[J-Pop] List of Popular and Famous Songs That Use the Canon Progression [2026]
The first half of Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel’s Canon and Gigue in D major for three violins and basso continuo—the Canon, commonly known as “Pachelbel’s Canon”—is a piece almost everyone has heard, even if they don’t recognize the title.
Did you know that the chord progression from this Canon is actually used in many J-pop hit songs? In this article, we’ll introduce not only songs that employ the straightforward Canon progression, but also works that feature various patterns with unique arrangements.
A must-read for anyone looking to study composition!
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[J-Pop] List of popular and famous songs that use the Canon progression [2026] (21–30)
sunflowerAdo
Here’s the song Ado released as the theme for the TV drama “18/40: If It’s the Two of Us, Dreams and Love.” Compared to Ado’s usual style, you could say this track has a calmer vibe.
By subtly tweaking the so-called canon progression—which can feel a bit simple if left as-is—the song gains variety and emotional impact.
It’s a successful example of arranging a piece based on the canon progression.
Be sure to listen for where those arrangement touches have been added.
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
This is a hit song by Hiromi Ohta, and believe it or not, it’s an old favorite released in 1975.
Her clear, transparent singing voice is wonderful, isn’t it? As you can see, the Canon progression is often used even in Showa-era songs—after all, Pachelbel’s Canon is from an even earlier time.
Since this song is a somewhat up-tempo pop tune, it might be hard to notice that it uses the Canon progression.
It’s fun to find songs that secretly use the Canon progression like this, so why not try looking for one yourself?
[J-Pop] List of Popular and Famous Songs That Use the Canon Progression [2026] (31–40)
Endless JourneyMr.Children
Mr.Children’s “Owari Naki Tabi” uses a canon progression in the key of E major.
The A verse features the progression E → B → C#m → F#7—an arrangement that slightly modifies the simple canon progression in the key of C.
Another notable characteristic is the frequent key changes.
The intro starts in F# major, modulates to E major for the A verse, then shifts to C major for the chorus, and finally modulates further to D major for the last chorus—a whirlwind of modulations!
My heart is gradually being drawn to youFIELD OF VIEW
“DAN DAN Kokoro Hikareteku” is a song by FIELD OF VIEW with a refreshingly memorable melody.
Since it’s in the key of C major, there aren’t many semitones that use the black keys on the piano, making the chords easy to understand even for beginners in music theory.
The chorus progression is C → G → Am → Em, which follows the classic canon progression.
What’s interesting is that before moving from Em to F, it goes through E.
By inserting this E chord, the transition to F becomes smooth!
Flower of FateTogenashi Togeari
The band Togenasitogeari that appears in the anime Girls Band Cry isn’t just a fictional group—it’s a real band, and they also voice the characters in the show.
If you go to one of their live performances, you can see the members playing outside of the anime as well.
This song, which is used as an insert track in episode 13, has a more intense tempo than a typical Canon, but if you listen closely, you’ll notice it follows the Canon progression.
Songs that use the Canon progression can sound completely different depending on tempo and groove—and that’s part of the charm.
Imaginary Forestjin
This song, produced by Jin, who was born in Hokkaido in 1990, is used as a theme for an anime for which he also wrote the script.
The part of the song that uses the Canon progression is the chorus.
Although the Canon progression doesn’t usually evoke a very intense image, depending on the rhythm and melody, it’s sometimes used in climactic choruses.
It’s impressive how the Canon progression can work both gently and intensely like this.
That’s probably why so many songs are composed using the Canon progression.
MiracleGReeeeN
A song by GReeeeN that delivers a hopeful, uplifting message based on the chord progression of the Baroque masterpiece “Canon.” Treating encounters as “miracles” and overlaying the time spent together with the “traces” of one’s journey, its lyrics beautifully portray the universal theme of love.
Released in May 2008 and known as the theme song for the TBS drama “ROOKIES,” it was also selected as the entrance march for the opening ceremony of the 81st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.
Cherished at important life milestones such as weddings and graduations, this is a song that gently supports those who want to express their feelings to a loved one or are about to take a new step forward.