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

fireworksaiko1rank/position

aiko - “Hanabi” music video

When it comes to songs that capture a cute yet bittersweet summer-night crush, this is probably the one many people think of.

It’s known as one of singer-songwriter aiko’s signature tracks.

The song overlays the beauty and transience of lights blooming and fading in the night sky with the unspoken feelings of unrequited love.

Released as a single in August 1999, it’s also included on the acclaimed album “Sakura no Ki no Shita.” There’s also a well-known anecdote that aiko, who was very busy at the time, drew inspiration from the sadness of not being able to attend the fireworks festival she went to every year.

Pairing it with visuals of summer nightscapes or sparklers will make for an even more emotional story.

The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell2rank/position

Supercell – The Story You Don't Know

This song captures the aching feeling of a love that can’t be confessed.

Created by the creator collective supercell led by composer ryo, their first single—released in August 2009—was used as the ending theme for the TV anime Bakemonogatari.

It opens with a gentle piano melody and expands into a brisk, driving band sound, giving it a refreshing vibe that’s perfect for summer.

Under a star-studded night sky, it portrays the bittersweet inner struggle of a protagonist who keeps their feelings for someone hidden.

The track was later included on the album Today Is A Beautiful Day.

Vocalist Yanaginagi’s clear, translucent voice conveys pure, youthful longing and is sure to add a moving touch to reels that capture cherished summer memories.

planetariumOtsuka Ai3rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

Singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka, who creates everything from energetic tunes to moving ballads.

Released in September 2005, this song is a bittersweet love ballad perfect for summer nights.

You can almost picture the scene of memories with a precious person who’s gone, overlapping with the countless stars spread across the night sky.

The piano accompaniment, which carries a hint of traditional Japanese flavor, is striking, and her supple, straight-reaching vocals on top of it are deeply moving.

The track was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi” and is also included on the acclaimed album “LOVE COOK.” How about listening to it at summer’s end, while recalling an unforgettable love?

The Sound of WavesImai Miki4rank/position

Miki Imai “Shiosai (The Sound of Waves)” Music Video

Miki Imai, known for her translucent singing voice and her portrayals of sophisticated, urban women, delivers in this work a summer ballad that seeps into the heart, crafted entirely by her partner, Tomoyasu Hotei.

You can almost picture the protagonist on a beach at dusk, listening closely to the ebb and flow of the waves and quietly reflecting on a love from long ago.

Released ahead of the album AQUA in July 2001, the song also reached living rooms nationwide as the ending theme of the infotainment show The! Sekai Gyoten News.

Put it on during a late-summer drive, and sweet, bittersweet memories will resurface, enveloping you in a nostalgic mood.

Because I met youmiwa5rank/position

miwa “Because I Met You -short ver.-”

The song Kimi ni Deaeta Kara was written by miwa as a tie-in track for Shiseido’s SEA BREEZE.

It was created with the theme of being a cheer song for students working hard in their club activities, and the melody includes chant-like calls that fire up the listener.

In contrast, the lyrics convey the beauty of youth and the fact that it is finite.

As a result, the song motivates you while also leaving you with a hint of wistfulness.

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yamamoto

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beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko6rank/position

aiko - 'Kabutomushi' music video

It’s a song by aiko that portrays a delicate heart: identifying with an insect that protects itself with a hard shell yet is fragile inside, and acting tough precisely because it’s in love.

Like that insect that cannot survive the winter, the song foresees the end of love, yet its deep affection moves you as it tries to accept even the sadness as a cherished memory.

Released in November 1999, it was also used as the ending theme for TBS’s CDTV.

If you’ve ever found yourself putting on a brave front in front of someone you like, you’ll understand this all too well! As you listen, may you embrace that awkwardness as a part of yourself and find the courage to step forward into tomorrow.

mintUno Misako (AAA)7rank/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.

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miyabi

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