Famous and popular Japanese summer songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke
What songs come to mind when you think of summer tunes?
Maybe you’re one of those people who think, “If I go to karaoke in the summer, I want to sing summer songs, but I can’t think of any!” and end up struggling to pick a track.
It’s true—“summer songs” cover a wide range, from tracks that get you hyped to ballads that capture the unique, mellow emotions of the season, making it hard to choose.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of summer songs for various situations.
From high-energy anthems to moving, mellow listens, we’ve selected popular karaoke picks.
Use this as a guide for choosing your songs!
Top 10 Japanese summer song classics and popular tracks to sing at karaoke
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu
When it comes to summer traditions, many people think of fireworks.
As the title suggests, “Uchiage Hanabi” is a poignant love song themed around fireworks.
It’s performed by two hugely popular artists—Kenshi Yonezu and DAOKO—both of whom have appeared on the Kōhaku music show, so their name recognition is outstanding.
It’s also a karaoke staple as a male-female duet song.
Paradise BabyRIP SLYME
An appealing track with a refreshing bossa nova vibe centered around acoustic guitar.
Stylish rhymes add to the comfort, making it a perfect resort tune! It’s also a classic with huge popularity at karaoke.
Summer loverSHISHAMO
When you think of summer songs, you often picture fun and flashy tunes, but bittersweet summer songs are popular too.
SHISHAMO’s “Natsu no Koibito” is a particularly recommended track among those bittersweet summer songs.
It’s loved as a poignant love song wrapped in a uniquely summery, nostalgic atmosphere.
The melody is gentle and unhurried, so it should be easy to sing at karaoke.
12 cm shouldert-Ace
Rapper T-Ace, who calls himself a scumbag and even runs a YouTube channel called “Channel Kuzu,” released “12cm no Kata” in 2019—a refreshing love song perfect for summer.
The lyrics are said to be based on T-Ace’s real experiences, and many listeners might find themselves smitten by its slightly clingy, sensitive vibe.
UMI（produced by C&K）TEE
Speaking of summer, the sea comes to mind—and TEE’s “UMI” is the perfect summer song for karaoke.
Its laid-back sound evokes the beautiful seas of the tropics, and the ocean-themed lyrics make you want to savor the season just by listening.
With its relaxed tempo and easy-to-remember melody, it’s an easy pick even for people who aren’t confident with karaoke songs.
fireworksaiko
A signature song by aiko that sings of the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love.
It’s perfect for summer nights.
Beloved by fans for evoking a sweet, aching mood, this track masterfully captures a girl’s emotions.
The scenes of summer are depicted beautifully.
All of the YouthFujifabric
When it comes to summer, there’s a certain unique sense of nostalgia, isn’t there? Especially in the evenings and at night, many people probably find themselves reminiscing about their childhood.
A song I recommend that really captures that summer nostalgia is “Wakamono no Subete” by Fujifabric.
It’s a karaoke staple, too, so try singing it while you look back on the old days.