”Zenzenzense” isn’t the only song getting new English vocals from original Japanese singer Yojiro Noda.
While English-dubbed character dialogue has carved out what appears to be a permanent place for itself in the Western anime market, English re-recordings of anime songs have largely met with the opposite fate. After a brief rash of attempts in the 1990s, which were almost summarily dismissed and/or derided by Western consumers, most English-territory anime publishers went back to using the Japanese vocals for both subtitled and dubbed versions of their products.
So it’s kind of surprising that for its North American dubbed screenings, the handlers of hit anime film Your Name are flipping the pages of the playbook back and using new versions of the movie’s songs that have English vocals. But there’s a twist, in that the English versions are written and performed by the same person responsible for the Japanese originals: Japanese rock band Radwimps’ singer Yojiro Noda.
Last month, we got a preview of the English version of “Zenzenzense,” the infectiously upbeat anthem most strongly associated with the film. But that’s just one of the songs in Your Name which feature Noda’s voice, and this new video showcases all four in their English forms.
In addition to “Zenzenzense,” the video shares samples of the powerful “Dream lantern,” emotional “Sparkle,” and simultaneously driving and soothing “Nandemonaiya.”
Theatergoers in Japan who attended special Your Name screenings which replaced the original songs while keeping the Japanese dialogue in place have been enjoying these songs since last month, but the CD release of the new music is coming up on February 22 in Japan. And, of course, they’ll be present in the dubbed North American release of Your Name, which is coming in less than two months, on April 7.
Source, images: YouTube/radwimpsstaff
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s still grateful to his dad for taking him to see that showing of the Silent Mobius movie back before he had a driver’s license.

Official English version of anime Your Name’s theme song sounds cool as Japanese original【Video】
Radwimps singer offers apology/explanation after new song is accused of inappropriate nationalism
The trailer for Makoto Shinkai’s new anime, Weathering with You is here, and jaw-dropping【Video】
Anime Your Name’s home video release announced, has English subtitles and is region-free
Is there still something love can do? Radwimp’s song soothes hearts after tragic anime arson
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Every weekend is an itasha car show at Akihabara’s UDX parking garage
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Let’s take a tour of the best sushi in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market with Mr. Sato! (Part 1)
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
New trailer for “your Name.”, newest anime from Makoto Shinkai, is packed with emotion【Video】
English-dubbed trailer released for anime film Your Name 【Video】
Twitter is abuzz over gorgeous new visual promotion for the hit anime film Your Name
Anime voice actress Maaya Sakamoto covers Katy Perry’s “Firework” in spectacular fashion【Video】
New Makoto Shinkai short anime is a gorgeous music video partially set in Singapore【Video】
Your Name’s animated storyboards show anime phenomenon like you’ve never seen it before【Video】
An English cover of the title song from Your Name hits all the right notes【Video】
Netlflix stop-motion Pokémon series has new preview video, theme song from city pop legend【Vid】
What would anime hit Your Name look like without its biggest storytelling cheat? Manga shows us
Anime Your Name to be remade as Hollywood live-action movie produced by J.J. Abrams
Hit anime film Your Name’s Academy Award qualification run dates officially announced
Hit anime Your Name inspires new sake, blessed by priests in the shrine that appears in the movie