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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- 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 (301–310)
Ueda Gen
I’m Gen Ueda, a singer-songwriter from Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.
I debuted as the keyboardist for the band LÄ-PPISCH and later became active as a music producer.
I wrote, composed, and arranged Chitose Hajime’s hit song “Wadatsumi no Ki.” I passed away in 2008 at the young age of 47.
Ueno Juri
Juri Ueno, an actress from Kakogawa City in Hyogo Prefecture, released a comedic song she performed in character when she appeared in the drama “Nodame Cantabile.” It’s a funny song with a slightly quirky world centered on the theme of farts, which proved popular with children.
Junta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Daiki Shigeoka
Four members of Johnny’s WEST—a seven-member idol group that originated from Kansai Johnny’s Jr.—Juntta Nakama, Takahiro Hamada, Tomohiro Kamiyama, and Daiki Shigeoka—are from Hyogo Prefecture.
They made their CD debut in 2014 with “Ee ja nai ka,” and have produced numerous hit songs since.
They’ve also handled drama theme songs and film insert songs, earning support from a wide range of audiences.
Their appeal lies in performances that showcase each member’s distinct personality, along with talk segments infused with Kansai-style humor.
In 2019, they successfully held a solo concert at Tokyo Dome, proving their prowess as an idol group.
They’re highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy energetic live performances.
Lovely Lovely StrawberryKubo Yurika
Yurika Kubo, who works as a voice actress and singer, is from Nara Prefecture.
She released “Lovely Lovely Strawberry” as her debut single, and it reached No.
1 on the Oricon Daily Chart.
It was the first time in history for a solo debut release by a voice actor to take the top spot.
manKyūhō Ruriko
Ruriko Kubo is from Suma Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.
While attending Hyogo Prefectural Suma Higashi High School, she auditioned for CBS/Sony and successfully passed; after graduating, she moved to Tokyo.
Her cool singing voice is captivating.
All of it.Inoue Sonoko
Sonoko Inoue is a female singer-songwriter.
She made her major debut in her teens and is a talented musician who has released many hit songs, including “Sakura” and “Donna Toki mo.” She is also from Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture and has the anecdote of having performed street live shows in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
In addition to being a singer-songwriter, she works as an actress and model, giving her a stylish vibe, but as a Hanshin Tigers fan, you can feel her Kansai roots!
Dreams of a FetusSai Yoshiko
Yoshiko Sai is a singer from Nara Prefecture, and this song was released in 1977.
It has a nostalgic sound that hardly feels like a work from the ’70s, making it a track that doesn’t feel dated.
Although she halted her musical activities in 1979, she resumed them in 2001.