Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region
How familiar are you with bands and artists from the Kansai region?
In this article, we’ll be introducing lots of bands and musicians from Kansai!
Some artists proudly announce their hometown during live shows, while others usually speak standard Japanese and don’t bring up where they’re from—but are actually from Kansai!
You might also find yourself searching for Kansai bands because you want to support local artists.
From household-name musicians to up-and-coming bands we’re excited to see break out, we’ve handpicked recommended artists for you to check out.
Be sure to take a look!
- Recommended bands, singers, and artists from Osaka Prefecture
- Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region
- Kansai-dialect Songs | A Kansai-born writer thoroughly explains their charm!
- [2026] A roundup of artists, singers, and bands from Hyogo Prefecture
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- Bands, artists, and singers from Nara Prefecture
- Pick up bands, artists, and singers from Wakayama Prefecture!
- Bands, artists, and singers from the Kanto region
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- An artist and singer from Kyoto Prefecture with a distinctive personality
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- Cute songs by girls’ bands [popular and classic tracks]
Bands, Artists, and Singers from the Kansai Region (111–120)
The World of Mercykyou
DIR EN GREY is an indispensable presence when talking about visual kei bands! Their vocalist Kyo—known for his unique and overwhelming singing ability—is from Kyoto Prefecture.
His appeal lies in mastering a variety of vocal techniques, such as falsetto and screams, leveraging a range that’s almost unthinkable for a male singer.
He writes all the lyrics, and the worldviews he creates with a sensibility as distinctive as his voice are another key reason for his popularity.
ButterflyKōda Kumi
She broke through in 2004 with Cutie Honey, in which she also appeared, and became a hot topic as “sexy and cool.” She is from Fushimi Ward in Kyoto City and actually debuted in 2000, but seems to have spent the years until 2004 working her way up.
She paused her activities in 2012 due to childbirth, but has continued her career without stopping since then.
Let me have that wonderful love once moreKato Kazuhiko
Kazuhiko Kato is the composer of the Showa-era classic “Ano Subarashii Ai o Mou Ichido,” a song almost everyone has heard at least once.
He was born in 1947 in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto Prefecture.
In addition to his own songs, he worked on many film and video game scores, leaving his mark as a musician.
His signature song, “Ano Subarashii Ai o Mou Ichido,” was even included in junior high school textbooks for a time and was cherished by many children.
Mini Moni. Janken Pyon!Kago Ai (Minimoni.)
Ai Kago, who was part of Hello! Project and helped energize the idol scene in the 2000s, is actually from Nara Prefecture.
In addition to Morning Musume, she took part in many units—like Mini Moni, Tanpopo, and W—and was hugely popular.
Among these, her image alongside Nozomi Tsuji, with whom she performed as W, is especially strong.
In 2019, she appeared at Hello! Project’s 20th anniversary concert, Hina Fes 2019, delivering a performance that drew a lot of attention.
dancerKita Koji
Koji Kita, who formed Four Leaves in 1967 and served as its leader—the male idol group often said to represent the early days of Johnny & Associates—was born in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture.
As a student, he was considered the most talented gymnast at his school and was so athletic that the local community expected he might one day become an Olympic athlete.
After the group went on an indefinite hiatus, he remained active, energetically pursuing solo work, including releasing a cover recording of Four Leaves’ signature song, Odoriko (The Dancer).
He passed away in 2012.
His presence continues to live on in fans’ memories as an artist who laid the foundation for today’s Johnny’s idols in the J-pop scene.
nonsenseMurase Mayumi
Singer-songwriter Mayumi Murase performs a wide range of music—from intimate acoustic guitar-and-vocal sets to rock numbers that push a full band sound.
Within that range, she covers everything from bright, buoyant tunes to tear-jerking, deeply moving ballads.
She also varies her vocal style to suit each song.
As an officially certified MUSIC BUSKER artist, she also plays street shows around Umeda’s Umekita Square in Osaka.
The Toilet GodUemura Kana
Kana Uemura, famous for “Toire no Kamisama” (God of the Toilet), is from Kawanishi City in Hyogo Prefecture.
The music video for “Toire no Kamisama” was filmed at Hibarioka Gakuen Elementary School in Takarazuka, which she attended.
She is a wonderful singer with a clear and sincere voice.