Tsumugi Kokage (紡木こかげ) of ぶいすぽっ！ (VSPO) has released a cover of Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ), and honestly, it’s the kind of cover that reminds you why this song refuses to leave the Japanese pop canon. Uploaded October 26, 2026, the video has already pulled in over 164,000 views and nearly 9,000 likes — the kind of ratio that tells you people aren’t clicking out of curiosity, they’re clicking again.
‘Sakuranbo’: The Ai Otsuka Classic Behind the Cover
Let’s talk about the source material first, because Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ) is a mountain to climb. Written and composed by Ai Otsuka (大塚愛) and released in 2003, it’s one of the defining J-pop songs of its era — a bouncy, sweetheart of a track about young love that became a permanent fixture at karaoke and school festivals alike. The melody is deceptively simple; sing it slightly off and everyone notices. Kokage doesn’t dodge that. She leans into the bright, playful phrasing the song demands and delivers it with a lightness that suits the cherry theme perfectly.
Tsumugi Kokage’s Vocal Take: Sweet Without the Sugar Overload
What makes this cover work is restraint. It’s easy to over-cutesify Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ), and Kokage resists that temptation. There’s air in her delivery — she lets the melody breathe instead of pushing every syllable — and the mix from Natsume Chiaki (なつめ千秋) keeps her voice sitting comfortably on top without burying the song’s signature bounce. The result sounds like someone genuinely enjoying the song rather than performing at it, which is exactly the energy this track needs.
The MV: Clean, Cherry-Colored, and Charming
The video keeps things tight and charming. Illustration comes from Tama (たま), with video work by Daraku Pite (堕落ぴて) — and the pairing gives the cover a cohesive, soft visual identity that matches the song’s playful sweetness without overcomplicating it. Sometimes the smartest move for a cover is letting the vocal carry the show, and that’s clearly the approach here.
Why This Cover Matters for Tsumugi Kokage
Covering a song as universally known as Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ) is a statement of confidence — there’s nowhere to hide. For a VSPO talent whose fanbase knows her primarily from the gaming side, this is a reminder that the singing is the real deal. Over 164K views in the first days backs that up. If this is the standard, here’s hoping more is coming.
Track Credits
- Title: Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ) — Cover
- Original Artist: Ai Otsuka (大塚愛)
- Vocals: Tsumugi Kokage (紡木こかげ)
- Lyrics: Ai Otsuka (大塚愛)
- Composition: Ai Otsuka (大塚愛)
- Illustration: Tama (たま)
- Video: Daraku Pite (堕落ぴて)
- Mix: Natsume Chiaki (なつめ千秋)
- Released: October 26, 2026
▶ Watch: Tsumugi Kokage — Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ) (Cover) on YouTube
