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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!

Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region (211–220)

Precious WordsButterfly Kiss

ButterFlyKIss 'Taisetsu na Kotoba' PV
Precious WordsButterfly Kiss

Mitsuko Enomoto, the vocalist of ButterFlyKiss, is from Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture.

Their song “Taisetsu na Kotoba” ranked first in the Women’s Pop category on Mobage Town and is gaining nationwide support.

Alongside her music career, Enomoto also works as a nurse.

SUMMER PARADEDEPAPEPE

Guitar duo DEPAPEPE.

Yoshiyasu Tokuoka is from Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, and Takuya Miura is from Nada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

They met while working part-time at Chicken George, a long-standing live music venue in Kobe, and decided to form a duo.

INFINITYDOBERMAN INFINITY

DOBERMAN INFINITY「INFINITY」MV
INFINITYDOBERMAN INFINITY

KUBO-C, GS, and P-CHO, who are active as members of the rap and vocal group DOBERMAN INFINITY, are from Nara Prefecture.

The digitally released single “INFINITY” was used as an insert song in the Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama GTO (Season 2).

Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region (221–230)

What’s Gonna Be?FIVE NEW OLD

FIVE NEW OLD – What’s Gonna Be? 【Official Music Video】
What's Gonna Be?FIVE NEW OLD

FIVE NEW OLD is the kind of band that instantly adds stylish color to your space the moment you press play.

As suggested by their concept “ONE MORE DRIP”—bringing a touch of color to everyday life like aromatic oil—their hallmark is an accessible yet sophisticated sound.

FIVE NEW OLD was also formed in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Kobe continues to produce many distinctive bands, and they are one of the city’s uniquely proud rock acts.

Future Yeah!Fun×Fam

Fun×Fam Major Debut Single 'Mirai Yeah!' PV
Future Yeah!Fun×Fam

The members of Fun×Fam, an idol group active mainly in Wakayama Prefecture, are from Wakayama.

In the first half of 2015, they were selected for the “Idol Select 10” by the Japan Local Idol Revitalization Association.

They made their major debut with the single “Mirai Yeah!”

Gero

[Gero] “BELOVED×SURVIVAL” (TV anime ‘BROTHERS CONFLICT’ OP) MV
Gero

Gero, whose popularity took off from his activities as a singer on Nico Nico Douga, is from Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.

His strengths are his passionate vocals and personable character.

The song in the video is his debut single, released in 2013.

It was used as the theme song for the anime BROTHERS CONFLICT.

X Japan

Rusty NailHEATH

X JAPAN – Rusty Nail(PV)
Rusty NailHEATH

HEATH, the bassist of X JAPAN, is from Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture.

He looks very cool and stylish, but when he talks, he speaks in Kansai dialect and is actually quite funny.

That gap is really appealing, isn’t it? By the way, he uses different stylizations for his name: “heath” for his solo work and “HEATH” when performing with X JAPAN.