Songs for every season: classic and popular tunes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

cherry blossomKetsumeishi

Sakura – Ketsumeishi (Full)

The song itself was, of course, great, but the music video really became a hot topic.

The MV is set up like a drama and features Emi Suzuki and Naoto Hagiwara.

Suzuki looked truly pure and adorable.

It became Ketsumeishi’s biggest hit.

Paradise BabyRIP SLYME

RIP SLYME – Rakuen Baby

It was RIP SLYME’s fifth single and became a big hit.

I think many people got to know RIP SLYME through this song.

The lyrics have a summery vibe with a slightly sensual feel.

In concerts, they sometimes change the word “paradise” to match the name of the place they’re performing.

White LoveSPEED

White Love – SPEED (Full)

This song is SPEED’s fifth single, and it became their biggest hit.

It sold an astonishing total of two million copies! That’s incredible.

For girls who were still in their teens, I remember the lyrics feeling quite mature.

SAKURA DropsHikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada – SAKURA Drops

This “SAKURA Drops” of course carries the meaning of cherry blossoms, but it also plays on Sakuma Drops, the famous candies that come in a tin.

It was also used as the theme song for the drama “First Love.”

The Summer That Vanished Beyond the GlassMasayuki Suzuki

Masayuki Suzuki – The Summer That Vanished Beyond the Glass

It was released as Masayuki Suzuki’s first solo single after his work with Chanels and Rats & Star.

With music by Yoshiyuki Ohsawa, arrangement by Hoppy Kamiyama, and guitar by Tomoyasu Hotei, it’s a star-studded lineup.

Suzuki’s gentle voice evokes the bittersweetness of summer.

Rain and CappuccinoYorushika

Yorushika – Rain and Cappuccino (Official Video)

Set in summer, this is a heartwarming, soothing song that keeps you company during quiet rainy moments.

The transparent vocals meld with the piano’s melody, gently enveloping the bittersweet feelings of remembering someone you’ve lost.

Included on Yorushika’s August 2019 album “Elma,” the track richly portrays the emotional resolve to look forward while holding onto memories of someone dear, within a highly narrative world.

An animated PV evoking a café atmosphere has also been released, enhancing the song’s charm with its dreamlike visuals.

It’s a perfect tune for a calm rainy day, to enjoy by the window with your favorite drink as you unwind.

Winter and Springback number

back number – Winter and Spring

Back number’s stirring melodies and delicate vocals beautifully capture the emotions of moving on from heartbreak amid the transition from winter to spring.

Produced in January 2024, the piece was helmed by Masanori Shimada, who also produced “Suiheisen,” and the music video marks Iyori Shimizu’s first attempt at directing.

The use of snow-covered asphalt on the jacket symbolically expresses both the change of seasons and the transformation of the heart.

It’s a song that resonates with the pain of heartbreak—an experience shared by all—and the journey of recovery that follows, making it a track you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.