[Covers of Japanese Songs] A selection of classic hits where both the original and the arranged versions are popular

You know how musicians sometimes perform covers of other musicians’ songs, right?

Sometimes there’s a single cover track at the end of an album, sometimes it’s performed on a TV show, or it’s part of a tribute album…

Cover songs are fun to listen to because they convey respect for the original artist while showcasing each musician’s own arrangement.

It’s amazing how much the same song can change depending on who’s singing it!

This article will introduce lots of such cover songs.

We’ve got everything from faithful renditions of the originals to arrangements that really highlight the covering musician’s individuality, so take your time and enjoy.

Playlist

[Covers of Japanese Songs] A selection of classic hits where both the original and the arranged versions are popular
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	White LoversShimizu Shota		Shota Shimizu covers Keisuke Kuwata’s winter ballad
2	March 9Yuri × Harucha		Yuri and Harucha cover Remioromen, singing of springtime vibes and hope.
3	Blue BenchMarumoto Riko		Expressing the heartache of a broken heart through Riko Marumoto’s singing voice
4	Love ForeverEito × yama		Love Forever is revived in the Reiwa era
5	Love RadiantEXILE ATSUSHI		EXILE ATSUSHI covers Hibari Misora’s classic song
6	May it be filled with kindnessTokunaga Hideaki		Hidemi Tokunaga covers JUJU's famous song
7	beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)Hata Motohiro		Motohiro Hata covers an iconic song by aiko
8	Lingering SnowHata Motohiro		Motohiro Hata covers a classic song, steeped in nostalgia
9	threadSuda Masaki × Ishizaki Hyui		Masaki Suda covers Miyuki Nakajima's “Ito”
10	MapleSuperfly		Superfly covers a classic song by Spitz
11	Shadows of YouthFukuyama Masaharu		Masaharu Fukuyama covers a classic hit by Tulip
12	We’ve gotta do what seems impossible.BiSH		BiSH covers a Sambomaster song
13	You don’t listen to rock.Moriuchi Hiroki		Hiro covers “Marigold” as a solo rock version
14	GLAMOROUS SKYHyde		HYDE covers Mika Nakashima’s movie theme song
15	YELLkurisu haato		Chris Hart’s heartwarming cheer song
16	Daydream Believeryama		History of the Daydream Believer
17	dogwood (flowering dogwood)Aragaki Yui		Yui Aragaki covers Hanamizuki
18	I have use for that warmth.Okuda Tamio		Tamio Okuda covers Sambomaster
19	The one who rings that bell is you / Crazy Ken BandCRAZY KEN BAND		Cover songs of Akiko Wada’s famous hits
20	The summer you gave mekobasolo		Kobasolo reinterprets a summer romance with a new arrangement
21	to youHAN-KUN		HUN-KUN does a reggae cover of MONGOL800’s classic song
22	frecklesDēmon Kakka		Demon Kakka does a hardcore arrangement of JUDY AND MARY
23	Ballad of a SingerBank Band		Bank Band covers a song by Kazuyoshi Saito
24	I Love YouUtada Hikaru		A diva covers a song by Yutaka Ozaki
25	All of the YouthBank Band		End of Summer (original song by Fujifabric)
26	RobinsonGosuperāzu		Spitz’s mega-hit song “Robinson”
27	A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyOnitsuka Chihiro		A respectful cover of Momoe Yamaguchi by Chihiro Onitsuka
28	MiracleMatsuzaki Shigeru		Shigeru Matsuzaki covers GReeeeN’s famous song
29	LA LA LA Love Songayaka		Ayaka gives a funky cover of Toshinobu Kubota’s classic song
30	TouchYunna		Yoshimi Iwasaki’s song is the opening theme for Touch.
