[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 classic song about Kumamoto. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- A Japanese soul singer. The stirring SOUL OF JAPAN.
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
[2026] Compilation of Bands, Artists, and Singers from Kyushu (41–50)
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
Chihiro Onitsuka, whose tender, gently resonant singing voice brings to life songs filled with poignant melancholy, has won widespread popularity.
Hailing from Miyazaki Prefecture, she made her debut as a singer in 2000 at age 19 with the single “Shine.” Her first album, “Insomnia,” released a year after her debut, became an immediate million-seller.
She followed with a string of hits, including “Gekkou,” which was chosen as the theme song for the smash-hit drama Trick.
Her distinctive word choice has consistently drawn attention to her lyrics, and she won the Japan Record Award for Songwriting for the single “Memai/edge.”
Goodbye, tearsJi Enputi
The Empty, a band from Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Formed in 2019 by junior high school classmates, they’ve been winning over young listeners with down-to-earth lyrics and an energetic sound.
They kicked into full gear in 2021 with their first demo, “The Empty – 1st demo,” delivering exhilarating melodic punk rock on tracks like “Take Me Out” and “Seishun.” In 2024, they were selected for KBC Radio’s Power Play.
Recommended for anyone who wants to relive their youthful memories or get fired up with friends.
Love will winKAN
KAN, who sang the mega-hit song “Ai wa Katsu” (Love Will Win), is from Fukuoka Prefecture and has created numerous songs in a style where he sings while playing the piano, which he started in elementary school.
Before his debut, he won awards in competitions held by Yamaha and Young Jump.
In 1987, he made his major debut with TV no Naka ni, released as both a single and an album with the same title.
The smash hit “Ai wa Katsu” was originally included on the album Yakyū Senshu ga Yume Datta (I Wanted to Be a Baseball Player) and didn’t attract much attention at the time of its release.
However, it later went into heavy rotation on FM802 and was released as a single.
Its selection as the ending theme for the TV program “Hō-chan no Yamada Katsutenai Terebi” also boosted its profile, leading to a Japan Record Award, a spot on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and massive success.
Melodic StormHorie Atsushi
The vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Straightener, formed mainly by childhood friends from Nagasaki in Kyushu.
Within the band, he showcases his boundless talent by handling vocals and guitar as well as instruments like piano and synthesizer, and by writing lyrics and composing almost all of their songs.
He continues to create outstanding rock numbers that make you feel like crying even as your spirits rise—such as the renowned Melodic Storm, often played at the end of their live shows, where an up-tempo groove fuses with a wistful melody.
Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa, known for her hit songs Amagi-goe and Tsugaru Strait–Winter Scene, is from Kumamoto Prefecture.
She originally debuted as an idol singer with Kakurenbo, but today she is a leading enka singer at the forefront of the music world.
The song Whisky ga, Osukidesho, which you may recognize from Suntory whisky commercials, was actually first released by Sayuri Ishikawa in 1990.
It feels so familiar, doesn’t it? Her music has become so ingrained in Japan’s music scene, and I want to keep loving Sayuri Ishikawa’s songs for years to come.
metropoliskurisutaru kingu
A band from Nagasaki in Kyushu that gained popularity with high-quality songs strongly influenced by Western hard rock, featuring twin vocals covering both low and high ranges.
They produced numerous hits that many listeners still recognize today, including “Daitokai,” which sold over 1.5 million copies, and “Ai o Torimodose!!,” famous as the theme song for the TV anime Fist of the North Star.
Also, the fact that the setting of “Daitokai,” often assumed to be Tokyo, is actually Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture reflects their deep affection for Kyushu.
They were a band that took Japan’s rock scene by storm from the 1970s through the 1980s.
budObuchi Kentaro
Although Kobukuro is strongly associated with Osaka, in fact the guitarist Kentaro Kobuchi is from Miyazaki Prefecture.
After entering the workforce, he began doing street performances in his spare time, which led to his meeting Shunsuke Kuroda and the formation of Kobukuro.
They made their major-label debut in 2001 with the single “YELL ~Yell~/Bell,” and have captivated many fans with songs that resonate warmly with listeners, evoke a refreshing breeze, and at times carry powerful energy.
Their 2005 single “Sakura,” which became a massive hit, was a song Kobuchi had been working on when Kuroda approached him about forming the duo.