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]
Kansai-born bands, artists, and singers (351–360)
Sai Ai AiROSA LUXEMBURG
Formed in Kyoto in 1983 and making their major-label debut in 1986, Rosa Luxemburg quickly captured attention with their unique musical style—digesting elements of new wave and rock ’n’ roll—and their eccentric fashion.
This song, which opens their second album, remains a classic whose intense drive still feels fresh today.
TrampWest Road Blues Band
Formed in 1972 mainly by members of a Doshisha University club in Kyoto, the West Road Blues Band, together with Osaka’s Yūkadan, became a driving force in the Kansai blues scene.
Centered around the husky vocals of Takashi “Hotoke” Nagai and two contrasting star guitarists, Shinji Shioji and Junji Yamagishi, the song’s cool groove still sounds fresh today.
Ieyan★ComplexZagaDa
The members of ZagaDa, a local idol group from Wakayama Prefecture, are all from Wakayama.
They were active in their hometown to promote Wakayama, but they have been on hiatus since 2013.
They debuted with their first single, “Ieyan★Complex.”
Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region (361–370)
female large brown cicada (Aburazemi)Ōsaka bājon
Misono, the vocalist of day after tomorrow who is now active as a solo artist, is also from Kyoto like her older sister Koda Kumi.
This song was released in 2008 as misono’s 11th single.
In this video, she performs a duet with Yutaka Shinagawa.
Please give me wingsYamamoto Junko
Junko Yamamoto, who was active as a singer-songwriter, is from Tenkawa Village in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture.
Her signature song, “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” (Please Give Me Wings), has been included in elementary school music textbooks for over 30 years.
Although the song is by the band Akai Tori, it is effectively a self-cover, as Yamamoto performed as the vocalist of Akai Tori.
DREAMSHIPIkuta Aiko
Aiko Ikuta, who is active as a singer, is from Nara City in Nara Prefecture.
At the time of her debut, she performed under the name Ikuta☆Aiko, but in 2005 she changed it to her real name, Aiko Ikuta.
“DREAMSHIP” was selected as the ending theme for the Fuji TV anime One Piece.
Unyielding Broken HeartMatsuda Julia
Juria Matsuda is from Kyoto Prefecture.
She debuted in 1990 under a different name and then re-debuted in 1993 as a mysterious beautiful girl vocalist.
“Makenai Broken Heart” was released in 1994 and reached a peak position of 14 on the Oricon chart.