Bands, artists, and singers from Tochigi Prefecture

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Which famous person from Tochigi Prefecture comes to your mind first?

In this article, we’ll introduce bands, artists, and singers from Tochigi!

Of course, we’ll cover well-known names, but we’ll also spotlight artists from Tochigi who may not be very famous yet and deserve to be discovered through this opportunity.

If you’re curious about what kind of artists come from Tochigi Prefecture, be sure to check this out!

If you’re also from Tochigi, you might feel a sense of closeness—don’t miss it!

Bands, artists, and singers from Tochigi Prefecture (21–30)

T-BOLAN

Ueno Hirofumi

TRUE LOVE ~Return My Smile~

Originally from Tochigi Prefecture.

After making his mark as the bassist of T-BOLAN, Hirofumi Ueno teamed up with drummer Kazuyoshi Aoki to launch a new unit, BACK IN BLACK.

Currently, T-BOLAN has resumed activities with its original members.

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Ishikawa Susumu

[Episode 1] The Gutsy Frog: “The Birth of Pyonkichi” (1972) | A heartwarming slapstick comedy | TMS 60th Anniversary

From Ashikaga City in Tochigi Prefecture.

Singer Susumu Ishikawa, born in 1933.

He was active mainly in the 1970s with his distinctive singing voice.

After playing in a band with Kyu Sakamoto, he worked as an actor, voice actor, and host, while also scoring hits by singing theme songs for TV anime.

The opening theme of the TV anime Dokonjō Gaeru, which began airing in 1972 and shares the same title, is well known.

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Bands, artists, and singers from Tochigi Prefecture (31–40)

mihimaru GT

hiroko

mihimaru GT – Irreplaceable Poem

Hiroko was born in 1984 in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, and from junior high school onward she grew up in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture.

She graduated from Utsunomiya Municipal Sugagawa Junior High School and the Comprehensive Home Economics Department of Tochigi Prefectural Utsunomiya Chuo Girls’ High School.

Her 12th single, “Kakegae no Nai Uta,” released in 2007 and themed around friendship, became the theme song for the Toho-distributed film Doraemon: Nobita’s New Great Adventure into the Underworld — The Seven Magic Users.

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Letit go

Yatsuzuka Rie

200x Dream - Pocari Sweat

Rie Yatsuzuka is a singer from Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, born in 1973.

In 1995, she debuted as a member of Letit go with her older sister.

Many of you may remember Letit go’s second single, “200-Bai no Yume” (Dream 200 Times Over), which was featured in a Pocari Sweat commercial.

She has since left Letit go and is now pursuing a solo career, mainly performing mini live shows at live houses and events.

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GREENHERB

GREENHERB is a Japanese reggae BBQ group whose members—DJ gane, MC/DJ mappiy, and featured artist hi-kun—are all from Nasukarasuyama City in Tochigi Prefecture.

Formed around 2005 by gane and mappiy, they are active mainly in Nasukarasuyama.

They are also known as distinguished local youths who help lead the Yamaage Festival, a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property held in their hometown.

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Satō Hiroko

Hiroko Sato “Kiseki” [PV]

Hiroko Sato is a singer-songwriter born in 1981 from Mibu, Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture.

Her music, which evokes a sense of nostalgia, and her voice—combining gentleness with strength—are truly captivating.

She holds workshops and voice lessons nationwide.

In addition, since April 2018 she has launched a program on FM Tochigi RADIO BERRY, actively working across a wide range of fields.

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Shimizu Takahiro

Kizuna / Takahiro Shimizu (Cafe Bar Pulse)

Takahiro Shimizu is a folk singer from Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, formerly Kurobane Town.

In 2011, he was appointed an Otawara Hometown Ambassador for his native Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, and he has also served as a visiting associate professor at Sakushin Gakuin University and as an instructor at Utsunomiya Media Arts College.

He is currently active across Japan, with a focus on his home region of Tochigi.

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