Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)
In this article, we’re featuring nostalgic songs perfect for summer.
As summer approaches we all start to feel more carefree, and music really helps lift that summer mood!
We’re mainly introducing summer tracks from the Showa and Heisei eras, focusing on songs from the 1980s through the 2000s.
Some of you might remember hearing these tunes on car stereos back then, even if you’d only just become aware of things.
Listening to summer songs may also bring back memories from those days.
How about spending a fun summer with these wonderful tracks that capture the season?
Every song will boost your summer vibes—and they’re great for road trips, too!
Songs to enjoy in summer! Classic hits special (Showa & Heisei) (1–10)
summer festivalWhiteberry
Hailing from Hokkaido, Whiteberry’s biggest hit and signature song.
Although this track is a cover of JITTERIN’JINN’s hit, Whiteberry’s Natsu Matsuri quickly became a smash in its own right, even achieving double platinum.
You could say it’s a song that was further matured by its new performers.
Its slightly wistful lyrics—“Countless memories of summers spent together, now distant and out of reach”—resonate with Japanese nostalgia.
It’s that familiar tune that, come summer, seems to drift in from somewhere before you know it.
Swaying feelingsZARD
When people talk about ZARD’s signature songs, many probably mention “Makenaide” or this very track.
Released in 1993—a year when many Being-label artists churned out hit after hit—this classic became a massive success.
If you were around back then, I’m sure I’m not the only one who first heard it in that sports drink commercial.
With Tetsurō Oda composing and Masao Akashi arranging—a golden duo handling the songwriting—and Izumi Sakai’s crystal-clear, flawless vocals paired with lyrics woven from deft word choices, the song beautifully amplifies the exhilaration of that moment when love begins.
Rollercoaster RomanceKinKi Kids
Among Johnny’s groups, KinKi Kids are the ones who carry on the soul of classic Japanese pop.
Their third single, released in April 1998, is the ultimate summer song created by the unbeatable duo of lyricist Takashi Matsumoto and composer Tatsuro Yamashita! It brilliantly captures the sweet, thrilling rush of a budding romance with a whirlwind of melody.
Arranger Motoki Funayama’s samba-infused sound was also featured in ANA’s Okinawa campaign commercials, and just listening to it makes your heart dance.
Because it’s a sound untouched by passing trends, it still shines with undimmed brilliance today.
Paradise BabyRIP SLYME
When it comes to the pioneers who brought Japanese hip-hop into living rooms across the country, it has to be RIP SLYME.
Released in June 2002, this track is famously one of their signature summer tunes.
It’s an absolute crowd-pleaser that showcases their strengths to the fullest: a cheerful, Latin-inspired arrangement and the nimble flows of MCs with distinct personalities.
The lyrics capture that liberating feeling of summer heat blowing away your inhibitions—just listening lifts your spirits.
The classic album TOKYO CLASSIC, which features this song, became the first hip-hop work in Japan to sell over a million copies.
Put it on during a drive, and you’re guaranteed to make the best summer memories!
The hottest summer in the worldPurinsesu Purinsesu
Among the songs by Princess Princess—a girls’ band active mainly from the late ’80s to the ’90s—this one especially evokes the feeling of summer.
Its sound, which gradually builds strength from a laid-back opening, leaves a strong impression and seems to capture the rising excitement as summer draws near.
The sense of release in the vocals when the chorus hits is another highlight; the powerful, soaring voice vividly conveys the joy of embracing summer.
The lyrics also weave in words that evoke the fashion and trends of the time, inviting you to picture someone fondly reminiscing about their summer memories.
Last Summer WhisperAnri
If you want to savor that indescribable melancholy at summer’s end through music, you can’t skip this classic by Anri.
The mellow, sophisticated sound and her crystal-clear vocals stir up a poignant longing for the summer that’s gone.
This track is included on the city pop masterpiece “Heaven Beach,” released in November 1982, with lyrics and composition by Toshiki Kadomatsu.
Its chic, urban soul vibe is truly exceptional—perfect BGM for a slightly sentimental drive along the coastline at dusk.
Harmony at the End of SummerInoue Yosui & Anzen Chitai
A beautiful ballad that vividly captures the melancholy of a fading summer and the moment two hearts overlap.
The poetic words by Yosui Inoue blend with the deeply emotive melody woven by Koji Tamaki, creating a lyrical world where even conflicting feelings are transformed into a beautiful tune that resonates in the heart.
The song was first performed during their joint stage at Jingu Stadium in August 1986 and released as a single the following September.
It is also included on the classic album “Anzenchitai V.” Listen to it on a late-summer drive or during a quiet, contemplative night, and memories from that time may come flooding back in vivid color.