Are There Official Instrumental Naruto Openings Releases?

Whenever I dig through my old CD stash I get this little thrill—because a lot of 'Naruto' openings do have official instrumental releases, but it's a mixed bag depending on the song and era. Most of the opening singles released in Japan include an 'off vocal' or instrumental track on the CD single; it's super common for J-pop singles to have the main track, maybe a B-side, and then instrumental versions of those songs. So if you're hunting for instrumentals of classics like 'GO!!!' or 'Haruka Kanata', check the original singles: many of them include official instrumentals.

That said, not every single opening has a widely distributed instrumental. Some later digital-only releases or certain limited editions omitted them, and sometimes the background music you hear in the TV version was created specifically for the show and only appears on OSTs rather than as a clean instrumental of the pop opening. Also remember 'Naruto' vs. 'Naruto Shippuden'—the composers for the series OSTs (Toshio Masuda for early 'Naruto', Yasuharu Takanashi for 'Naruto Shippuden') released a lot of background tracks on official soundtracks, but those are different from band/artist instrumentals. If you want the clean vocal-less versions, look for CD singles listed with terms like 'Instrumental', 'Off Vocal', or 'Original Karaoke'.

Where I find them: Discogs and CDJapan are my go-tos to check track listings, and if someone has ripped them they often end up on streaming services or YouTube (official uploads or licensed karaoke tracks). If you can, try to buy the original Japanese single or a legit reissue so you get the true official instrumental—bootlegs and fan-made instrumentals are everywhere, but they aren't the same. Hunting down that instrumental feels like uncovering a little treasure, honestly.

I’m that person who plays karaoke tracks at home, so I can say with confidence that yes—official instrumental versions for many 'Naruto' openings do exist. Japanese CD singles commonly include an 'off vocal' or instrumental version as one of the tracks, which is the official backing without the singer. For big hits from both 'Naruto' and 'Naruto Shippuden' eras, you’ll likely find a formally released instrumental on the single or sometimes on a compilation. However, not every opening has one publicly released; some are only available as part of an OST (and those are usually background score pieces, not the pop band instrumental), and a few harder-to-find singles never included an off-vocal. If you’re not into CD hunting, check streaming services and the artist’s official pages—some instrumentals have been uploaded digitally, but availability varies. When all else fails, karaoke catalogs in Japan almost always have instrumental versions for sing-alongs, which is a neat workaround if you’re trying to practice a cover.

I still sing along in the shower and yeah, I’ve tracked down official instrumentals for quite a few 'Naruto' openings—here’s the practical side of it. Most official CD singles released in Japan include an instrumental track; it’s typically labeled 'Instrumental' or 'Original Karaoke' on the back of the sleeve. So for many popular openings—think 'Blue Bird' or 'Silhouette'—you’ll usually find a legit instrumental on the single. That’s the easiest path: look up the single’s release details and check the tracklist.

If you’re trying to acquire them, check online marketplaces like CDJapan, Amazon Japan, eBay, or Discogs; Discogs is particularly handy because every pressing lists track contents so you’ll see if an instrumental is included before buying. For digital options, some singles on iTunes or Apple Music include the instrumental track, and occasionally artists or labels will upload instrumental versions to streaming platforms or official YouTube channels. A wrinkle: some openings only had TV-sized versions released and no off-vocal on the single, or the single might be a limited release without instrumentals. When that happens, official OSTs sometimes include variations or short instrumental motifs, but rarely the full band backing track exactly like the full opening. So it can take a bit of digging, but it's doable—start with the single, then OSTs, then reliable sellers, and avoid random fan rips if you want the genuine article.