Lovely senior life

Recommended summer songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Showa-era summer tunes [2026]

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

As of 2025, those of you in your 90s are people who spent your teenage years during the difficult times of the war and postwar period.

After reaching adulthood, the era of rapid economic growth arrived, and you lived through the turbulent Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras.

So, what songs come to mind when you think of summer? In this article, we’ve researched and compiled songs that 90-year-olds might remember—from children’s songs and choral pieces from their youth to popular tunes and enka they likely enjoyed as adults.

It’s designed to be enjoyable for three generations of a family, so please take this opportunity to have a look.

Recommended summer songs for people in their 90s. A roundup of Showa-era summer tunes [2026] (41–50)

The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako

The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom

The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako

Masako Kawada’s “Mikan no Hana Saku Oka” (“The Hill Where Mandarin Blossoms Bloom”) is a classic that evokes summers in the Showa era.

Its gentle lyrics, depicting the blue sea, islands, and memories with one’s mother, resonate deeply with listeners.

As a work symbolic of postwar Japan, it has long been cherished by many.

The song remains beloved across generations—ranking 6th on NHK’s “Songs of Japan You Choose: Hometown Songs,” among other honors.

For older listeners, it’s a piece that tenderly brings back fond memories.

With its relaxed tempo, it’s also perfect for humming along together.

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fireworksdōyō

Fireworks (Summer Children's Song / Shoka)

fireworksdōyō

The classic Showa-era song “Hanabi” is a children’s song that vividly colors summer memories and beautifully portrays the splendor of fireworks spreading across the sky.

Composed in 1941, it celebrates the feel of the season and traditional summer scenes in Japan through images of summer festivals and fireworks displays.

It has long been cherished in educational settings and is often sung during summer events.

Singing it together with older adults may bring back nostalgic memories of summers past.

How about joining voices and singing it to feel the essence of summer?

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Crimson SunMisora Hibari

Crimson Sun

Crimson SunMisora Hibari

Hibari Misora’s “Makkana Taiyo” (Deep Red Sun) is a classic that represents summers of the Showa era.

It expresses a love that burns like the sun through a wistful voice.

Promises exchanged by the seaside, and the sense of parting layered over the sound of the waves—its lyrics intertwine the beginning and end of love with summer scenes, stirring the heart.

Released in 1967, the song has been covered by many artists and continues to be loved across generations.

How about humming it together as you look back on summer memories? It’s sure to be a song that resonates in your heart.

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In conclusion

We’ve put together a roundup of summer songs we’d love people in their 90s to listen to again. We focused mainly on classic Showa-era hits, so we’re sure many of you will recognize these tunes. Take this opportunity to revisit these nostalgic summer songs and let them help you get into the spirit of the season.