[2026] A compilation of Western songs used in Japanese anime

Karma ChameleonCulture Club

Culture Club – Karma Chameleon (Official Music Video)

The opening theme of Anime Daisuki! season 23.

A track by Culture Club, a band formed in London, UK.

With a rhythm characteristic of the ’80s, it evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Many people will probably remember it from “Karma, karma, karma, karma.”

Alone Again (Naturally)Gilbert O’Sullivan

Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again

Gilbert O’Sullivan’s classic “Alone Again (Naturally)” has continued to be loved by many music fans even now, nearly half a century after its 1972 release.

The song deals with the universal theme of loneliness and the raw pain of heartbreak, and its delicate portrayal of these emotions is deeply moving.

It topped the charts in countries around the world, including the United States and Canada, securing a firm place in music history.

If you listen closely, you can picture the protagonist, disillusioned at a wedding, questioning himself over and over and wandering on the brink of despair.

Did you know that this song was actually used just once as the opening theme for episode 24 of the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s masterpiece Maison Ikkoku? Due to various circumstances, it wasn’t used from the following episode onward, so those who saw it in real time can be said to have had a very rare experience.

Human TouchWarren Wiebe

HUMAN TOUCH

The ending theme of After War Gundam X.

A slow ballad by Warren Wiebe.

A Japanese cover version was later broadcast as well.

It seems the song was written specifically for this anime.

Combined with its relaxed tempo, it makes for a very pleasant track.

Girls on FilmDuran Duran

Speed grapher OP girls on film

Duran Duran, the British rock band that helped ignite the New Romantic movement in the 1980s.

This track is irresistible for its post-disco groove driven by a funky bassline and tight drums.

Layered on top are razor-edged guitar riffs and shimmering synthesizer tones that feel oh-so-good.

Lyrically, the song shines with a sharp critical eye, exposing the exploitation and fabrication lurking behind the glamorous world of fashion models.

Released in July 1981 and included on the classic album “Duran Duran,” it became the band’s first UK Top 10 hit.

It was also used as the opening theme for the anime “Speed Grapher,” and its stylish, danceable sound is sure to lift your spirits!

MR.RAINDROPAmplified

Amplified – Mr. Raindrop (Unplugged)

A song used as the second ending theme for Gintama.

They were billed as a three-piece band from Hong Kong, but even the label’s page no longer lists any activity, so it’s unclear whether they’ve disbanded.

It has a lively rhythm, but the lyrics are quite sad—an oddly intriguing song.

SAYONARAMary MacGregor

Mary MacGregor “Sayonara” (Farewell to Galaxy Express 999)

This is the ending theme of the film Farewell to Space Battleship Galaxy Express 999, created by American singer Mary MacGregor, who topped the U.S.

charts in 1976 with her smash hit Torn Between Two Lovers.

For this animated film released in August 1981, she wrote both the lyrics and the music, resulting in a roughly five-and-a-half-minute ballad featuring an impressive, grand orchestration by the Los Angeles Symphony.

The lyrics, which sing of the sorrow of parting and the hope that follows, are carried by her delicate and emotionally rich vocals, and together with the movie’s final scene, they leave a deep impression on the audience.

Showcasing the power of music to transcend borders, this masterpiece is recommended not only for anime fans but also for lovers of Western pop.

We Were LoversJean-Jacques Burnel

[HD] Jean Jacques Burnel – We Were Lovers – [Ultimate Version]

The opening theme of Gankutsuou.

It was reportedly created after director Mahiro Maeda went all the way to the UK to ask Jean-Jacques Burnel, former bassist of the British rock band The Stranglers.

The piano melodies make it a lovely piece.