Beloved voices and music! Singers and artists from Tohoku
Who comes to mind when you hear “a musician from the Tohoku region”? Some people might think of someone right away, while many others may struggle to name a musician from Tohoku.
But if you look, you’ll find plenty—ranging from artists everyone knows to members of popular rock bands—who hail from Tohoku.
In this article, we’ll introduce a comprehensive list of Tohoku-born musicians researched by our editorial team.
We’ve picked a wide range across genres and generations, so please enjoy discovering various artists.
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- [2026] Compilation of Bands, Artists, and Singers from Fukushima Prefecture
- Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture
- [Artists from Akita Prefecture] A comprehensive showcase from famous popular singers to up-and-coming bands
- [Bands and Artists from Aomori] A comprehensive introduction from veterans to up-and-coming talents
- Masterpieces by male artists known for their captivating high notes. Recommended popular songs.
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- Miyagi Songs: Popular tracks that celebrate famous sights and specialties, and timeless pieces filled with love for home
- A must-see for Gen Z men! Easy-to-sing songs by male artists for karaoke
- Singers, bands, and artists from Hokkaido
- Hype songs sung by male artists that are recommended for Gen Z
- [For Seniors] Heartwarming Winter Classics: A Cozy Moment with Nostalgic Kayōkyoku and Traditional Songs
- Songs by male artists known for their captivating deep voices. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular tracks.
Beloved Voices and Music! Singers and Artists from Tohoku (61–70)
BABYBABYMineta Kazunobu
He may not be widely associated with being from Tohoku, but Kazunobu Mineta is actually from Yamagata Prefecture.
He formed GOING STEADY in 1996 and helped define an era in the youth punk scene.
After the band broke up, he started performing as Ging Nang Boyz in 2003.
Although it began as a full band, by 2014 Mineta was the only official member, effectively making it his solo project.
His wild live performances and deeply human, heartfelt stage banter are a big part of his appeal.
In addition to his work as a musician, he’s also active as an actor.
send-off fireIto Hideshi
Hideshi Ito is a singer from Ouchi Town (now Yurihonjo City) who is currently active mainly in the Tokai region, including Nagoya.
He is known for singing well-known songs such as “Grandfather’s Clock” in the Akita dialect.
“Okuribi” is a song that was released in 1981.
La FranceHAWKER 9
One of the reggae artists representing Yamagata Prefecture is HAWKER 9.
He shot to stardom with his debut digital single “Maketakunai” released in 2016.
After that, he went to Jamaica, the home of reggae, to hone his skills.
Among his songs brimming with love for Yamagata is “La France.” It’s a track themed around La France pears, a specialty of Yamagata Prefecture, and the lyrics are entirely in the Yamagata dialect.
Of course, his other songs are great too, but if you’re from Yamagata, starting with this one is a solid choice.
A small light.Mikami Chisako
Fra-foa is an emo-core rock band formed in 1998.
Its vocalist, Chisako Mikami, hails from Yamanobe, Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture.
They debuted in 2000 with the maxi single “Tsuki to Sabaku” (Moon and Desert), steadily gaining fans thanks to Mikami’s fragile yet powerful singing voice.
After the band went on hiatus in 2003, she pursued a solo career as a singer-songwriter, releasing two albums on a major label.
She then spent some time away from major labels, but in 2018 she released I AM Ready!, her first full-length album in 13 years, showcasing a broader musical range than before and reaffirming the strength of her powerful vocals.
Mount Bandai of AizuOtsuka Fumio
Fumio Otsuka, a singer who represents the world of folk music, also hails from Yamagata Prefecture.
He was familiar with music from a young age and became a disciple of Masao Suzuki at 19.
He debuted at 26 with “Kōshū Bon Uta.” His emotionally rich singing and warm personality have endeared him to many.
Why not start with “Takeda-bushi,” known for being performed with Takashi Hosokawa, or his specialty, “Aizu Bandaisan”? His singing will touch your heart.
Check out live footage as well to get a sense of his character.
Saasukene.Yamaguchi Iwao
Iwao Yamaguchi is known for songs in the Yamagata dialect that use the Yamaguchi region’s dialect, as well as for his “Yamagata dialect preservation songs,” created out of a desire to pass the Yamaguchi dialect on to future generations.
If you’re local, many of you are probably familiar with his music.
He has produced many songs related to Yamagata, and some of them even portray its geography and culture.
If you’re looking to learn more about Yamagata, listening to his songs as part of your studies might be a good idea.
Cherry-blossom lovebugKudō Ayano
Ayano Kudo is an enka singer from Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, and a member of Michinoku Musume!, a female enka singer unit from the Tohoku region.
From a young age, she won various folk song competitions and made her debut in 2014 with the single “Sakuranbo Koishinbo.” Her 2023 single “Arai-gami” topped the Oricon weekly enka chart at No.
1 and reached No.
8 on the overall chart.
She also serves as the image character for Sanyo Co., Ltd., a company headquartered in Yamagata Prefecture.