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