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

Summer IllusionOmoinotake

Omoinotake / Summer Illusion [Official Music Video]

This song, with summery imagery scattered throughout, is a track by the piano trio band Omoinotake.

From various scenes painted in the lyrics, you can glimpse a sweet-and-sour, innocent love story.

As you listen, many might find themselves looking at the lyrics, recalling past relationships, and feeling a tight squeeze in their chest.

While the overall tone of the song is sophisticated and stylish, vocalist Reo Fujii’s high notes carry a bold melancholy that pierces ever deeper into our listeners’ hearts.

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Hane Keisuke

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NatsuneYuuri

Natsune

It’s a delicate melody that seems to express, in music, that somewhat wistful tone you hear as summer draws to a close—simply wonderful.

Yuri’s emotionally rich voice beautifully conveys the lingering attachment to a fading season and the aching wish to spend just a little more time with someone dear.

This work is a rock ballad that sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.

Released in September 2021, it memorably colored the ending of episode 1 of the Hulu original drama “Dry Flower – July’s Room -,” which shares the worldview of one of Yuri’s signature songs.

Its popularity is evident from its peak at No.

23 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100.

This gem is also included on the acclaimed album “Ichi.” It’s a masterpiece you’ll want to hear on a quiet night after summer’s clamor has passed, when you feel a sudden loneliness, or when you wish to etch an irreplaceable, beautiful moment into your heart.

sea glasssutoreitenaa

Straightener – Seaglass

For music listeners who love the bittersweet scenes of summer’s end, this song by Straightener holds a special resonance.

Using wave-worn, rounded shards of glass as a motif, the lyrics overlay the passing of the seasons with a fragile longing for love, showcasing Atsushi Horie’s delicate sensibility.

The melodious yet powerful band sound further heightens that sense of poignancy.

Released as a single in April 2016, the track was also included on Straightener’s ninth original album, “COLD DISC.” The album features “Genshoku,” the theme song for the film U-31, and this track—one of the band’s “single emotional trilogy”—continues to enjoy enduring popularity.

It’s perfect for those moments when you want to immerse yourself in that heart-tightening melancholy at summer’s end, or for a quiet night spent reflecting on beautiful memories gone by.

It’s also a live staple, making it highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience Straightener’s passionate performance.

Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End

indigo la End “Summer Night Magic”

This is “Midsummer Magic” by indigo la End, fronted by Enon Kawatani of Gesu no Kiwami Otome.

Indigo la End has a lot of bittersweet songs, doesn’t it? This track has a somewhat light, upbeat melody, but the lyrics carry a poignant ache that really hits home.

It feels like remembering a former lover and having a dam of memories burst wide open.

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utatane

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Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro

Tatsuro Yamashita “Goodbye Summer Days”

Released in 1991, Tatsuro Yamashita’s classic “Sayonara Natsu no Hi” (“Goodbye Summer Days”) is based on memories from his own high school years, and it’s also famous for featuring all the instrument parts performed by Yamashita himself.

In 2021, an animated music video by Aini Ina was released and drew a lot of attention.

Although some time has passed since its release, the bittersweet feelings of summer ending and the transition from childhood to adulthood are emotions that people can relate to in any era.

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sasashina

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SUMMER SONGYUI

YUI「SUMMER SONG」

Among YUI’s music career, that exhilarating number released in July 2008 is beloved as a quintessential summer song.

It brilliantly captures the unique sentiments of summer—the thrill under the blazing sun, those sudden pangs of melancholy, and the loneliness that comes as summer draws to a close.

YUI has said the track expresses her “longing to go to the sea” and her desire to “overcome things by her own strength.” Although it was reportedly completed in 2005, the story that they waited to release it until summer is especially memorable.

As a result, it debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and etched its name into the classic album HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN.

Why not give it a listen when you want to bask in memories of the hot season or sink into a slightly sentimental mood at night?

Live the summerRyokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai “Living the Summer” Music Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai

Set to a fast-paced, exhilarating sound, this song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai doesn’t just capture the brilliance of summer—it also sings of the gritty effort and strength behind it.

The words woven by vocalist Haruko Nagaya, blending soda-pop freshness with a raw, mud-streaked intensity, truly stir the listener’s heart.

Released as a digital-only single in July 2020, the track is also included on the album “SINGALONG.” Known as the theme song for tvk’s “RIDE OF KANAGAWA 2020 High School Baseball,” its warm message offers a powerful cheer and a sense of hope for those chasing their dreams.

It’s a perfect pick for when the end of summer leaves you feeling a little lonely, or when you’re ready to take a new step forward.