Special Feature: Name Songs — Masterpieces with Names Sung by Artists

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Timeless masterpieces with names woven into them—songs that resonate and that everyone has heard at least once.

From sweet love songs filled with feelings for someone special to tracks that reflect on the very idea of a name, they capture a wide range of emotions.

The hidden stories behind each song are captivating, too.

This time, we’re showcasing a curated selection of unforgettable songs that put “names” in the spotlight!

They’re all gems that will make you want to swap in the name of someone dear to you, so be sure to find your own favorite track!

[Name Songs Special] Great Tracks with Names Sung by Artists (71–80)

AkikoKudō Shizuka

Shizuka Kudo [Akiko] Amateur Audio Quality

AkikoKudō Shizuka

It’s the B-side track of Shizuka Kudo’s eighth single, “Kousa ni Fukarete,” released in 1989.

The lyrics were written by Miyuki Nakajima, with composition and arrangement by Tsugutoshi Goto.

As the title suggests, it features an autumnal, slightly wistful sound that leaves a strong impression, resulting in a song that conveys a growing sense of lingering attachment.

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ReikoNakamura Ataru

How are you ~ Reiko (Miyuki Nakajima) [cover]

ReikoNakamura Ataru

Ayu Nakamura is a singer-songwriter who made her major debut in 2006.

Although her legal gender is male, she is popular for her voice that sounds like a woman’s.

This song is a cover of Miyuki Nakajima’s, but I felt that the powerful vocals—completely different from the original—are uniquely Ayu Nakamura’s.

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Alice in the Country of TimeMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda - Alice in the Country of Time

Alice in the Country of TimeMatsuda Seiko

It was released in 1984 as Seiko Matsuda’s 17th single.

The song was composed by Yumi Matsutoya and reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It is said that “ALICE,” the pen name of Sayaka Kanda, Seiko Matsuda’s daughter, was taken from this song.

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O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura O-Shichi

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi

Released in 1994 as Fuyumi Sakamoto’s 12th single.

“O-Shichi” refers to a girl from early Edo-period Hongo in Edo, the daughter of a greengrocer who, driven by the desire to see her lover, is said to have committed arson and been executed by burning.

The song reimagines a modern, self-assertive woman through the analogy of Yaoya Oshichi.

It is one of Fuyumi Sakamoto’s most popular signature songs.

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The wind gives no name.Makihara Noriyuki

The wind gives no name.

The wind gives no name.Makihara Noriyuki

A heartwarming song woven by Noriyuki Makihara that uses the wind as its motif.

Included on the album “Heart to Heart,” this piece sings of admiration for a presence that delivers kindness without seeking anything in return—like the wind that never gives its name.

Makihara’s gentle vocals and the melody that sinks into the heart wrap listeners in warmth.

The song was also performed during the “Makihara Noriyuki Concert Tour 2011–12 ‘Heart to Heart,’” held from September 2011 to January 2012.

It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone who wishes to keep watching over someone dear.

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In conclusion

Songs woven with names seem to hold special feelings.

Love for a partner, gratitude to someone dear, songs that turn the very idea of a name into music—lyrics that resonate in your heart each time you listen.

Have you found a name song that stays with you? Tonight, why not let yourself sink into the world of beautiful name songs while thinking of the name of someone special who comes to mind?