[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 make your heart clench with bittersweet feelings. Timeless, heartwarming summer classics (51–60)
Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi
The title “Nada Sōsō” is Okinawan dialect meaning “tears fall and spill over.” Famous across generations, this song is well known for having lyrics by Ryoko Moriyama and composition by BEGIN, and there are versions performed by Moriyama and by BEGIN as well.
Written about Moriyama’s late older brother, the song evokes sadness and poignancy, yet by the end it leaves you with a very gentle feeling.
It’s also a classic song of the summer.
tear(s)Marushii
Released in August 2025, this song marks Marcy’s first summer ballad.
It opens with scenes that evoke dazzling memories of love, and the story that unfolds in the past tense grips your heart.
Like a letter with no addressee, the feelings have nowhere to go, and the earnest pain of heartbreak is rendered lyrically.
It’s a sentimental track that embraces those who want to linger in the afterglow of a past romance at summer’s end.
I want to be your lover.Abe Mao
Mao Abe’s second single, “I Want to Be Your Girlfriend,” is a love song that portrays a bittersweet unrequited love.
The lyrics tighten your chest as they tell of a summer romance, a secretly held wish that never comes true, and a fleeting end.
It candidly expresses the feelings anyone in love is bound to have, making it painfully relatable.
The melody also captures that indescribable, sentimental mood as summer draws to a close, overlapping with the end of the romance and deepening the sense of poignancy.
I saw you.≠ME
This is a summer song released in August 2025 by ≠ME, an idol group produced by Rino Sashihara.
The track portrays the bittersweet emotions of seeing the person you like together with someone else.
It reflects Sashihara’s unique sentiment of “not wanting ≠ME to have their love fulfilled,” intertwining the frustration of unrequited love with the atmosphere of late summer to create a heart-wrenching feel.
It’s a must-listen for anyone in the throes of a one-sided crush or those who want to reminisce about the delicate memories of their youth.
[2026] Summer songs that tug at your heartstrings. Timeless, soul-stirring summer classics (61–70)
Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a pop tune that carries the faint signs of summer’s end, leaving a bittersweet yet comforting afterglow.
Created by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, the song was written as the theme for Kirin’s “Gogo no Kocha” commercial featuring Ren Meguro of Snow Man and Ayami Nakajo.
Released as the fifth installment of their five-month release run in 2025, it drew attention for being their first title to bear “summer” in about seven years, since the classic Aoto Natsu (“Blue and Summer”).
Through vivid summer imagery, the lyrics gently touch the tender parts of the heart, capturing inexpressible excitement and a wavering resolve.
It’s an emotional rock ballad perfect for when you want to sink into a sentimental mood.
Goldfish FireworksOtsuka Ai
This song, a masterpiece ballad by Ai Otsuka, pierces our hearts with a summer-set tale of love and farewell.
The Japanese aesthetic hinted at by the title “Kingyo Hanabi” (Goldfish Fireworks) permeates the entire piece.
While Ai Otsuka is often associated with upbeat, happy tunes, hearing her sing such a gentle, tender ballad creates a striking contrast that makes the sadness all the more poignant.
There is a type of fireworks called “kingyo hanabi” done over water, but the motif in this song refers to handheld fireworks that come with a goldfish illustration on the handle when you buy them.
The delicate, beautiful sparks of the goldfish fireworks overlap with the image of a beloved face that flickers in one’s mind.
Summer-colored FireworksSnow Man
A fragile yet grand and beautiful medium-tempo ballad that evokes vivid scenes of summer in Japan.
Lyrics filled with both the sorrow of the passing seasons and gratitude toward a loved one resonate deeply with listeners.
This track is included on the single “SERIOUS,” released in July 2025, and has earned high praise for the beautiful harmonies woven by nine vocalists.
On a slightly lonely night at summer’s end, take your time listening as you reflect on memories gone by.