【2026】A Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Rising Stars
When you hear “Japanese bassists,” which players come to mind? The bass is sometimes described as the unsung hero, but it’s the core of a band’s sound, and a great bassist’s groove has the power to move listeners.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected bassists ranging from legendary figures to promising newcomers from the next generation.
Be sure to check them out—you might just discover a talent you didn’t know about!
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- [Low End] A Collection of Japanese Songs Featuring Standout Bass Solos [2026]
- [Low End] A collection of Japanese songs with high-difficulty bass parts [Cool]
- Packed with slap groove vibes! A collection of songs with cool bass
- Love at first sight with a bass girl! The female bassist of a popular band
- 【2026】A Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Rising Stars
- [2026] Easy J-Pop and Japanese Rock Songs Recommended for Beginner Bassists
- A compilation of bassists who use StingRays
- Popular Band Rankings [2026]
- Western songs with cool bass lines: classic and popular tracks recommended for bassists
- Recent songs sung by male vocalists in Japanese music [2026]
- [2026] Recommended Japanese Fusion Bands Summary
[2026] Japanese Bassists Roundup: From Big Names to Rising Stars (61–70)
Overlord CrowIkuo
Bassist IKUO is active in Japan.
Since his band’s major debut in 1996, he has been a leading bassist across numerous bands and projects.
He has worked extensively on anime songs, including Kamen Rider and Digimon, and is popular in that field as well.
He performs as the bassist for the rock band BULL ZEICHEN 88, showcasing his virtuosic technique.
If you like fast, cool tracks and songs with lots of intricate playing, he’s a bassist you should definitely know.
Cell QuaiImasawa Kagerou
Known by the nickname BASSNINJA and beloved by many, he is one of Japan’s leading bassists active around the world.
Masterfully wielding a 6-string bass and unleashing a sound full of speed and precision, he truly lives up to the name “Ninja.”
As many times as you likeNakamura Masato
He’s the bassist from DREAMS COME TRUE that everyone knows.
Because Miwa Yoshida’s presence as the vocalist is so strong, people tend to remember him simply as “the bassist from DCT,” and he even jokes about it himself.
But he’s far from just any bassist—he handles most of the composing and arranging for DREAMS COME TRUE.
SYSTEMATICUeda Takeshi
Takeshi Ueda, the central figure of THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS—the pioneering band of mixture rock in Japan—is surely one bassist who cannot be overlooked.
In the 1990s, he was quick to establish a style that incorporated programming and rap into rock, delivering a heavy and aggressive playing approach within the band.
Many fans were electrified by his fiercely distorted bass tone and the barrage of aggressive phrases he unleashed.
Since 2008, he has also been active with his solo project, AA=.
Odoru Pompoko RinKuribayashi Seiichiro
When it comes to moody pop songs that became a buzzworthy comedy-song staple, this track produced by Seiichirō Kuribayashi is the one.
In fact, it’s loved by a wide range of people, from kids to adults! Released in 1990 as the ending theme for Chibi Maruko-chan, it brought a fresh breeze to the music scene of the time.
With its catchy melody and fun lyrics, it leaves an unforgettable impression after just one listen.
The original version by B.B.
Queens won the Pop/Rock category at the 32nd Japan Record Awards.
It’s since been covered by many artists and continues to be cherished today.
It’s a song the whole family can enjoy, so it’s perfect for livening up a karaoke session!
Waking UpMitsuru Sudo
Mitsuru Sutoh is a bassist from Yamagata Prefecture, known not only for his tenure with T-SQUARE but also as a member of TRIX.
He first came to music through folk guitar before switching to bass, steadily building his chops as a bassist through activities such as playing in the light music club at Tokyo Gakugei University.
His main instrument is a MOON five-string Jazz Bass, and it’s notable that he rarely uses processing-type effects.
His playing style represents classic fusion: a technical fingerstyle approach that actively incorporates slap, delivering speed, precision, and color to the music.
MASAKI
As he himself has said—competing with guitarists famed for their speed by playing the bass even faster—his technical yet impeccably precise performances, using all ten fingers of both hands to the fullest, are truly breathtaking.
He has also authored multiple bass instruction books and is said to have many students.