31	crimsonSHOW-YA		A female band faithfully covers the original song
32	Love Story Comes SuddenlyChris Hart		A foreigner perfectly sings Kazumasa Oda
33	Galaxy Express 999EXILE feat. VERBAL（m-flo）		Godiego's Galaxy Express 999 theme song
34	Journey of the HeartGO!GO!7188		A punk-style cover song by GO!GO!7188
35	Easy★RiderGOING UNDER GROUND		“Easy Rider” covered by GUG
36	MissingNakajima Mika		Mika Nakashima covers a song by Toshinobu Kubota
37	Between the Sky and YouMakihara Noriyuki		Noriyuki Makihara covers a Miyuki Nakajima song
38	I LOVE…Crystal Kay		Crystal Kay covers a HIGE DAN song as a ballad
39	My First KissHi-STANDARD		Punk Version: My First Kiss
40	LOVE LOVE SHOWOkuda Tamio		Tamio Okuda covers The Yellow Monkey
41	Island SongNatsukawa Rimi		A faithful cover by an Okinawan female singer
42	I can’t put it into wordsEXILE ATSUSHI		Off Course 1982 single release
43	A Member of the Fire BrigadeKōda Kumi		Kumi Koda covers a Rats & Star song
44	TATTOKiyoharu		Kiyoharu covers Akina Nakamori’s “TATTOO”
45	dogwood (flowering dogwood)Tokunaga Hideaki		Hideaki Tokunaga covers Yo Hitoto's signature song
46	Shopping BoogieUA		UA covers a song from the 1950s
47	I’m falling in love with you againSakamoto Fuyumi		A cover of a Billy BanBan original is making waves
48	Winter is starting.Every Little Thing		A cover of Noriyuki Makihara’s signature 1991 song
49	AutomaticOkamura Yasuyuki		Yasuyuki Okamura covers a song by Hikaru Utada
50	wailing in griefKato Miria		Shizuka Kudo’s 1993 single becomes a TV drama theme song
51	powder snowBENI		A woman covers a Remioromen song with English lyrics
52	Other people’s relationshipsHitoto Yo		Yo Hitoto covers a song by Katsuko Kanai
53	Cheer up!Shimatani Hitomi		Hitomi Shimatani covers a song written and composed by Mariya Takeuchi
54	flying getGILLE		Boldly reimagining AKB48 in English
55	suddenlyZARD		FIELD OF VIEW's biggest hit song
56	Miracle EarthKobukuro		Charity Song Co-written by Keisuke Kuwata and Mr. Children
57	SenbonzakuraAbe Mao		Abe Mao’s cover of Senbonzakura is striking.
58	The Future Projection IIAcid Black Cherry		ABC, Mirai Yosozu cover
59	Charles (Prod. by Tatsuya Kitani)Ado		Charles's emotional rock cover
60	Beard and BoobsTRICERATOPS		Triceratops covers a song by Unicorn
61	FriendsDēmon Kakka		Demon Kogure covers a REBECCA song in a metal style
62	foreignerMiyamoto Hiroji		Hiroji Miyamoto turns “Ihoujin” into a rock ballad
63	squallFukuyama Masaharu		Eiko Matsumoto single, lyrics and composition by Masaharu Fukuyama
64	Morning will come againLittle Glee Monster		Little Glee Monster covers a DreaM Come True classic
65	The Future Projection IItsuruno takeshi		A nostalgic classic covered by Takeshi Tsuruno
66	Rock ‘n’ Roll WidowShishido Kafuka		Kavka Shishido covers a song by Momoe Yamaguchi
67	Sign of Lovesupittsu		Spitz covers “Aino Shirushi,” composed by Kusano.
68	SpicaShiina Ringo		Ringo Sheena covers a Spitz song
69	Look up at the stars in the nightKahara Tomomi		A signature song of Kyu Sakamoto that has been covered many times
70	A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyTanimura Shinji		Momoe Yamaguchi’s single became a huge hit through a travel promotion campaign.
71	applauseHitoto Yo		Yo Hitoto covers a classic song by Naomi Chiaki
72	I can’t dance well.Nakamori Akina		A poignant classic sung by Akina Nakamori
73	stationJUJU		JUJU covers a classic song by Mariya Takeuchi
74	Pink SpiderRIZE		RIZE respectfully covers a song by hide
