Bands, artists, and singers from Kumamoto Prefecture
Do you know any artists from Kumamoto Prefecture?
When people talk about Kyushu, Fukuoka tends to get most of the attention, and it’s true that Fukuoka has produced many popular artists—but Kumamoto holds its own too!
In recent years, there have been plenty of artists from Kumamoto who enjoy widespread popularity and name recognition across all ages, including nationally beloved rock bands, singer-songwriters, and veteran enka singers.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of artists from Kumamoto Prefecture, so take this opportunity to check them out!
- [2026] A compilation of bands, artists, and singers from Kyushu
- A classic song about Kumamoto. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Kyushu-Otoko Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- [2026] Recommended Breakout Artists: A Roundup of Era-Defining Singers and Groups
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
- [Vocaloid Songs] Summary of Popular and Well-Known Utaite (Singers)
- Bands, artists, and singers from the Kansai region
- Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Kumamoto: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Female Singer-Songwriters of the 1990s [2026]
- Nothing but masterpieces! Love songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- A must-see for Gen Z men! Easy-to-sing songs by male artists for karaoke
- Kazuyoshi Saito’s masterpieces and popular songs
Bands, artists, and singers from Kumamoto Prefecture (1–10)
Farewell SongShibata Takahiro (Wasureranneyo)
Wasureranneyo is a band with many fans in the entertainment industry, including Masaki Suda, Akihiro Nishino of King Kong, and Emi Takei.
The band’s vocalist and guitarist, Takahiro Shibata, hails from Kumamoto City in Kumamoto Prefecture, and since 2018 he has mainly performed at live shows and events as part of his solo project.
They made their CD debut with C-kara Hajimaru ABC, which was used as the ending theme for the 2011 anime Kaiji: Against All Rules.
Since then, their songs have been featured in various tie-ins for commercials and films.
Shibata has also written songs for prominent artists such as Masaki Suda and Miho Nakayama.
Their powerful music, which serves as a rallying cry for people who feel like they’re about to lose, has earned them widespread popularity.
You don’t have to go back.Shimazu Aya
Enka singer Aya Shimazu is from the former Uekimachi in Kamoto District, Kumamoto Prefecture.
She became a disciple of lyricist Tetsurō Hoshino and debuted in 1986 with “Hakama o Haita Wataridori,” for which Hoshino wrote the lyrics.
She has also appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Although she is an enka singer, starting in the late 2010s she has performed many covers of J-pop and kayōkyoku on television, giving her plenty of exposure—so even younger people have probably heard her sing.
Beyond her overwhelming vocal prowess, there’s Aya Shimazu’s unique world that seamlessly assimilates songs of any genre without feeling out of place.
It’s breathtaking…!
The miracle that we metMICA
Singer-songwriter MICA, who is active as a community-rooted artist, hails from Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture.
She made her nationwide debut in 2004 with the mini-album “inori.” Centered in Kumamoto, she has provided music for numerous TV programs and commercials and has appeared at many local events.
She has also performed alongside Kumamoto Prefecture’s mascot, Kumamon, and has taken part in many events in the Kanto and Kansai regions.
While expanding her activities nationwide, she has maintained her strong local focus, and in 2016 she was appointed a tourism ambassador for her hometown of Kami-Amakusa City.
Following her appointment, she actively participated in volunteer efforts after the Kumamoto earthquakes.
In 2018, marking the 15th anniversary of her debut, she launched her fan club, “MICAdemy.”
Bands, artists, and singers from Kumamoto Prefecture (11–20)
Longing for RainYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro, an enka singer known for her husky, wistful voice, hails from Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture.
While the city’s name is read “Yatsushiro,” her stage surname, Yashiro, was taken from the city’s name.
After graduating from junior high school, she worked as a bus tour guide and a club singer in Ginza before debuting in 1971 with the single “Ai wa Shindemo” (Love, Even If It Dies).
She went on to record numerous hits, including “Funauta” and “Ame no Bojo.” Yashiro also has a jazz side; in 2012 she released the jazz album “Yoru no Album,” which was distributed worldwide, marking her global debut.
Her activities don’t stop there—she continues to take on diverse musical challenges, from appearing at heavy metal festivals to performing anime songs.
YEAH!!YEAH!!YEAH!!NESMITH（EXILE）
NESMITH, who is active as a vocalist and performer with EXILE, hails from Kumamoto City in Kumamoto Prefecture.
He made his singing debut in 2001 as part of the music group STEEL with actor Shuji Kashiwabara, and from 2004 he pursued activities as a solo singer.
After joining LDH in 2005, he made his solo debut a year later with the single “Tsuishin” (P.S.).
He began performing as a member of the second-generation J Soul Brothers in 2007, and joined EXILE in 2009.
From 2012, he also started activities with THE SECOND from EXILE, energetically working across LDH’s groups.
He is an artist known for his beautiful and gentle low-register voice.
Feeling refreshedMoritaka Chisato
Chisato Moritaka, who remains youthful no matter her age, is active not only as a singer but also as an MC.
Although she was born in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, she moved to Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture in her childhood and spent her adolescent years there.
After moving to Tokyo in high school, she appeared in the 1987 film “Aitsu ni Koishite.” She also performed the film’s theme song, “NEW SEASON,” making her entertainment-industry debut both as a singer and an actress.
After drawing major attention with her 1989 release of Saori Minami’s “17-sai,” she went on to deliver numerous hit songs, including “Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo” and “Watarasebashi.” She is also a multi-instrumentalist who handles parts other than vocals—such as drums and guitar—on her own songs.
DiamondsWatanabe Atsuko (PRINCESS PRINCESS)
Atsuko Watanabe, the bassist of PRINCESS PRINCESS, is from Minamata City in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Watanabe, who also served as the band’s leader, became a member after passing a girls’ band audition held in 1983.
They initially performed under the name Akasaka Komachi and debuted in 1984 with the single “Houkago Jugyou” (After-School Class).
Although her original role was guitarist, she switched to bass around this time.
The band changed its name once after that but did not release any songs under it, and in 1986 they adopted their current name, PRINCESS PRINCESS, making their major-label debut with the mini-album “Kiss de Hanzai” (Crime by a Kiss).
After the band disbanded in 1996 and until their reunion in 2012, she focused on solo activities and on training aspiring musicians at a music vocational school.