【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!
- [J-Pop/Rock] A roundup of bands with cool singing bassists
- [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]
- Love at first sight with a bass girl! The female bassist of a popular band
- [Selected by the pros!] 10 great bassists from the jazz fusion world
- 【2026】A Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Rising Stars
- Packed with slap groove vibes! A collection of songs with cool bass
- [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] Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Up-and-Comers (91–100)
OutlawYamamoto Shūya
A track that rides on a solid bass groove to sing of freedom and struggle in life.
Its determination to live unfettered by society’s frameworks is powerfully expressed.
The phrase “only god can judge me” leaves a strong impression, conveying a firm will to decide one’s own life.
The talents of Shuya Yamamoto—who won a contest hosted by Seiji Kameda at the young age of 12—are on full display in this song as well.
It portrays growth amid the repetitions of everyday life, delivering a message that resonates with listeners.
Highly recommended for anyone who values staying true to themselves.
RISING MOONTakita Isamu
Isamu Takita is a bassist from Yokosuka, Kanagawa, widely recognized for his work in anime-related fields such as voice actor units.
He has said that seeing Hiroyuki Tanaka, the bassist of LAZY, inspired him to start playing bass, which also hints at his connection to anime songs.
Many of his inspirations and starting points are hard rock players, and his playing style reflects a powerful, fast-paced hard rock and metal feel.
With his support work for acts like BABYMETAL and GRANRODEO, he’s an indispensable bassist in the rock and metal genres.
The season of CRAZY FOR YOUSekine Shiori
Shiori Sekine is a bassist from Saitama Prefecture who plays bass in Base Ball Bear and, under her solo project name stico, also performs on the Chapman Stick.
Although her image is strongly associated with rock and pop due to her work with Base Ball Bear, the foundation of her musicality lies in progressive rock, which comes through clearly in her stico tracks.
As a bassist, her playing style supports the vocals and lead guitar, whereas on the Chapman Stick she takes a more forward, coloristic role in the music—making the contrast between her styles part of what makes her such an enjoyable player.
FULL HOUSEMina
MINA is a musician who made her mark as a member of GIRLFRIEND and also works as a bassist, singer-songwriter, and creator.
Her musical foundation lies in the piano she encountered in childhood, and she has said that from there she mainly studied dance.
She first picked up the bass when GIRLFRIEND was formed, and from that point she taught herself and developed her bass skills.
Her technical playing style is a key highlight; she skillfully uses busy fingerstyle lines and slap techniques to add sharpness and color to the music.
She’s an appealing player not only for supporting the songs, but also for asserting a strong presence with the bass itself.
OVER DRIVEYoshinaka Miyu
They showcase dazzling tapping and slapping techniques used in hard rock and metal.
Alongside their drummer brother, their sense of rhythm is excellent, and the crisp, punchy tone is outstanding.
It’s astonishing that someone with this level of technique and ability was born in the 2000s.
I’m excited to see what they accomplish next.