Listen IV: Saya’s “Natsu Shigure”

On the afternoon of June 30, 2025, I ran a few errands in the nearest business district. And when I was about to finish the final errand, heavy rain poured. I brought my portable umbrella (I always do because I’m vigilant in a way), but still… damn.

I waited several minutes for the weather to calm down, but I also wanted to go to my favorite cafe, Satchmi, early. So, I switched on my wireless earphones, opened my umbrella, pressed the shuffle mode on “My Favorite Songs” playlist on Spotify, went outside the building, hit the play button, and started walking. During my first steps, the sun slightly appeared while it was still raining.

The first song that Spotify played was the perfect soundtrack during that sunny yet rainy walk to my favorite cafe. What’s the song? It’s “Natsu Shigure” (夏しぐれ), my favorite song from Saya (冴夜), my recent favorite singer-songwriter hailing from Japan. “Natsu Shigure” means “Summer Drizzle” or “Summer Shower” in Japanese.

Saya released “Natsu Shigure” on audio streaming apps (e.g., Apple Music, Spotify) at midnight on June 28, 2025. And while it was probably a warm night in Saya’s country, it was a rainy night in my location. The first time I heard “Natsu Shigure” (which is 2 minutes after midnight), I was listening through the speakers, and within the first few seconds, I thought the rain outside was pouring harder. It turns out that there is a sound of rain in the song’s first seconds. It complemented the weather at that time.

Then I heard the rest of the song, especially Saya’s singing. I didn’t understand the lyrics of “Natsu Shigure” at that point. But based on the song title, the lovely acoustic instrumentals fitting for a rainy walk soundtrack, and the way she sang (her gentlest vocal performance yet, in my opinion), it sounded like she was giving comfort to anyone who listens to the song during rainfall. I replayed the mellow song over and over on the release date. (And up to now, my day will not be complete if I don’t listen to it.)

When I found the Japanese lyrics of “Natsu Shigure” via Shazam not long after that memorable, sunny yet rainy walk to my favorite cafe, I had to translate them into English via Google Translate. After reading the translation, I looked back at the unforgettable Monday walk from a different, clearer perspective. The lyrics describe a compassionate love and an act of kindness (in this case, sharing an umbrella with your special someone) that was only acknowledged when it was too late, and the lyrics instantly reminded me of the many times I shared my own umbrella with someone special when it was raining.

I thought that looking back at my own sad love story (which ended years ago) would be totally painful, but now that I reminisced about that story with “Natsu Shigure” as a soundtrack, strangely, it was less painful. Yes, I saw the lyrics from a different perspective, but the entire song still gives me comfort. It was like a sad love song transformed into a kind friend who kept me company while I walked through familiarly unhappy territory during the rain. I needed that.

The beautifully mellow sound that could fit on any rainy day playlist, the lyrics that let me make peace with some sad memories, and the perfectly-timed moment attached to the song (my Spotify app, on shuffle, playing it during a sunny yet rainy walk to my favorite place) are the reasons “Natsu Shigure” is my favorite song from Saya so far. Listening to it over and over will never get old for me.

Rating: 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

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In conclusion, I would like to share this: The world needs to hear Saya’s amazing songs, including “Natsu Shigure”. Please check out Saya’s songs on the Spotify music playlist below or by clicking here.

For non-Japanese readers, here are the song’s titles in playlist order:

1. Natsu Shigure
2. Akenai
3. Gingerale
4. Namidanowake
5. Tobikirinouta
6. Gum Syrup
7. Merry Bad End

And you can find Saya’s social media accounts by clicking here.

See you in the next post!

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Header image: Abhishek Yadav of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.