Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture
When you hear about artists and musicians from Yamagata Prefecture, who comes to mind?
Maybe not many, but in fact, Yamagata has produced some very famous artists and musicians!
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of artists from Yamagata Prefecture all at once.
From band and idol group members to producers and composers/arrangers, we’ve picked broadly across genres—so take this opportunity to give their music a careful listen!
- Artists from Yamanashi Prefecture: A roundup of talented bands and singers
- [Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride
- Beloved voices and music! Singers and artists from Tohoku
- Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture
- Masterpieces by male artists known for their captivating high notes. Recommended popular songs.
- [Artists from Akita Prefecture] A comprehensive showcase from famous popular singers to up-and-coming bands
- [Ones to Watch in 2026!] Recommended Female Singers & Recent Female Artists
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Japanese Male Singers from the 1990s [2026]
- Recommended songs about mountains: classic and popular tracks for mountaineering and mountain songs
- Songs by male artists known for their captivating deep voices. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular tracks.
- Tear-jerking masterpieces sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture (21–30)
Engine Sentai Go-ongerTakahashi Hideyuki
Mr.
Hideyuki Takahashi, who has produced many songs for the Super Sentai series, is also from Yamagata Prefecture.
After graduating from high school, he went on to a university in Saitama, where he began his music career.
However, it’s said that the impetus for pursuing singing came from a vocal contest he entered back in his Yamagata days.
He made his major debut at age 34 with Engine Sentai Go-onger.
Today, he’s active in various fields, including reading picture books aloud and appearing on web programs.
If you like fiery, passionate tracks or high-energy songs, he’s definitely worth checking out.
Thanks for the meal.Sugai Tomoaki
Singer-songwriter Tomoro Sugai, who performs Gottsosama featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta, is also from Yamagata Prefecture.
Born into a farming family that has continued since the Edo period, he works as a “singer-song farmer,” balancing agriculture and artistry.
Influenced by Nobuyasu Okabayashi’s 1968 single Sanya Blues, he began his artistic career and made his debut in 1984 with his first album, Tobube!.
In addition to live performances, he also gives lectures on themes related to agriculture.
FINAL CALLHIZUMI（D’espairsRay）
The visual kei rock band D’espairsRay.
Their vocalist HIZUMI and guitarist Karyu are also from Yamagata Prefecture.
The band’s songs often have a dark atmosphere or a driving, high-speed feel.
Be sure to take this opportunity to check them out.
By the way, HIZUMI has also launched a solo music project, and Karyu is active as a member of Angelo as well.
Give those a listen too.
All rightTakahashi Koki (peridots)
Koki Takahashi, the singer-songwriter at the heart of the music project peridots, is from Yamagata City in Yamagata Prefecture.
Takahashi’s appeal lies in his expansive musicality, which embraces elements from a wide range of genres, both Japanese and Western.
He is also active in a unit called Gen Peridots Quartet, which centers on string instruments.
If you’re looking for music that’s easy on the ears, be sure to check it out! You’re sure to love the enveloping, body-embracing sound.
Song of the DawnKishi Yoko
Yoko Kishi, who shared popularity with Fubuki Koshiji as a chanson singer, was from Sakata City in Yamagata Prefecture.
She entered Tokyo University of the Arts aiming to become an opera singer, but due to cardiac neurosis she gave up that path and switched to chanson, making her debut in 1962 with the release of “Tawamurenaide.” Among her signature songs is “Yoake no Uta,” which won the Vocal Performance Award at the 6th Japan Record Awards; she also made her first appearance on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen with this song.
It was used as the theme song for the film “Yoake no Uta,” starring Ruriko Asaoka.
A small light.Mikami Chisako (fra-foa)
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.
Cool boogaloonagisa youko
Yoko Nagisa, a singer who revived kayokyoku during the Heisei era, hails from Shirataka in Nishiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture.
She burst onto Tokyo’s club scene in the 1990s and won many fans with her sultry voice and performances.
She actively collaborated on projects produced by Ken Yokoyama of Crazy Ken Band, covered Isezaki-cho Blues, which was used as the theme song for the film Yokohama Mary, and more.
In 2018, she appeared as a guest at a live concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of Crazy Ken Band’s debut.