Star Kingdom! Artist and singer from Kanagawa Prefecture
When you hear “artists from Kanagawa,” do any come to mind right away?
Even when it’s about your favorite artists, it can be surprising to realize, “Oh, they’re from there!”
From venerable legends to idols and that hugely popular musician…
Finding artists from your own hometown gives you a little thrill, doesn’t it?
Kanagawa has produced many nationally beloved artists like Southern All Stars, Yuzu, and Ikimono-gakari,
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Star Kingdom! Artists/Singers from Kanagawa Prefecture (ages 21–30)
Two LipsEXILE
Including former members, EXILE has many members from Kanagawa Prefecture.
HIRO, MAKIDAI, and USA are from Yokohama; MATSU is from Kawasaki; and Kenchi and TETSUYA are from Yokosuka.
ROSIERLUNA SEA
Ryuichi Kawamura is from Yamato City, and the other members are from Hadano City.
This song was released in 1994 and was LUNA SEA’s third single.
LUNA SEA fans are called “SLAVE,” and it’s said that this was when the practice of bands giving official names to their fans began with LUNA SEA.
Nowadays, many visual kei bands have unique names for their fanbases, but the origin is said to be their fans.
BaNe BaNe feat. DOTAMA#KT-chan
#KT-chan, a rapper and artist from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, is attracting attention.
Spurred by competing in the High School RAP Championship, she established her own style of “non-dissing rap.” Her lyrics, dubbed the “KT Theater” for their fantasy elements, have garnered strong support from Gen Z women.
In March 2023, she made a record-fast appearance in an MC battle at Ryogoku Kokugikan and won the Yahoo! Search Award in the Next Break category.
Drawing on her experience as a child actor, her expressive performances have been highly praised across the board.
Her EP “Oneder” features collaborations with DOTAMA and DJ CHARI.
Guided by the belief of “entertaining people” through rap, her continued delivery of positive messages suggests new possibilities for music.
YO MA SUNSHINEHachimura Rintarō
Rintaro Hachimura, who has taken flight from Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, is active as a member of the dance and vocal group WATWING.
He holds an impressive academic background, having completed a major in English and American Literature at Keio University’s Faculty of Letters, and was discovered in 2019 through the “Star Boys Audition” hosted by Horipro.
Since the group’s digital debut song in January 2020, he has stood out as a central member, captivating audiences with a vocal range that spans from low to high and dynamic dance performances that make the most of his tall stature.
He made his acting debut in the TV drama “Homeraretai Boku no Mousou Gohan,” and has since appeared in numerous productions.
While juggling both music activities and acting, he has also showcased his diverse talents as a radio DJ on FM Yokohama.
His deep passion for music, with hobbies including krump dance and composition, translates into a wide expressive range that continues to enthrall audiences.
We’ve alwaysikimonogakari
Ryoji Mizuno and Hotaka Yamashita, members of Ikimonogakari, are from Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Kiyoe Yoshioka is from Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
It was released in 2012 as Ikimonogakari’s 22nd single.
As a lead single from their fifth album, NEWTRAL, it was used as the CM song for U-Can’s 2012 campaign.
Declaration of RomanceKaneko Ayano
A singer-songwriter from Yokohama who is rapidly rising in prominence, known for songs whose Japanese phrasing, arrangements, and melodies convey a deep respect for classic J-POP and kayōkyoku.
Their 2018 release “Shukusai” and 2019 release “Sansan” each won the 2020 CD Shop Award, making them one of the most noteworthy singer-songwriters in the Japanese music scene since 2020.
Faithmiwa
miwa is from Hayama, Miura District, Kanagawa Prefecture, and this was released in 2014 as her 13th single.
She usually plays the acoustic guitar, but in this song she plays the electric guitar.
The track evokes an image of high places and was used as the CM song for the “U-Can Correspondence Courses.”