[2026] A summer song that tightens your chest with bittersweet feelings. A classic summer tune that touches the heart.
When you think of summer, many people imagine a season of fun at the beach and festivals! That said, have you ever felt the unique wistfulness or loneliness that only summer brings? Precisely because it’s such a hot, blazing time of year, the quiet of the night can squeeze your heart with a pang of sorrow, and the end of summer can leave you feeling lonely…
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs filled with that bittersweet, sentimental feeling that’s unique to summer.
Experience another side of summer—one that’s not just about fun.
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[2026] Summer songs that tug at your heartstrings. Timeless, soul-stirring summer classics (81–90)
Fireworks feat. SHUedhiii boi

After taking the scene by storm with the smash hit “Otomodachi,” edhiii boi returned in the summer of 2024 with this track featuring SHU, a junior from his high school.
Its lyrics, which juxtapose fireworks that burst and fade in the night sky with the blazing, fleeting love of one’s teen years and its bittersweet end, strike right at the heart.
Set over a wistful guitar riff by producer Kosuke Crane, edhiii boi’s technical rap weaves with SHU’s crystalline vocals to deeply emotional effect.
It’s a top-tier love song packed with sweet-and-sour nostalgia—one you’ll want to play as summer draws to a close.
Sentimental Sorrow Flowerkohanaramu

When you think of Kohanaramu, you think of that emotional singing voice—and “Kanshou Aika” is a masterpiece where that charm truly shines.
It’s a piano ballad themed around the sense of loss at summer’s end.
The fireworks that bloom in the song flare briefly in the night sky, as if signaling the end of the couple’s relationship, before fading away.
Composed by Natsunose, the melody is grand yet tinged with melancholy and is absolutely wonderful, and Kohanaramu’s delicate, almost vanishing vocals resonate deeply in the heart.
Please take your time to savor this poignant yet beautiful world that reflects on days gone by.
fireworkschanyu i

Here is “Fireworks,” the title track from singer-songwriter Chanyu-i, whose popularity ignited on social media, released on her second EP in 2025.
She has said it’s a precious song she “honed over the course of a year,” inspired by the fireworks festival in her hometown of Ehime.
The lyrics are deeply evocative, overlaying the fleeting beauty of grand blooms that color the night sky and vanish in an instant with unspoken feelings and a sense of frustration toward the person beside you.
Her warm, comforting voice shines atop a pop melody tinged with a touch of melancholy—surely a gem of a song.
Heartfelt Fireworksmafumafu

“Koi-gokoro Hanabi,” which has gained attention as the song from the Amazon Prime Video commercial, is a summer number by Mafumafu, known for his multifaceted talents! Set to a dazzling, fast-paced sound, it paints a picture of a faint, bittersweet summer-night romance.
The lyrics poignantly overlay the swelling feelings of love and their transience with the grand blossoms that flare up and fade in the night sky.
Mafumafu’s clear, translucent vocals beautifully convey such delicate emotions, shining especially brightly within the track.
It’s a song brimming with charm that makes you want to listen while reminiscing about a summer to remember.
I Hopeyoru yoru

Singer-songwriter Yoyo, who burst onto the scene like a comet in 2025, released “I Hope” in June of the same year—another song that feels perfectly suited for listening at summer’s end.
Co-written with Junji Ishiwatari—formerly of Supercar and now an active lyricist across many fields—the track exquisitely weaves together a nostalgic piano melody with Yoyo’s delicate vocals.
It evokes a bittersweet yet warm world, like leafing through memories imprinted on faded film photos, one by one.
If you listen to this song on the way home, suddenly alone at the close of a lively season, you may experience that special feeling where pale memories glow gently in the depths of your heart.
Blue Hawaii Lemon≒JOY

It’s a refreshing love song that captures a sweet-and-tangy, slightly mysterious crush—sparkling like a shaved ice in the summer sun! This is the 3rd single released in June 2025 by ≒JOY, the idol group produced by Rino Sashihara.
Following their 2nd single “First Love Cinderella,” which made them the first female artist in about three and a half years to score two consecutive No.
1 hits, this track showcases a new side of their appeal.
The story of a “one-summer elopement”—putting down your phone and heading to a secret place with someone you like—is portrayed over a melody that’s both wistful and exhilarating.
It’s a perfect companion for a drive that marks the start of summer.
[2026] Summer songs that squeeze your heart with bittersweet feelings. Classic, soul-stirring summer tunes (91–100)
Midsummer day!Nogizaka 46

It’s a number that makes you feel a little wistful yet warm—like suddenly remembering an old friend on a summer afternoon.
Performed by Nogizaka46, the piece features a clear, airy sound colored by strings and piano, comfortably portraying a fresh story of a reunion in a single summer.
Released in June 2025, this track is actually a special song commemorating their 10th performance at the sacred venue of the “Midsummer National Tour,” Meiji Jingu Stadium.
It’s also used as a SmartNews commercial song.
Center member Haruka Kaki’s pure, elegant aura seems to further enhance the song’s nostalgic worldview.
It feels like a perfect work for moments when you want to reminisce about your youth.



