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!
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- 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)
grandchildŌizumi Itsurō
Itsuro Oizumi is an enka singer and singer-songwriter.
He hails from Yamagata Prefecture and runs a cherry farm.
At age 35, he began performing as an amateur singer, and after achieving strong results in a music contest, he made his major debut.
His representative songs include Mago (Grandchild), which expresses his love for his own grandchild.
He is also known for having performed in NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and for having his songs available on karaoke.
Let his richly evocative singing voice soothe you.
Tokyo MarchSatō Chiyako
Chiyako Sato, who created numerous classic songs that colored the Showa era, is also from Yamagata Prefecture and is known as Japan’s first recording artist.
She was familiar with opera from a young age, which led her to start her singing career.
Her appeal lay in her clear, high-pitched voice, and her representative songs include “Tokyo March” and “Habu no Minato (Port of Habu).” Her life is depicted in the NHK morning drama Ichibanboshi, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out.
Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture (31–40)
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.
Safflower LongingHayama Mizuki
Mizuki Hayama is an unconventional enka singer who served as a miko (shrine maiden) at the Dewa Sanzan Shrine for six years before making her debut.
She entered the rookie audition hosted by Nippon Crown Records in 2015 and won the Grand Prix, releasing her single “Benibana Bojo” the following year.
Together with fellow Tohoku-born enka singers Ayano Kudo and Miyu Tsubuki, she formed the three-woman enka unit “Michinoku Musume!” Her stage surname “Hayama” is said to have been inspired by the Dewa Sanzan Shrine where she served as a miko.
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.
In conclusion
We introduced a wide array of artists and musicians from Yamagata Prefecture all at once.
From members of popular rock bands and idol groups to renowned producers and composers/arrangers, it was a lineup of people active across a broad range of genres.
Take this opportunity to give the music of artists and musicians from Yamagata a careful listen!