Songs to Listen to in September: Popular J-POP Tracks That Capture the End of Summer and Early Autumn

bubble; foam; ephemeral (as in something short-lived)wanuka

Utakata / Wa Nuka [Music Video]

As the clamor of summer fades and a hint of loneliness settles in, Wanuka’s songs resonate deeply.

Like bubbles that rise to the water’s surface and vanish at once, they seem to sing of fleeting summer romances and memories.

Beneath the wish to be beautiful lies an inescapable emptiness and bittersweet ache, carried on delicate, subtly Japanese-tinged melodies that press upon the heart.

This work was released in February 2022 and is also included on the first album Aonizai, released the same year.

It’s the perfect track for a late-summer dusk, when the night breeze turns a little chilly and you want to be alone with your thoughts.

It will gently stay by your side as you reflect on the season that has passed.

Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako

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.

Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Summer Shadow” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, known for popular songs like “Lilac” and “Dancehall,” released a perfect end-of-summer track in August 2025.

It’s their first summer-themed song in about seven years since “Ao to Natsu.” The lyrics capture an indescribable, sentimental feeling that comes with the changing seasons.

There’s a bittersweetness in the way the protagonist blames their pounding heart and hesitation on the summer heat and the lengthening shadows.

Give it a listen as you savor the passing days of summer.

planetariumOtsuka Ai

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium (Short Ver.)

When it comes to songs you want to listen to at the end of summer, there are a lot of bittersweet ones, aren’t there? Among them, a great recommendation is Ai Otsuka’s “Planetarium.” Known as the image song for the hit TV drama “Boys Over Flowers,” and beloved as a love song, its poignant melody and lyrics are a perfect fit for the close of summer.

The sound of the traditional Japanese shakuhachi echoes throughout the track, adding a subtly melancholy atmosphere that beautifully heightens that end-of-summer wistfulness.

It also brings a gentle, reflective mood when you sing it at karaoke, so definitely give this song a listen to feel the end of summer.

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SeptemberSugawara Kei

Kei Sugawara – September (Official Video)

Kei Sugawara’s song, which captures the wistful feeling at summer’s end, blends a beat-driven sound with a hip-hop-inspired approach.

The lyrics, delivered with an emotional vocal performance, portray both a resolve to live strongly despite an incomplete, unstable state of mind and the complexities of romantic feelings.

Released on September 4, 2024, the track was distributed as the lead single from the EP “sanagi,” scheduled for release on November 6 of the same year.

The music video dropped simultaneously, offering a visual experience of the song’s world.

It’s a track that resonates with listeners dealing with the pain and conflicts of love.