke, and it’s sure to resonate with everyone.

Blue JeanGLAY

GLAY / Blue Jean

From an intro that evokes a glittering summer seaside, there’s that track that instantly draws you into its world.

In this song by GLAY, the delicate emotions stirred by memories of a past love and an unexpected reunion are portrayed through a melody that’s fresh yet tinged with melancholy.

In the lyrics’ world, an accidental encounter with a former lover unfolds into a bittersweet story where faint hopes and confusion intertwine.

Released in August 2004 as their 31st single, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart.

It also became widely known as the theme for Esthetic TBC’s commercial.

The track is included on albums such as -Ballad Best Singles- WHITE ROAD.

It’s perfect not only as BGM for a summer drive, but also for those slightly sentimental twilight hours when listening might bring back precious memories you’ve tucked away deep in your heart.

YURAMEKI SUMMERKEYTALK

KEYTALK – 「YURAMEKI SUMMER」MUSIC VIDEO

When it comes to a KEYTALK track that perfectly captures the exhilaration of summer and those fleeting emotions that shimmer like a heat haze, it has to be this one.

Created by bassist-vocalist Yoshikatsu Shutou, the song opens with a pleasantly laid-back, rap-like intro before exploding in the chorus, as if embodying the liberating feeling of summer.

The interplay of the twin vocals weaves together a buoyant mood with a hint of the bittersweet end of summer, stirring the listener’s heart.

Leading off the May 2015 album “HOT!,” it sent countless fans into a frenzy.

It’s a perfect companion for summer drives, lively times with friends, and even those slightly sentimental twilights.

tropical nightRIP SLYME

RIP SLYME – Tropical Night

If we’re talking about the track that most deftly captures RIP SLYME’s midsummer-night passion, it has to be that quintessential summer tune released in July 2007! Beyond the lyrics—described by SU as “ero-dasai,” painting a sweet yet dangerous romance on a hot summer night—the loop-driven track crafted with DJ FUMIYA’s meticulous touch is unbelievably cool.

This was the first single after DJ FUMIYA’s return, was featured in a Coca-Cola commercial, and is also included on the classic album FUNFAIR.

Many of you probably remember the four-week collaboration skits on Cocorico Miracle Type that aired starting in July 2007, right? It’s the perfect number for heating up a summer night with a slightly more grown-up vibe.