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)
If I Fall in LoveCrystal Kay
Crystal Kay is from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and this was released in 2005 as her 17th single.
It was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seikou no Himitsu” (When I Fall in Love: The Secret of My Success) and became her biggest hit.
In 2014, Flower—featuring members who also perform as part of E-girls—covered the song.
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.
Star Kingdom! Artists/Singers from Kanagawa Prefecture (Ages 31–40)
Goodbye, YesterdayTUBE
Nobutoki Maeda, a member of TUBE, is from Atsugi City in Kanagawa Prefecture, while Hideyuki Kakuno and Reiji Matsumoto are from Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture.
This song was released in 1991 as TUBE’s 13th single.
Used as the CM song for Konica’s “Torikkiri Konica,” it features a Latin rhythm, and the lyrics are written in a feminine voice.
Let’s trade kisses instead of talking about love.WANDS
Shō Uesugi, the vocalist of WANDS, is from Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the song was released in 1993 as WANDS’ fifth single.
It is the only WANDS single to top the Oricon chart for four consecutive weeks, and it became their fourth consecutive million seller.
The track was also used as the commercial song for “Boutique JOY.”
Goodbyes still dwell in my heart even now.ZARD
Izumi Sakai of ZARD is from Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the song was released in 1995 as their 16th single.
It was selected as the theme song for the film adaptation of the TV drama “Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu!” The lyrics were written by Izumi Sakai herself, and the single reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Surfing JohnnyKuwata Keisuke
Keisuke Kuwata is from Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and this was released in 2001 as his sixth solo single.
It was his first solo single in seven years and was used as the song for Coca-Cola’s “No Reason” campaign commercial in which Kuwata himself appeared.
It became his first solo single to sell over a million copies.
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe
We can’t leave out Momoe Yamaguchi, a singer active from 1973 to 1980 and another artist hailing from Kanagawa.
She first rose to fame as part of the “Hana no Chūsan Trio” while still in junior high, and she was active not only as a singer but also as an actress.
The staging of her final performance before retirement—placing the microphone on the stage and walking away—remains legendary to this day.
Armed with powerful vocals and expressive performance, she continued to deliver many classic songs until her retirement, but she has made very few media appearances since then.
