Songs to Listen to in Summer: Ranking of Popular Tracks by Japanese Female Artists [2026]

Feel fine!Kuraki Mai81rank/position

Mai Kuraki “Feel fine!”

Mai Kuraki’s signature song “Feel fine!” The title means “feeling good” in English, and it’s a perfect early-summer pop tune that was used in the 2002 SEA BREEZE commercial.

A hallmark of Mai Kuraki’s singing style is her breathy delivery, where the breath comes before the voice.

If you practice as though you’re singing with the “h” sound, you’ll be able to use more breath and should find high notes easier to sing.

Rather than power, aim for an overall light touch.

Since it leans toward an R&B groove, it might work well to sing with a smile while taking light steps!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

The Day I Become the Wind SomedayHajime Chitose82rank/position

Chitose Hajime - The Day I Become the Wind, Yomitan Festival, 2015-10-30

Someday I’ll Become the Wind is a song by Chitose Hajime released in 2003.

Many of you may remember it as the CM song for au by KDDI’s “Everyone’s Summer” commercial.

It’s a gently soothing track that feels like being cradled by a vast, drifting sea.

I think listeners of any generation can connect it with their own nostalgic summer scenes and memories.

While summer often brings to mind upbeat dance numbers, if you’d like to enjoy karaoke with a soothing song that’s the complete opposite, be sure to pick this one!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

fireworksOku Hanako83rank/position

Hanako Oku / Fireworks [Music Video]

Singer-songwriter Hanako Oku, who has written lyrics, composed, and sung numerous commercial jingles and whose 2022 return to activity thrilled fans.

Her first indie single, “Hanabi” (Fireworks), is memorable for its nostalgic intro featuring rich, heavy strings.

The bittersweet feelings for days that won’t come back, layered over the image of fireworks, may evoke memories of one’s own youth and resonate with many listeners.

It’s a sentimental ballad whose delicate ensemble, adorned with her cute vocals, stirs the heart.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

The Maiden with Flaxen HairShimatani Hitomi84rank/position

Hitomi Shimatani / "A Maiden with Flaxen Hair" [OFFICIAL MV FULL SIZE]

Hitomi Shimatani is a singer who can masterfully perform a wide range of musical genres.

Making the most of her beautiful looks, she’s also active as a model and actress.

Her 2002 cover release “Amairo no Kami no Otome” is a passionate song that anyone in their 30s would know.

The track became a hot topic as the Kao “Essential Damage Care” commercial song, in which she herself appeared! Its danceable beat wrapped in an exotic-sounding atmosphere is striking—a number that accelerates the heat of a summer romance.

Try listening to this nostalgic summer tune while gazing up at the clear, sunny sky.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

Venus LineHirose Kōmi85rank/position

Venus Line

Kohmi Hirose is one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters.

She wrote “Venus Line” as the opening theme for the anime BIRDIE WING -Golf Girls’ Story-.

It’s a jazz-tinged track featuring piano and violin, and its lyrics capture the buoyant excitement of the protagonist who pours her heart into sports.

Also noteworthy is how the lyrics use expressions premised on the anime’s story—for example, reading “daikyū” (a struck ball) as “kibō” (hope).

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yamamoto

Report a problem