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

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.

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

All of the YouthFujifaburikku

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

This is a classic song by Fujifabric that you suddenly feel like listening to in the season where summer ends and autumn begins.

The longing for the passing summer and the brilliance of youth that will never return are layered over the image of the “last fireworks,” and its bittersweet melody sinks deep into the heart.

Released as a single in November 2007, the track later stayed with many listeners as an insert song in the drama SUMMER NUDE.

There’s also a lovely anecdote that in the composer’s hometown, the song was played as the evening chime for three days in December 2012.

On nights when you want to bask in summer memories, or on a sentimental walk home, why not give it a quiet listen?

Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End

indigo la End “Summer Night Magic”

This is a beloved summer song by indigo la End that has been getting renewed attention on TikTok long after its release.

The track captures a magical moment allowed only on summer nights, along with the fleeting nature of that instant.

The usually timid protagonist feels “as if I’ve become stronger” only on that special night spent with someone they love—a feeling that’s both poignant and relatable.

Released in June 2015 as part of the single Before I Get Sad, the song continues to captivate many listeners, surpassing 7.8 million views on YouTube.

It’s a track you’ll want to play on nights when you’re feeling a bit sentimental at summer’s end, or when you want to look back on a past romance as a beautiful memory.