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

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

survival dAnce ～no no cry more～TRF

TRF / survival dAnce ～no no cry more～

When talking about the J-pop scene of the ’90s, you can’t leave out Tetsuya Komuro.

The group that he produced and pushed dance music into the J-pop mainstream with was TRF.

Released in May 1994, this track sold about 1.376 million copies in total and became the group’s first No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

With euphoric synths that are instantly recognizable as the Komuro sound and YU-KI’s piercing vocals, it delivers a powerful message about overcoming difficulties and keeping on dancing.

It’s also well known as the theme song for the drama “17-sai -at seventeen-.” A perfect song for summer drives or whenever you want to lift your mood.

ENDLESS SUMMER NUDEMagokoro Burazāzu

Magokoro Brothers 'ENDLESS SUMMER NUDE'

Magokoro Brothers are known for their music that blends rock, soul, and folk, and many people probably think of this song as their quintessential summer track.

Released in July 1997, it’s a self-cover that makes their 1995 classic even more soulful.

The lyrics, which capture the bittersweetness of summer’s end and the fleeting sparkle shared with a lover, are outstanding.

You can almost picture the two of them plotting something on the beach after the last fireworks fade—a scene that leaves you with a sweet, wistful feeling.

Also featured as an insert song in the film “Osaka Story,” this is a track you’ll want to play on an evening drive while sinking into your feelings.

The Summer That Vanished Beyond the GlassSuzuki Masayuki

The Summer That Vanished Beyond the Glass

Speaking of solo debut songs by Masayuki Suzuki, the King of Love Songs, it has to be this classic end-of-summer ballad! The scene of driving along the highway just before dawn, watching the scenery recede through the window and overlaying it with a past love, really tugs at the heartstrings.

Released in February 1986, many of you probably first heard it in a Nissin Cup Noodles commercial.

Beyond the image he had in the Rats & Star era, his soulful vocals here are truly wonderful—conveying his resolve to take on a gentle ballad as a solo artist.

It’s the perfect soundtrack for those moments when you’re driving alone along the seaside at dusk and want to indulge in a touch of melancholy.

The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children

Mr.Children “The Summer You Were Here” MUSIC VIDEO

Mr.Children is a four-piece rock band whose name everyone in the J-pop scene knows, having earned numerous million-selling singles and albums.

Their debut single, “Kimi ga Ita Natsu” (“The Summer You Were There”), was released as a single cut from their debut album, EVERYTHING.

The slide-guitar-driven sound, paired with its heartrending lyrics, evokes images of the summer seaside.

It’s a track that showcases the band’s exceptional sensibility—one you’ll want to listen to in the summertime.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

summer vacationyoshida takurou

summer vacation

It’s a song that vividly captures the memories and bittersweetness of youthful summers, and can be considered one of Takuro Yoshida’s signature works.

It was included on the 1972 album “Genki Desu.” and later released as a single in March 1989.

Centered on a simple yet emotionally rich melody built around acoustic folk guitar and vocals, it leaves a strong impression.

From the lyrics emerge scenes of Japanese summer—sunlit days, time spent by the seaside, and memories with friends.

Yoshida’s distinctive vocal style further enhances the song’s appeal.

With lyrics that embody the essence of summer, it resonates deeply with many people and continues to be loved across generations.