Love songs you want to listen to in summer. Love songs that color the summer.

Summer Love Sensationmakaroni enpitsu

macaroni empitsu “Summer Love Sensation” MV

A song by Macaroni Enpitsu that captures the dazzling brightness of summer love and the sudden pangs of wistfulness that come with it.

It conjures vivid summer memories, like a fireworks date in yukata or a quiet moment in a cool room.

Released in August 2017 as the band’s first CD single, the track was also included on their album “CHOSYOKU” released the same year.

It was further selected as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “MelodiX!” for August 2017.

Whether you’re in the midst of a summer romance right now or reminiscing about one that has passed, doesn’t it feel like this song gently whispers, “It’s going to be okay”?

sparklerInoue Sonoko

Sonoko Inoue / Sparklers -Music Video- (Full Ver.)

A signature song by Sonoko Inoue that sings of the bittersweet moment when summer comes to a fleeting end.

Released in July 2014 as the lead track from her first mini-album “Senkou Hanabi,” this youth anthem encapsulates the genuine feelings of Inoue, who was a high school student at the time.

Its charm lies in the gentle, heart-soothing melody woven from warm acoustic tones and her clear, transparent voice.

The lyrics, which express longing and loneliness for the summer that has passed, resonate deeply with listeners.

If you sing it toward the end of a karaoke session when you want a calm, reflective mood, everyone there will find themselves listening intently.

The Summer That Vanished Beyond the GlassŌsawa Yoshiyuki

Yoshiyuki Osawa – The Summer That Vanished Beyond the Glass

This is a ballad perfect for those moments at summer’s end, at dusk, when a fleeting memory of a past love suddenly tightens your chest.

Its melody, which stirs up beautiful memories like sepia-toned photographs you can no longer touch, is bittersweet yet warmly comforting.

Released in February 1986 as Masayuki Suzuki’s solo debut, it was also widely loved as the song used in Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles commercials.

It’s said to depict a world that continues the story from Yoshiyuki Ohsawa’s signature song, “Soshite Boku wa Tohō ni Kureru,” which he composed, revealing greater depth the more you listen.

On a sentimental night, this gentle tune may quietly nestle close to your heart.

A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – Midsummer Shower

A song that delicately weaves together the deep sorrow of losing someone precious and the love that still refuses to cease.

Like a gentle rain falling in the depths of the heart, it moves the listener—so quintessentially Hikaru Utada.

Included on the 2016 album Fantôme, this piece was released when Utada resumed musical activities after about eight years.

When you want something to quietly accompany the loneliness at summer’s end or those sudden pangs of wistfulness, this warm melody will envelop you.

On a night when you’re thinking of someone dear, why not listen closely?

Starry NightYuka

Yuka – Starry Night (Official Music Video)

Under the shimmering night sky, it’s a song by Yuka that makes you want to softly call the name of someone dear—stirring a tender yet bittersweet feeling.

Woven with her crystal-clear voice is a message of gratitude and deep love for the way someone can make your name—and by extension, your very existence—feel special.

Produced by Toru of ONE OK ROCK and released digitally in February 2023, the track touched many hearts as the theme song for TV Asahi’s drama “Hoshifuru Yoru ni,” and surpassed 100 million streams in December 2023.

Listen to it on a summer night when you’re feeling a little sentimental or want to reaffirm your feelings for someone important, and it will gently stay by your side.

Just a Kiss feat. AimyonSuda Masaki

Masaki Suda “Just a Kiss feat. Aimyon”

A duet by Masaki Suda and Aimyon that gently stays close to that bittersweet feeling that suddenly washes over you on a summer evening.

It’s a mid-tempo ballad that portrays the unspoken, wavering emotions of a man and a woman and their somewhat unreliable, ambiguous relationship.

The delicate yet beautiful melody seeps into your heart, as if you were touching the air at summer’s end.

Featured on Masaki Suda’s July 2019 album “LOVE,” the song reportedly grew out of an impromptu session as the two talked in a park—an origin that seems to deepen its sense of poignancy.

When the loneliness after joyful summer memories have passed, or the frustration of a restless love keeps you up at night, listening to this song will surely make your heart feel a little lighter.

Front memorySuzuki Emiko × Kameda Seiji

Emiko Suzuki × Seiji Kameda “Front Memory” — Theme song for the film “After the Rain”

On a summer evening, over a soundscape that feels somehow nostalgic, Emiko Suzuki’s powerful voice rings out.

Evoking the tenderness for seasons gone by and the ache of an unfulfilled love, yet portraying a protagonist who keeps looking forward, believing in a fleeting moment of brilliance, this song deeply moved many as the theme for the May 2018 film “After the Rain.” It’s a track you’ll want to add to a playlist full of summer memories—perfect for when you want to indulge in a touch of sentimentality or awaken those bittersweet recollections.