Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)

A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo

Ringo Sheena – Long and Short Festival

It’s a cool dance tune suffused with the sultry heat of a summer night and a fleeting, ephemeral vibe.

The track is a duet featuring Ukigumo, the guitarist from the band Tokyo Jihen, on vocals.

The rhythm incorporates elements of Brazilian music, and the interplay of the two Auto-Tuned voices is irresistibly captivating.

The lyrics portray a man and woman’s cat-and-mouse game set during a festival night, along with a sense of urgency toward a season that slips away in an instant—evoking Shiina Ringo’s distinctly mature worldview to the fullest.

Released in August 2015 as part of a double A-side single, it was used in Coca-Cola’s summer campaign commercial, making it a familiar tune in many households.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly muggy summer night, soaking in a sentimental mood.

WingChinen Rina

Rina Chinen Wing PV

Rina Chinen, a singer who debuted in 1996 both as an actress and as a vocalist and continues to thrive with her exotic yet transparent look, is still active today.

Her 5th single “Wing,” used as the CM song for Shiseido’s T’ESSERA Frozen Blue, is also known as one of her signature tracks.

Its striking synth sound and soaring high notes bring a refreshing coolness that colors the heat of summer.

It’s a breezy pop tune I’d recommend as summer BGM both for those who grew up with it and those who didn’t.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Slow & EasyHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / Slow & Easy (Music Video)

This song, distinguished by the gentle sound of the ukulele, is a piece that symbolizes Dai Hirai’s lifestyle.

It’s the title track of the album “Slow & Easy,” released in May 2015, and it was also used in a Sumitomo Forestry commercial.

Over time, it surpassed 100 million total streams in June 2022.

While it might seem like a simple, relaxing summer tune, the piece carries a profound message: happiness isn’t something you create—it’s something you notice.

In the rush of everyday life, do you ever find yourself comparing with others and feeling anxious? This is the kind of song that, when you listen to it at such moments, gives you a gentle pause that lightens your heart.

Time, stop.Yazawa Eikichi

Time, Stop (Remastered 2022)

If you’re a fan of Eikichi Yazawa, you can’t skip this one as a summer song, can you? “Jikan yo Tomare” (Time, Please Stop) was his fifth single, released in 1978.

At the time it was used in a Shiseido commercial, and many people probably also remember hearing it in a Suntory BOSS commercial in 2017.

While Yazawa is known for songs that exude a masculine vibe, this track captures the bittersweet, slightly sentimental feelings of a man in summer.

It’s a song that will resonate not only with men of Yazawa’s generation but likely move younger listeners as well.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Twilight SurroundRIP SLYME

RIP SLYME – Twilight Surround

RIP SLYME’s 10th single, released in October 2004, is a classic that reached No.

5 on the Oricon weekly chart and perfectly captures the feeling of summer’s end.

Its warm acoustic guitar tones and wistful melody vividly evoke the sky transitioning from dusk to night.

DJ FUMIYA’s scratching blends seamlessly with live instruments, crafting a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

It’s a refined, mellow track that pairs beautifully with a summer night drive or moments of quiet reflection.

SummerHisaishi Joe

Joe Hisaishi – Summer

This is an immensely famous masterpiece by Joe Hisaishi, a composer Japan proudly shares with the world.

Speaking of Hisaishi, you can’t separate his work from films by director Takeshi Kitano.

This piece is the main theme from the 1999 film “Kikujiro,” and it was later used in a Toyota Corolla commercial.

The piano’s fresh, buoyant melody evokes the dazzling sunshine of summer and the thrill of adventure.

At the same time, it deftly conveys fleeting moments of wistfulness and nostalgia, gently touching the listener’s heartstrings.

Hisaishi’s own piano solo version is also included on his 2002 album “ENCORE.” Add it to a summer travel video or a casual everyday clip, and it will color the moment into something unforgettable.

The summer you gave meieiri reo

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

This is a celebrated song by Leo Ieiri that became a massive hit as the theme for the Monday 9 p.m.

drama Koinaka.

Overlapping with the drama’s heartrending story starring Sota Fukushi and Tsubasa Honda, it’s a song that surely tightens many listeners’ chests.

Released in August 2015 as her 10th single, the track delicately depicts the sweet yet bittersweet emotions—from the pure beginning of a romance, to the frustrating drift of hearts without noticing, and the regret upon realizing there’s no going back.

Leo Ieiri’s clear, powerful vocals highlight the fleeting nature of summer and love.

It’s a beautiful, wistful summer song that makes you suddenly remember someone you loved, someone you may never see again.