Famous and popular Japanese summer songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke

Ghost in the FlowersYorushika

Yorushika – Ghost in a Flower (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

It’s a captivating piece with a beautiful melody that evokes fleeting memories of summer days.

In this number by Yorushika, memories of passing seasons and dear ones are portrayed like faint phantoms.

The summer scenes woven into the lyrics carry a nostalgic scent of summer, overlapping with the landscapes tucked away in each listener’s heart and stirring a gentle ache, don’t you think? Released in April 2020, the song touched many as the theme for the animated film “A Whisker Away.” It is also included on the acclaimed album “The Book of Theft.” Give it a listen when you want to be alone with your thoughts on a summer evening, or when you want to immerse yourself in a beautiful melody.

COCONUTNiziU

NiziU(니쥬) 2nd Album「COCONUT」M/V

Perfect for the season when the summer sun is dazzling, this is a summery track from NiziU’s album “COCONUT.” Just listening to it lifts your spirits, evoking a refreshing scene of blue skies and the sea.

Its vibrant sound makes summer memories with friends shine, and the nine members’ vocals convey the openness and positive energy of summer.

The album “COCONUT,” which includes this song, was released in July 2023 and debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Albums Chart with 142,000 copies sold in its first week.

The album also features the movie theme song “Paradise” and the drama theme song “LOOK AT ME.” It’s a perfect pick to elevate karaoke, road trips, and all your summer outings—highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy the season.

Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number

back number – Takane no Hanako-san (full)

This signature number from back number is guaranteed to get everyone hyped during summer drives and karaoke—surely a staple summer song that resonates with many.

The track stands out for expressing the bittersweet feelings of an unrequited crush—yearning for someone who won’t look your way—set to a refreshing, fast-paced sound.

While the lyrics portray the woman he admires as someone out of reach, the charm lies in the protagonist’s comical side, drifting into fanciful daydreams and then snapping back to reality.

It captures the perfect interplay between the liberating feel of summer and the frustration of a distance that just won’t close.

Released as a single in June 2013, it was later included on the album “Love Story.” In 2019, it drew fresh attention when vocalist Iyori Shimizu performed a stripped-down version for Kirin Brewery’s Tanrei Green Label TV commercial.

If you want to relive the sweet-and-sour pangs of a one-sided crush, or you’re on your way to a summer event, this song will instantly lift your spirits.

And if you sing it with friends at karaoke, you’re guaranteed to get the whole room going in shared excitement!

MarigoldAimyon

Aimyon – Marigold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is a song whose bittersweet yet warm melody resonates in the heart, like a summer twilight.

Aimyon sings about everyday moments with a loved one and the enduring sparkle of unfading memories.

The lyrics carry the joy and anxiety of love, along with a pure wish to stay connected.

Released in August 2018 as Aimyon’s fifth single, the song became known in 2019 for being the first by a domestic artist to surpass 100 million streams in Japan.

As a nationally beloved track, it’s sure to liven up summer drives and karaoke sessions!

Our Summer DreamTatsuro Yamashita

PROJECT NAGASAKI - Our Summer Dream -

This is a song by Tatsuro Yamashita that evokes a nostalgic feeling, like a summer evening.

The beautiful melody woven by piano and strings makes it feel as if you’re watching a film from start to finish.

The lyrics seem to carry images of Japan’s lost pastoral landscapes and a gentle wish for the future, and listening to it may slowly warm your heart.

It’s a track with a warm theme that conveys bonds with loved ones and a sense of hope.

Released as a single in August 2009, it moved many people as the theme song for director Mamoru Hosoda’s animated film “Summer Wars.” It’s perfect for a summer drive with the windows down, feeling the breeze, and just as fitting for nights when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.

Sing it at karaoke, and it’s sure to resonate with everyone.

sea glassSaucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Sea Glass” Music Video <4th Mini Album “Take Me” Released on 2020.9.2>

It’s a song by Saucy Dog that evokes sparkling summer scenes and the sweet-and-sour memories of young love.

Sung over a driving, exhilarating sound, it captures the charm and fragility of a wonderful romance, and the fleeting brilliance of youth that will never return.

It’s sure to deliver a bittersweet yet heartwarming emotion to listeners.

Released as a digital single in July 2020, the track was also included on the mini-album “Take Me” in September of the same year.

The music video, produced in collaboration with Honda’s youth support project “Honda×Music: Wanna Ride a Bike? MUSIC FES.

,” expresses the dynamism of youth racing forward on a motorcycle.

Whether you’re feeling the wind on a summer drive or suddenly reminiscing about your school days, listening to this song may bring back the flutter of those moments.

NatsuneYuri

“Natsune” acoustic ver.

This is Yuuri’s rock ballad that captures that heart-tightening sense of longing you suddenly feel at summer’s end.

The pure wish to “stay together forever” flows through his emotive vocals and the beautiful melody, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released as a single in September 2021, the song was created for the Hulu original drama “Dry Flower – Room 707 -.” It reached No.

23 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 for the week and is included on the album Ichi.

It’s the kind of song that might really hit home when you’re soaking in a slightly sentimental summer twilight or quietly reminiscing about an old romance.