[2026] A compilation of bands, artists, and singers from Kyushu
When you think of artists from Kyushu, who comes to mind?
In recent years, the rock band WANIMA—hugely popular at major festivals around the country and on TV—are famously from Kumamoto, right?
Plus, Masaharu Fukuyama and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi are strongly associated with being from Kyushu as well!
But there are many more singers and bands from Kyushu!
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Kyushu-born artists who keep delivering music with passionate hearts!
- Artist Kingdom: Artists, Singers, and Idols from Fukuoka
- Kyushu-Otoko Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Bands, artists, and singers from Kumamoto Prefecture
- Artists from Kagoshima: From Famous Singers to Popular Bands, All in One Go
- Bands, artists, and singers from Saga Prefecture
- A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.
- Masculine Allure: Artists and Bands with Husky Voices
- Lesser-Known but Amazing Singers | A Ranking Focused on Pure Talent
- Showa Era Popular Artist Rankings [2026]
- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- A Japanese soul singer. The stirring SOUL OF JAPAN.
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- Nothing but masterpieces! Love songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
[2026] Compilation of Bands, Artists, and Singers from Kyushu (71–80)
An afternoon like a trapMutō Shōhei
Shohei Muto, known as a distinctive artist representing Kitakyushu, made his major debut in 1988 as the drummer of the band The Sham, later forming “Katteni Shiyagare” and establishing his own brand of “jazz punk.” He is renowned for his unique performance style of singing while playing drums, creating a one-of-a-kind sound that fuses the spontaneity of jazz with the energy of punk rock.
Beyond music, he has demonstrated diverse talents by appearing in the film “Tamiou no Shiawase” and creating CD jacket artwork.
Through “Shohei Muto with Kouji Ueno,” which continued until February 2024, he also showcased a refined acoustic sound centered on acoustic guitar and double bass.
Incorporating Buddhist teachings into his songwriting, Muto is supported by fans of jazz and punk rock alike as an artist with deep spirituality and an innovative expressive voice.
After the nightKamisiraishi Moka
No introduction needed: this is the younger of the beautiful Kamishiraishi sisters, Moka Kamishiraishi.
She’s famously close with her older sister, Mone, and photos of them together are often posted on social media.
After winning the Grand Prix at Toho’s “Cinderella” Audition—which has produced stars like Yasuko Sawaguchi and Masami Nagasawa—she shot to household fame with roles in hit dramas such as “Gibo to Musume no Blues” and “The Files of Young Kindaichi.” In 2022, she also appeared in NHK’s morning drama “Chimudondon,” broadening her appeal across generations, from the young to the elderly.
She’s also been highly active as the singer adieu.
When it was revealed in 2019 that adieu was actually Kamishiraishi, everyone was surprised, right? By 2022, she had released three albums, including analog (vinyl) editions.
Her debut song, “Narratage,” is a classic you still hear often—an exemplar of her crystal-clear voice.
If you haven’t heard it yet, don’t miss it!
PRIDEImai Miki
With a gentle, motherly singing voice that envelops listeners’ hearts—that is Miki Imai.
Hailing from Miyazaki Prefecture, she initially worked not as a singer but as a model and actress after moving to Tokyo.
She made her singing debut in 1986 with the release of “Tasogare no Monologue,” and continued her acting career in parallel.
She has released numerous hit songs, including “PIECE OF MY WISH” and “PRIDE,” the latter produced by her husband, guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei.
She and her husband performed together on her 2004 tour and again at the 2006 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Flowers of TsugaruHarada Yuuri
Yuri Harada, who is active as an enka singer, is from Hondo City, Kumamoto Prefecture, now part of Amakusa City.
Her signature song, “Tsugaru no Hana,” was a major hit that sold 600,000 copies, and with this song she made her first appearance at the 50th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
She also won the Excellent Work Award at the 41st Japan Record Awards.
Limit-Break x SurvivorHikawa Kiyoshi
Kiyoshi Hikawa, who debuted in 2000 as a then-rare young and handsome enka singer, is from Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture.
His debut single released when he was 22, “Hakone Hachiri no Hanjirō,” was a big hit.
Since then, he has showcased his voice not only as an enka singer but also in pop music, even performing anime theme songs, and has continued to be active across a wide range of genres.
In recent years, he has often worn makeup and costumes with an androgynous vibe, and his activities, which break completely free from traditional enka conventions, are sure to keep drawing attention.
A bird in a cageYu-anesu
Yunakes, a band known for poetic, dramatic lyrics and delicately beautiful melodies.
Formed by members who attended a music vocational school in Fukuoka Prefecture, they initially performed locally in Fukuoka.
In 2017, they won the audition “RO JACK for ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017,” earning a coveted spot at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017.
The following year, they released a nationally distributed CD and moved to Tokyo.
As a live band, they have been active on their own tours and at various festivals.
FlowerNaka Kousuke
A singer from Kyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture who began teaching himself Shimauta in his teens and continues to live on his native Amami Oshima, performing as a vocalist with pride and affection for the island’s culture and climate.
In his signature third single Hana and in Sansara, the theme song for the documentary program The Non-Fiction, you can hear the distinctive melodic turns of Amami folk music and his gentle voice—at once strikingly impactful and imbued with a grand, expansive love.
With his unique timbre and vocal style, he’s been called “the gentlest voice on earth,” a singer every Japanese person ought to know.
