Songs to Listen to in Summer: Ranking of Popular Tracks by Japanese Female Artists [2026]
Summer has all kinds of events, but it’s common to get stuck in long traffic jams on the way to the venue.
Music is what you need to keep things enjoyable even in those moments.
We’ve put together a ranking of recommended Japanese female artists and popular songs for summer, so please use it as a reference.
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Songs to Listen to in Summer: Japanese Female Artists – Popular Tracks Ranking [2026] (1–10)
Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY8rank/position
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 Hanako9rank/position
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 Fireworkssupercell10rank/position
The single Utakata Hanabi, released in 2010 by supercell—a unit made up of various creators—was used as the ending theme for the TV anime Naruto Shippuden.
The lyrics, which recall fireworks once watched with a former lover and convey the poignancy of watching them alone, really strike a chord.
It’s a perfect ballad for fireworks, which often evoke a fleeting image, so please give it a listen!
Songs to Hear in Summer: Japanese Female Artists – Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
Goldfish FireworksOtsuka Ai11rank/position
When it comes to songs that capture a bittersweet love that colors summer memories, this one simply can’t be left out.
Released by Ai Otsuka in August 2004, the song centers on a fleeting summer romance that never comes true.
The word “bittersweet” never actually appears in the lyrics, yet the feeling permeates every line.
It’s a perfect pick for those who want to savor the transience of summer love or look back on memories with someone special.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako12rank/position
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 Seiko13rank/position
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.
WILLNakajima Mika14rank/position
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.
