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!
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- Kansai-dialect Songs | A Kansai-born writer thoroughly explains their charm!
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- Pick up bands, artists, and singers from Wakayama Prefecture!
- Bands, artists, and singers from the Kanto region
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- An artist and singer from Kyoto Prefecture with a distinctive personality
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- Cute songs by girls’ bands [popular and classic tracks]
Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region (191–200)
Our SongŌsawa Shin’ichi
Since his debut in 1993, Shinichi Osawa—a musician from Otsu, Shiga—has been active under a wide range of titles, including bassist, music producer, and DJ.
His prowess is evident from his 1990s production work for renowned divas such as UA, Chara, and bird.
In recent years, he has also written songs for Namie Amuro, JUJU, and Tomohisa Yamashita, continuing to thrive at the forefront of the industry with his broad scope of activity and exceptional musical sensibility.
Run, runOoya Rikako
Rikako Ōya, a member of the idol group Babyraids JAPAN, is from Shiga Prefecture.
Their 11th single, Hashire, Hashire, reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, the group’s highest position to date.
The song was also used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s Miracle Experiences! Unbelievable.
I want our band to make it big.Mikkai to Miminari
They formed a band in Osaka as Incontinent Girl, but changed their name to Secret Meeting and Tinnitus two years later.
They are a girls’ band based in Osaka with a self-proclaimed concept of alternative violence punk.
The band is characterized by catchy, addictive melodies.
YAMATO☆DancingKobayashi Yutaka
Yutaka Kobayashi, a member of BOYS AND MEN, is from Shiga Prefecture and also took part in IKEMEN☆NAGOYA, the precursor project to BOYS AND MEN.
This song is their 17th single, released in 2016.
It’s a track brimming with manly spirit.
Bands, Artists, and Singers from the Kansai Region (201–210)
It’s A New FindShonen Naifu
They can be called pioneers of the girl punk band scene.
Through overseas tours and appearances on compilation albums, they’ve been rated more highly abroad than in Japan, and they’re such a big band that major international artists even took part in a Shonen Knife tribute album.
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
Masayoshi Yamazaki is a singer-songwriter from Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.
Not only does he perform his own songs, but he also provides many compositions to other artists, so many Japanese people have likely heard his melodies.
While his live shows are strongly associated with a stripped-down style of singing while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar or piano, in the studio he sometimes plays all the other instruments himself, showcasing seemingly limitless talent.
In addition to his work as a musician, he is also active as an actor, making him a multi-talented artist.
At the End of Broken LoveHayashi Yumika
Yuzuka Hayashi, a member of predia, is from Shiga Prefecture.
Formed in November 2010 as a sister unit to PASSPO☆, their major-label debut, “Kowareta Ai no Hate ni” (At the End of Broken Love), was featured as the ending theme for the August 2014 broadcast of “musicる TV,” drawing attention.