[2026] A summer song that tightens your chest with bittersweet feelings. A classic summer tune that touches the heart.

Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi

Masafumi Akikawa / A Thousand Winds (short ver.)

A song that sends shockwaves from its opening lyrics: “A Thousand Winds.” It became widely known after Masafumi Akikawa performed it on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006.

The lyrics may surprise you a little, as if they were a message from someone who has passed away, but as you listen, they somehow slip gently into your heart.

Many listeners may find themselves hearing it while thinking of a beloved person who is no longer here.

There’s also an answer song to this piece, “Eternal Wind,” sung by Hibiki Ayano, so be sure to give that a listen as well.

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sasashina

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Summer Melancholy [time to say good-bye]L’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc~en~Ciel “Summer Melancholy [time to say good-bye]” -Music Clip-

Even before their major-label debut, the four-piece rock band L’Arc~en~Ciel boasted overwhelming popularity and earned high acclaim not only in Japan but overseas as well.

Released as a re-cut from their third album “heavenly,” the third single “Natsu no Yuutsu [time to say good-bye]” also drew attention for being extensively rearranged from the album version.

The ensemble, tinged with a melancholic flavor reminiscent of kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song), showcases the band’s unfathomable sense of style.

It’s a nostalgic rock tune that conveys both the heat and freshness of the summer season.

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Hoshino Takashi

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I’ve listened to so many heartbreak songs, and I’m done with being someone who just keeps crying.riria.

riria. / Listening to lots of heartbreak songs, I'm always just crying already. [Audio Video]

Singer Riria began posting acoustic performances on YouTube and TikTok in 2019, and her original song “I Was Cheated On, But I Still Love You” quickly became a hot topic by resonating with teenagers.

Her 2022 release “I’ve Listened to So Many Breakup Songs and Cried So Much That I’m Done” is a poignant ballad that was also featured as the second ending theme for the TV anime Summertime Rendering.

It’s a great pick when you want to warm up your voice at the start of a karaoke session or set a tender, mellow mood.

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Yuuki

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as alwaysChatto Monchī

Chatmonchy – As Always [2010]

Chatmonchy, who announced their disbandment in 2018, sing about a romance rich with seasonal feeling in Aikawarazu.

The song portrays the bittersweet emotions of a woman who finds excuses to go see the person she’s drawn to.

By using strings to create a grand sound, it conveys the fluttering excitement in her heart.

Although the lyrics don’t state it outright, they’re filled with imagery that evokes summer—that’s a key point.

As you listen, you can’t help but picture a summer night.

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yamamoto

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August nightyangusukinii

Hachigatsu no yoru

Young Skinny released the mini-album “If I have to put on an act, I’d rather just be myself,” which became a nationwide distribution title only one year and four months after their formation.

Included on their first mini-album, “In a Daily Life Full of Lies,” is the track “August Night.” It’s a rock tune notable for its lyrics depicting a woman who slips deeper and deeper into love.

The song conveys a murky emotional state that evokes a humid summer night.

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Hamada Takuya

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planetariumOtsuka Ai

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

A song performed by singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka that seems to express the movements of the heart tied to summer scenery.

It drew attention for being used as an insert song in the drama Boys Over Flowers and is one of Otsuka’s signature tracks, alongside Sakuranbo.

Centered on the sound of the piano while incorporating Japanese elements, it resonates with a calm, layered depth.

Looking back on summer memories, it overflows with a sense of poignancy—a piece that conveys someone cherishing their memories even as they carry their sadness.

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kappamaki

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tropical nightSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Tropical Night”

This is “Nettaiya” (Tropical Night), a summer song released in 2015 by the three-woman rock band SHISHAMO.

True to its title, it sings of the burning feelings of a girl in love.

She wants to see the person she loves but worries it might be a bother…

she wonders, “Won’t you come to see me?” After wavering, she ultimately chooses to go see them herself.

If you find yourself longing to meet someone you like during a summer of love, listen to this song and go to them without hesitation.

That step might just spark a new relationship between the two of you!

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sasashina

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