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

mintUno Misako (AAA)8rank/position

Misako Uno (AAA) / “mint” Music Video

This is the third solo single by Misako Uno, the sole female vocalist of AAA, released on May 15, 2019.

It’s a sparkling pop tune that was also featured in a TV commercial for ASPLUSH.

Just like its title “mint,” her fresh and cute vocals are truly captivating! The upbeat sound in the chorus makes you feel positive and naturally want to jump along.

Even on days filled with sadness or hardship, it’s a perfect summer song I especially want teenagers to hear, so they don’t forget to keep their hearts shining.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY9rank/position

PUFFY 'Et Cetera Related to the Beach' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A top-tier summer tune from PUFFY, produced by Tamio Okuda with lyrics by Yosui Inoue—both leading creators in Japan’s music scene.

Released in April 1997, the track hit No.

1 on the Oricon charts and became a million-seller with total sales exceeding 1.1 million copies.

It was also widely known as the song for Kirin Beverage’s “Tennen Sodachi” commercial.

Inoue’s lyrics paint a humorous, slightly surreal world set on a summer shoreline—utterly distinctive.

It’s a bona fide miracle of a song, perfectly fusing PUFFY’s signature laid-back vocals with a bright pop sound.

Put this on while driving along the coast, and it feels like the best summer is about to begin.

GarnetOku Hanako10rank/position

Garnet

This is the theme song of the animated film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” a track where Hanako Oku’s vocals resonate deeply with the heart.

It captures the sparkle of days gone by and an unchanging feeling for someone precious—listening to it might just make your heart ache a little.

Released as a single in July 2006, it further heightened the film’s emotional impact.

Try listening to it on a summer evening when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood or when you’re remembering old friends.

It’s a song that will surely stay gently by your side.

Ephemeral Fireworkssupercell11rank/position

supercell – Ephemeral Fireworks

This song by supercell, a creator team led by ryo, was included on their third major-label single released in August 2010.

It was used as the ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime Naruto Shippuden and became a hot topic at the time.

Nagi’s clear, transparent vocals beautifully capture the bustle of summer festivals, the fleeting brilliance of fireworks, and the fragility of love.

Accompanied by piano melodies, it’s a ballad that poignantly conveys the ache of time slipping away.

It’s a lingering, evocative piece you’ll want to listen to while feeling the cool breeze at summer’s end and gazing up at the night sky.

WILLNakajima Mika12rank/position

Mika Nakashima 'WILL' Music Video

WILL is the fifth single by the charismatic and hugely popular singer Mika Nakashima, released on August 7, 2002.

It was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Observatory, and with this track she made her first appearance at the 53rd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

As a drama tie-in, the lyrics evoke summer stargazing with imagery like telescopes and constellations.

It’s a captivating song where her aching vocals intertwine with bittersweet memories of love.

Be sure to give it a listen on late summer nights or as summer draws to a close.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako13rank/position

Unchanging Things

A piano ballad that lets you sink into a wistful mood, as if longing for the summer that has passed.

The singer is Hanako Oku, a singer-songwriter often praised as someone whose “voice alone can move you to tears.” This work centers on the irreplaceable nature of everyday life and feelings that never fade, even as time goes by.

Its message—yearning to reach someone you may never meet again, transcending time and distance—truly strikes the heart.

Included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, it served as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, heightening the emotion of its climactic scenes.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly chilly evening at dusk, as you look back on your summer memories.

Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko14rank/position

Blue Coral Reef

The famously soaring high notes in the intro make this an absolute classic that just screams “Seiko-chan.” Released in July 1980 as her second single, it’s surely one of the signature songs of early Seiko Matsuda.

The lyrics paint a straightforward picture of pure excitement: under the blue ocean stretching out before her, the protagonist can’t contain her overflowing feelings of love.

Beloved as the song for Glico’s “Yorell” commercial, it also topped The Best Ten for three consecutive weeks.

Put on this exhilarating summer tune and your mood will skyrocket—there’s no doubt it’ll make a seaside drive in summer many times more fun.