Recommended summer songs for people in their 20s: classic and popular J-pop tracks
When summer comes around, don’t you often find yourself wanting summery background music as you head out for drives and enjoy the outdoors more? And when you go to karaoke, many of you probably want to hype things up with songs that capture the season and make you feel the summer vibe.
So in this article, we’ll introduce some popular summer tunes! This time, we’re focusing on songs recommended for people currently in their 20s, gathering a wide range centered on tracks you likely listened to back in your school days.
Use this article as a guide to pick songs you can enjoy when you get together with people from the same generation!
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Recommended summer songs for people in their 20s: Famous and popular Japanese tracks (1–10)
Summer Colorsyuzu
This song, one of Yuzu’s signature tracks, is beloved across all generations as a summer anthem.
Although it was released in 1998, many people in their twenties today have not only heard it but can probably sing it without looking at the lyrics.
What makes this cross-generational song so appealing are its refreshingly brisk tempo, the duo’s pleasing harmonies, and lyrics that paint summer scenes so vividly you can almost see them unfold before your eyes.
It’s a track that not only captures the essence of summer, but also leaves you feeling fresh and uplifted.
Trace that dreamYOASOBI
The music duo YOASOBI made a striking debut with their smash hit “Yoru ni Kakeru” and has gained popularity both in Japan and abroad, especially among younger generations.
Their second digital-only single, “Tracing That Dream,” which was created based on the novel The Drops of Dreams and the Star Flowers, later saw the release of a ballad version—something that also became a hot topic.
Its open, liberating melody carried by a driving piano phrase feels perfect for coloring the summer.
With lyrics that make you want to head somewhere far away, it’s a refreshingly cool pop tune that’s sure to lift your spirits.
Midsummer’s Sounds good!AKB48
A refreshing, summery vibe makes this track especially memorable.
Released by AKB48 in 2012, the song captured the hearts of many fans.
Its lyrics depict the sense of freedom at the seaside in summer, giving listeners a boost of energy and a crisp, uplifting feeling.
In the music video, the members dance by the ocean, leaving a strong visual impression that enhances the summer imagery.
The song won the 54th Japan Record Awards on December 30, 2012, making AKB48 the first female group in history to win the award two years in a row.
It’s perfect as background music for summer drives or outdoor activities, and it’s also a great pick when you want to liven things up at karaoke!
Recommended summer songs for people in their 20s: Japanese classics and popular tracks (11–20)
The summer you gave meieiri reo
Leo Ieiri’s “Kimi ga Kureta Natsu” became a hit as the theme song for the bittersweet romance drama “Koinaka,” which aired in 2015 and starred Sota Fukushi and Tsubasa Honda.
As the title subtly suggests—and the lyrics make even clearer—it’s a song addressed not to a love in the present, but to someone from the past, someone once cherished.
When you listen, you can’t help but remember that person you loved, the one you’ll likely never meet again.
Leo Ieiri’s vocals further heighten the sense of poignancy in this track.
fireworksaiko
Singer-songwriter aiko debuted in 1998 and has remained at the forefront of the J-pop scene ever since.
In other words, for people in their 20s, I think her songs have always been there by their side.
Among her tracks—familiar to many in their 20s as well—the quintessential summer song has to be Hanabi (Fireworks).
The chorus, woven with the words “stars” and “fireworks,” is strikingly memorable and distinctly her style.
With its unique lyrical expressions and soothing melody line, it’s an essential summer tune.
Sound of SummerGReeeeN
GReeeeN is a four-member vocal group that blends rap into exquisitely crafted choral melodies, creating pop, stylish tracks—and despite keeping their appearances private, they command massive support.
Their 10th digital-only single, Natsu no Oto, chosen as the campaign song for Kirin’s Namacha, is a piece that evokes summertime imagery from its intro, which carries a distinctly Japanese feel.
The lyrics link unrequited feelings with fireworks, filling the song with the atmosphere of summer—hot yet tinged with a poignant melancholy.
It’s an emotional pop tune that awakens those bittersweet memories everyone likely experienced in their youth.
Ghost in the FlowersYorushika
A male-female duo that has become a defining presence among artists thriving in the age of social media, Yorushika releases their third digital-only single.
Featuring gentle vocals and a striking piano, with the presence of other instruments kept to the bare minimum, the arrangement allows the story in the lyrics to resonate directly and powerfully.
It’s a new-era summer song that evokes a page of youth you’ll recall every time summer comes—highly recommended for listeners in their twenties.