Japanese Pop: A Roundup of Popular Male Singer-Songwriters
They can write songs, they sing well, and some can even draw, excel at sports, or take on acting roles… when you think about it, singer-songwriters are amazing, aren’t they?
They feel like the ultimate multi-players.
In this article, I’d like to introduce some popular male singer-songwriters from the Japanese music scene.
From veterans who’ve been active for years to artists who’ve made headlines recently, we’re covering a wide range of generations.
Please read to the end!
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[J-Pop] Popular Male Singer-Songwriters (21–30)
over the topMiyamoto Hiroji
Hiroji Miyamoto is captivating for his piercing, rough-edged vocal delivery.
As the vocalist of Elephant Kashimashi since the late 1980s, he has been active across a wide range of genres including rock, folk, and blues.
While the band’s early sound was strongly influenced by punk and new wave, it gradually evolved in a more melodic direction.
His powerful voice carries a unique allure—brimming with fervent passion that comes at you hot, yet tinged with a certain wistfulness.
In 2019, he released the solo album “Hiroji Miyamoto,” and in 2021 he received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize.
With overwhelming vocal ability and expressive power, he is highly regarded within the music industry.
Highly recommended if you want to be moved by deeply emotional singing.
In that caseHattori
Centering on pop and rock, as the vocalist and guitarist of Macaroni Enpitsu, Hattori captivates many listeners with his delicately expressive singing.
Formed in 2012 by members who graduated from music college, the band is based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, and actively performs live.
They made their debut with the 2015 mini-album “Al Dente,” and gained major attention in 2020 with an appearance on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE.
In December 2021, they won the Japan Record Awards’ Best New Artist.
With literary lyrics and a warm vocal tone, they create songs that capture the small moments of everyday life.
They’re a perfect fit for listeners seeking a gentle, comforting voice and emotionally resonant expression.
[J-Pop] Popular Male Singer-Songwriters Roundup (31–40)
Love Song feat. EveKitanitatsuya
Tatsuya Kitani, who is also active as a singer-songwriter, has an exceptionally wide-ranging musical background.
Even before starting his solo career, he worked as a Vocaloid producer under the name “Konnichiwa Tanita-san,” releasing many hit songs.
Prior to that, he was active in bands, and in 2018 he made his major debut with the band sajou no hana.
He is also known as the support bassist for Yorushika.
With outstanding compositional talent as his greatest strength, while also handling bass and vocals, he can truly be called a flawlessly versatile artist.
NIGHT DANCERimase
Imase is an up-and-coming R&B singer-songwriter who began producing music self-taught.
His sound is defined by a vocal style that skillfully switches between a rich low chest voice and a soaring falsetto.
He made his major debut in December 2021 and achieved a massive hit on TikTok with over 500 million total views.
His total plays on social media have surpassed 1.1 billion, and he has even charted in the TOP 100 on Korea’s platform MelOn, earning popularity that crosses borders.
In December 2023, he won the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards—an achievement reached in just three years since starting his music career.
In 2024, he embarked on an Asia tour, with tickets selling out instantly.
With catchy melodies and solid chops as a track maker, he’s a highly recommended artist for those looking to discover new music through social media.
Duckykankan
The mysterious singer Kankan is also an artist to watch.
Their gender hasn’t been officially disclosed, but photos they once posted have led people to believe they are male.
In 2018, their first cover song video went viral, instantly boosting their popularity.
They then took on an ambitious “30 days of consecutive uploads” challenge, gaining many subscribers.
The momentum didn’t stop—just three months after their first post, they reached 10,000 subscribers.
Since then, they’ve been consistently releasing hit songs.
Bunny GirlAKASAKI
AKASAKI, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from Aichi Prefecture, is gaining attention as a high school artist.
Known for lyrics that resonate with listeners of his generation and addictive melodies, he has been winning popularity.
Debuting in April 2024, he focuses his activities on TikTok and is known for producing music using digital audio workstations.
His videos posted on social media have racked up explosive view counts, further establishing his presence as a talented young artist.
He was selected as the Monthly Artist for October 2024 in Buzz Tracker, a joint artist support program by TikTok and Spotify, and was also the only artist chosen for Shibuya Trend Research’s “High School Trend Top 10.” With his clear-toned voice and delicate vocal expression, expectations are high for him to bring a fresh breeze to the contemporary J-pop scene.
Run, SAKAMOTOVaundy
Born in 2000, the multi-talented artist Vaundy has been attracting attention with a unique sound that fuses rock, hip-hop, R&B, synth-pop, and more.
Since 2019, he has been releasing songs on YouTube and working across genres as a creator who handles everything from songwriting to video production.
He has continued to release buzzworthy works, starting with the album “strobo.” In 2021, his video work received high acclaim at the MTV VMAJ, and he has continued to lead the music scene since.
With a lineup of highly skilled support musicians, he has also elevated the quality of his live performances.
He has produced many anime themes and TV drama songs, making him a perfect artist for listeners seeking innovative musicality and solid craftsmanship.