Bands, artists, and singers from Shikoku
When you think of bands and artists from Shikoku, who comes to mind?
Many people probably think of Chatmonchy, a flagship all-girl band, or the singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu.
But bands and artists from Shikoku aren’t limited to just them!
From up-and-coming singer-songwriters to incredibly skilled vocalists, the region has produced a wealth of popular artists.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of artists from Shikoku, so let’s dive right in!
- Bands, artists, and singers from Tokushima Prefecture
- Bands, artists, and singers from Kagawa Prefecture
- Passionate bands, artists, and singers from Ehime Prefecture
- Bands, artists, and singers from Shikoku
- Bands and Singers from Yamaguchi Prefecture | From Superstars to Rising New Artists, All in One Go
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
- Yuzu’s greatest and most popular songs
- Breakup songs by female artists recommended for the yutori generation
- An iconic song by a female artist that Gen Z can get hyped about with their peers
- Hype songs sung by male artists that are recommended for Gen Z
- Chatmonchy’s iconic and popular songs
- Chatmonchy Ballad Songs: Popular Song Rankings [2026]
Bands, artists, and singers from Shikoku (41–50)
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
Masafumi Akikawa is a tenor singer from Ehime Prefecture.
While grounded in classical music, his work—singing across a wide range of genres in a classical style—has won the hearts of many.
He made his CD debut in 2001 and appeared for the first time on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006.
The following year, he achieved remarkable success, topping the annual charts with a major hit.
His passion for music was nurtured from childhood, strongly influenced by his father.
After turning 40, he devoted himself to self-improvement, earning admiration for his rigorous self-discipline—such as swimming 600 meters in a 25-meter pool without taking a breath every day.
He also demonstrates talent beyond music, being active as a woodcarving sculptor.
Akikawa’s appeal lies in his exceptional vocal ability and multifaceted talents.
Bands, artists, and singers from Shikoku (51–60)
Electrocution No. 18hi karu (dauto)
The visual kei rock band D=OUT.
Their guitarist, Hikaru, is also from Tokushima Prefecture.
He launched his career with D=OUT in 2007, bringing the band widespread recognition.
Their popularity was tremendous, and by 2009 they were holding tours in Europe and Asia.
With that background, their later release “Aisuru Hito” was made available in 10 languages.
You could call him a global star that Tokushima Prefecture can be proud of.
He also writes a blog series, so be sure to check that out as well.
Love Dial 6700Dream5
This song is a cover by Dream5, a music unit originating from the TV show Tensai TV-kun MAX.
The group’s leader, Kotori Shigemoto, is from Tokushima Prefecture.
When the group was formed, the members were between 10 and 13 years old, which drew attention as they were a very young group.
Azure Sky -Paradox-FRUITPOCHETTE
This is a song by FRUITPOCHETTE, a group from Ehime Prefecture and the sister group of Ehime’s idol group Hime Kyun Fruit Can.
The track is so cool that you wouldn’t believe it’s by an idol group, so I highly recommend it to listeners beyond idol fans as well.
Electrocution No. 18Dauto
This song is by the visual-kei rock band D=OUT.
The band’s guitarist, Hikaru, is from Tokushima Prefecture.
The track has a great groove and a cool vibe, so if you like rock-style music, it’s definitely one you should check out.
Under the apple treedikku mine
This song is by Dick Mine, an artist whose work is indispensable when discussing Showa-era kayōkyoku.
Active before the war and continuing afterward as both a singer and an actor, he was from Tokushima Prefecture.
This piece is also well known as a jazz standard.
Tokyo Boogie-WoogieKasaogi Shizuko
Shikoku’s legendary singer Shizuko Kasagi.
From the Taisho into the Showa era, she shone as one of Japan’s leading entertainers and was affectionately known as the “Queen of Boogie.” She showed talent from a young age, appearing on stage in a playhouse at 13.
In 1927 (Showa 2), she joined the Osaka Shochiku Revue and began her stage career.
She later achieved great success as a jazz singer through her collaborations with Ryoichi Hattori.
With her signature hit released in 1948 (Showa 23), she sparked a postwar boogie-woogie craze and became a star overnight.
Her innovative musical style incorporated Western genres such as jazz and boogie-woogie.
She also displayed remarkable strength in overcoming the hardships of the postwar period while raising a child as a single mother.
Highly recommended for those interested in the music scene of the Showa era.
In conclusion
We introduced a range of artists from Shikoku all at once.
Were there any surprising artists you didn’t realize were from Shikoku? Some have released songs about their hometowns or hold events locally, so be sure to check them out!