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

Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Spirits of the Sea

If you’re someone who longs for reunion, this song is full of charm and open to your own interpretation.

It became a major topic as the theme song for the film “Children of the Sea”! Kenshi Yonezu is said to be a fan of the original manga, and he created the song from the perspective of a fellow fan, which makes the film’s worldview even more palpable when you watch it.

Still, even if you don’t know the story, this piece—whose lyrics about meeting, parting, and yearning for reunion are sung with grandeur and beauty—will surely resonate in your heart in a way that’s uniquely your own.

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Hane Keisuke

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Summer loverSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO 'Summer Lover'

A song told from a woman’s perspective that depicts the process and inner conflict of ending a summer fling.

Knowing that staying as they are isn’t good for either of them, she tries to end the relationship.

She still has lingering feelings and can’t take the step easily, but the way she earnestly tries to bring things to a close is heart-wrenching.

Although SHISHAMO is often associated with energetic, upbeat songs, pieces like this are wonderful too.

The flowing melody line feels as pleasant as a summer night breeze.

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Hane Keisuke

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That summer is becoming an addiction.Jenīhai

genie high "That Summer Becomes Addictive" LYRIC VIDEO

Released in September 2025, this piece is a number that beautifully captures the fleeting nature of summer and the lingering afterimages of memory.

Alongside vivid scenic descriptions, it sings of unforgettable memories being etched ever deeper into the heart over time.

Takashi Niigaki’s crystal-clear piano melodies intertwine with Ikkyu Nakajima’s wistful yet resolute vocals, enveloping the entire track in a nostalgic atmosphere.

It can be described as a work that showcases the band’s ensemble, whose expressive power has grown even further since the album “Jenny Classic.” It’s the perfect song for immersing yourself in cherished memories that resurface at the end of summer.

Trace that dreamYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Tracing That Dream” Official Music Video

A digital single released by YOASOBI in 2020.

You might associate it with a refreshing vibe since it was used in the commercial for Daihatsu’s “Tanto,” but when you listen to the full song, it’s both deeply bittersweet and sparkling.

The story centers on a love tale at a fireworks festival.

That feeling of almost being able to reach each other, combined with one of the most beautiful melodies in YOASOBI’s history, seems to amplify the sense of speed toward a bright future—and that, in turn, makes it all the more heartrending.

If you overlay it with your current or past love, the resonance is unstoppable, and the final line that comes at the end of the song gives you goosebumps.

It’s a summer tune that stays close to a fleeting summer romance.

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KEI

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Dawn in Summeratarayo

Dawn in Summer

This is a ballad that delicately portrays the protagonist’s feelings as they gaze at the sea at dawn in summer.

After the couple’s separation, the memories left behind and lingering regrets are woven together with a nostalgic melody.

Hitomi’s clear, translucent vocals further enhance the world of the heartrending lyrics.

Included on the album Dew of Morning Dissolves into Sun-dappled Light, released in September 2024, this track distills the essence of Atarayo’s appeal into a single song.

It’s a warm piece that offers comfort to those who have experienced heartbreak or are trying to overcome a farewell with someone dear.

If you listen at summer’s end, it’s sure to resonate deeply.

Blue SummerTRACK15

TRACK15 – Blue Summer [Official Music Video]

A perfect number for those fleeting, sentimental moments at the end of a dazzling season.

Released in June 2024 by the Osaka-based rock band TRACK15, this guitar-driven track captures the frustration of a hesitant love.

As vocalist Ren, who wrote the lyrics, says, he penned it “as if it were a soft drink commercial song,” blending a refreshing sound with a heart-tightening poignancy.

Give it a listen when you want to look back on bittersweet summer romance as the season fades.

Rainy WednesdayOhtaki Eiichi

Eiichi Ohtaki - A Rainy Wednesday

One of Eiichi Ohtaki’s signature songs, where the gentle, soaking rain conveys the feel of summer.

You can picture yourself quietly gazing at the sea with someone dear, beside a battered old Volkswagen.

Before you know it, as you listen, you’re filled with a sentimental longing for the passing seasons.

The track was included on the classic 1981 album “A LONG VACATION,” and was later released as a single in May 1982.

With its clear, transparent vocals and wistful melody that sinks into the heart, it’s a perfect number for late summer.