Musicians, singers, and bands from Shiga Prefecture
When you think of artists from Shiga Prefecture, home to Lake Biwa—the largest lake in Japan—who comes to mind? For many, the first name that pops up is probably Takanori Nishikawa, who also serves as a Shiga Hometown Tourism Ambassador.
But of course, Shiga has produced many artists across genres like J-pop, rock, and hip-hop beyond just him.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of musicians from Shiga, spanning genres and covering everyone from top-tier mainstream singers to up-and-coming indie bands.
We’ll feature each artist along with one of their signature songs, so enjoy exploring them together!
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Musicians, singers, and bands from Shiga Prefecture (31–40)
Hello,I love you.MaRI
MARI of the idol duo YURIMARI is from Koka City, Shiga Prefecture.
Their 3rd single, “Hello, I love you.”, was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV anime Dr.
Slump and also served as the opening theme for the theatrical film Dr.
Slump: Arare no Bikkuri Burn.
YURIMARI disbanded in 1999.
At the End of Broken LoveHayashi Yumika
Yuzuka Hayashi, a member of predia, is from Shiga Prefecture.
Formed in November 2010 as a sister unit to PASSPO☆, their major-label debut, “Kowareta Ai no Hate ni” (At the End of Broken Love), was featured as the ending theme for the August 2014 broadcast of “musicる TV,” drawing attention.
Beyond the horizonNaito Safari
Night Safari is a four-piece rock band from Shiga Prefecture, a new act known for gutsy, emotionally charged live shows.
Their powerful vocals and harmonies reflect influences from Japanese emotional punk bands like eastern youth and Dohatsuten.
The lyrics are an outpouring of raw feelings born from everyday life, scrawled with passionate intensity.
Their songs never stop charging forward with a gritty drive, and they even reveal a modern metal approach in the instrumental breaks.
They’re a Japanese-language punk rock band whose live performances—singing until their voices are hoarse—are easy to picture.
empty; hollow; desertedKaneki Kazuya
Kazuya Kaneki is a singer-songwriter from Shiga Prefecture.
Back when he was the band’s vocalist and guitarist, he made it to the finals of Senkou Riot in 2011.
The appeal of his songs lies in their relatable lyrics and irresistibly catchy melodies.
His work spans everything from band-style arrangements to tracks that feature programmed beats, and each showcases those strengths.
His singing voice is also highly appealing, effortlessly handling everything from gentle ballads to up-tempo rock numbers.
HONEYL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
Did you know that the famous rock band everyone knows, L’Arc~en~Ciel, actually hails from the Kansai region? The only exception is drummer yukihiro, who is from Chiba, while hyde is from Wakayama and both ken and tetsuya are from Shiga.
Given the vibe of their music, it feels a bit unexpected, doesn’t it? They’ve been a band at the forefront since their formation in 1991.
Musicians, singers, and bands from Shiga Prefecture (41–50)
phantomPOM（can/goo）
POM, the leader of the music band can/goo, is from Shiga Prefecture.
can/goo’s first single, “Maboroshi,” was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Sister Princess RePure.
POM is also active as a solo artist, having released “Wasurenai,” as well as “re/Birth” under the name Takanobu Honda ‘POM’.
One VoiceMINAMI
MINAMI is a singer from Shiga Prefecture produced by Satoshi Shimano.
She moved to Tokyo to pursue a singing career and made her debut in 1999 with the maxi single “Sunao ni Nareru.” In her fourth single, “One Voice,” she sings about the longing to see a lover with whom she is spending time apart.