If we’re talking enka singers, there’s Saburo Kitajima; for bands, GLAY; and I’m sure a few other names come to mind as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole range of popular musicians from Hokkaido all at once!
In fact, there are many artists from Hokkaido, and among them are some surprising names that might make you say, “What? They’re from Hokkaido too?!”
We’ve picked a wide selection across genres and generations—from famous veterans to up-and-coming artists—so discover lots of musicians, and once you find a favorite, take your time listening to their songs.
Singers, bands, and artists from Hokkaido (1–10)
Blue BookmarkGalileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei - Aoi Shiori (Blue Bookmark)
Galileo Galilei is a band formed by members from Wakkanai City, Hokkaido.
They formed in 2007 and, in 2008, won the inaugural championship of Senkou Riot, a contest open only to teenage artists.
In 2010, they made their major debut with the mini-album “Hanamasu no Hana” and relocated their base to Tokyo, but in 2011 they built a private studio in Sapporo and moved their base back to Hokkaido.
They gained popularity for their pop, easy-to-listen-to melodies, but ended their activities in 2016 with their first-ever concert at the Nippon Budokan.
Sakanaction is a band that always presents a fresh and enjoyable world not only through their songs but also in their staging.
Vocalist and guitarist Ichiro Yamaguchi and keyboardist Emi Okazaki are from Otaru, Hokkaido, while guitarist Motoharu Iwadera and drummer Keiichi Ejima are from Sapporo.
Incidentally, bassist Ami Kusakari is the only member from Tokyo.
The band’s name is a coined word combining “sakana” (fish) and “action.” They made their major debut in 2007 with the album GO TO THE FUTURE, captivating many fans with their diverse music and inventive performances.
People often think all the members are from Hakodate, Hokkaido, but while guitarist HISASHI grew up in Hakodate, he was actually born in Aomori Prefecture.
They made their major debut in 1994 with the single “RAIN” on Extasy Records, founded by X JAPAN’s YOSHIKI.
With a string of hit songs that sold over a million copies and massive EXPO concerts drawing crowds of around 200,000, they garnered huge attention and cemented their status as a band.
They attract many fans with a wide range of songs, from intense rock numbers to gentle ballads that sing of great love.
ZONE is a girls’ band formed by members from Sapporo, Hokkaido, who debuted as teenagers in 2001.
Before their debut they were a dance group, and none of the members had experience playing instruments; up through their second single, they did not perform instruments themselves.
However, starting with their third single—“secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~,” one of ZONE’s signature songs—they shifted to performing their own instrumentation.
Although they disbanded in 2005 to much regret, they re-formed in 2011 with a different lineup, only to end activities again in 2013.