75	I want to take only you away just like this.WANDS		The big hit of DEEN’s debut single
76	Poem of ImagesHamada Shogo		Shogo Hamada covers a Takuro Yoshida song in blues rock style
77	dogwood (flowering dogwood)May J.		Hit songs by Yo Hitoto are included in the best-of album
78	Roppongi HeartbreakJUJU		JUJU covers Ann Lewis’s song
79	DAYDREAMSCANDAL		SCANDAL covers JUDY AND MARY
80	Scat at DawnTHE YELLOW MONKEY		A rock band gives a unique arrangement to a kayōkyoku (Japanese pop song).
81	Bicycle ThiefYU-KI		YUKI covers a classic hit by Unicorn
82	Look up at the stars in the nightyuzu		Passing down classic songs with a new allure
83	crescent moonKobukuro		Kobukuro covers Ayaka’s “Mikazuki.”
84	Sad songWada Akiko		The appeal and characteristics of Akiko Wada’s soulful cover songs
85	I want to see you.Koyanagi Yuki		Sawada Chikako's biggest hit song.
86	BibleOikawa Mitsuhiro		Micchi's singing is less idiosyncratic than the original.
87	threadATSUSHI		A ballad that perfectly sings Miyuki Nakajima’s original song
88	Mermaid of ReminiscenceMUCC		MUCC covers a song by THE YELLOW MONKEY
89	The Last RainMs. OOJA		OOJA is Yasushi Nakanishi's signature song.
90	Angel’s WinkPUFFY		PUFFY’s unique interpretation of “Angel’s Wink”
91	If I Could Play the PianoPlastic Tree		Plastic Tree releases a cover song as a single
92	At all times.Scott Murphy		American musician releases a rock cover of a Japanese cheer song
93	Eyes Are DiamondTRICERATOPS		Arrange Seiko Matsuda’s songs into a pop band sound
94	Cécile’s Weekendaiko		aiko covers Cécile’s weekend
95	Snow Blossomtsuruno takeshi		Takeshi Tsuruno covers “Yuki no Hana.”
96	Good night, crybaby; farewell, songstress.Aina ji Endo		Aina delivers a powerful cover of a song by CreepHyp
97	KanadeKamishiraishi Mone		Mone Kamishiraishi performs Sukima Switch's “Kanade” a cappella
98	Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi		Rimi Natsukawa’s cover song sold 1.2 million copies
99	I look up as I walkSaitō Kazuyoshi		Covering 'Ue o Muite Arukou'
100	Come, spring.Makihara Noriyuki		Noriyuki Makihara covers a song by Yuming
101	Between the Sky and Youayaka		Miyuki Nakajima’s signature song achieves million-seller status
102	threadHirahara Ayaka		Miyuki Nakajima’s double A-side single release
103	Snow BlossomTokunaga Hideaki		Mika Nakashima’s single, a winter staple song
104	Hello, Again ~ A Place That’s Been Around Since Long AgoJUJU		JUJU covers My Little Lover as a ballad
105	Beyond the GoodbyeMiura Yutaro		Yutaro Miura releases a cover album featuring songs by his mother, Momoe Yamaguchi
106	I look up as I walkSenju Riko		A classic song has been newly revived by a young artist.
107	My Dear EllieHirai Ken		Signature song by Southern All Stars, TV drama theme song
108	BoyhoodImawano Kiyoshirō		Kiyoshiro Imawano sings a reggae-arranged song by Yosui Inoue
109	Cotton HandkerchiefHashimoto Ai		Ai Hashimoto covers Hiromi Ohta’s classic song
110	milk teaHata Motohiro		Motohiro Hata delivers a gentle, tender cover of “Milk Tea.”
111	tear-coloredNoriko Sakai		Noriko Sakai single, lyrics and composition by Ryuichi Kawamura
112	I want to see you.Tokunaga Hideaki		Hideo Tokunaga covers Chikaco Sawada’s “Aitai”
113	beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)Yoshioka Kiyoe		Kiyoe Yoshioka covers a song by aiko
114	single bedEuphoria		Sharan Q’s first million-selling hit
115	SmileMori Nana		Nana Mori covers Hofdylan’s “Smile”