More than you might expect!? A roundup of second-generation singers and musicians who inherited shining talent
When you watch TV, you often see second-generation celebrities—people with famous parents—getting a lot of attention, right?
Having grown up with celebrity parents from a young age, many of them are thriving by making the most of the talent they’ve inherited.
There are actually quite a lot of these second-generation stars in the music industry, too!
Some have singers or musicians as parents, of course, but there are also second-generation musicians whose parents are actors or actresses.
In this article, we’ll be introducing a range of second-generation singers and musicians who have celebrity parents.
Enjoy their talent-filled performances, honed since childhood.
- Male singers with great voices: a collection of cool, seductive vocals
- Cool Japanese female vocal
- Masterpieces by male artists known for their captivating high notes. Recommended popular songs.
- A roundup of enka singers who have been active since childhood
- Funny songs recommended for kids: Japanese music that will make you laugh without even trying when you listen.
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- “All About Youth” Popular Cover Song
- Perfect for karaoke song choices too! Hype tracks recommended for Gen Z.
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- Classic and popular songs sung by actors
- [Emotional Song] A classic wishing for a child’s growth — a love song dedicated to my child
- Gen Z listeners, take note! Great songs that color the J-pop scene
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for teenage boys with low voices | Songs you can sing even during voice change!
Surprisingly many!? A roundup of second-generation singers and musicians who inherited shining talent (31–40)
AnimationYuki（Young Juvenile Youth）
Animation by Young Juvenile Youth, featuring Yuki, the daughter of Yusaku Matsuda and Miyuki Matsuda, on vocals.
Its uniquely distinctive world is incredibly captivating—such a wonderful track that you’ll want to listen to over and over again.
ONE SHOTJESSE（RIZE / THE BONEZ）
RIZE made a striking major-label debut in 2000 with high-quality mixture rock backed by performance skills that stood shoulder to shoulder with overseas bands.
It was already known at the time that their frontman, JESSE, is the son of Char, the legendary guitarist-singer who left his mark on Japanese music history.
Their early classic “Why I’m Me” candidly expresses gratitude toward his family, including his father, as well as friends.
Incidentally, RIZE’s renowned drummer Nobuaki Kaneko is also the son of Johnny Yoshinaga and Mari Kaneko.
Although there was an unfortunate incident in 2019, Jesse released new music under his solo name in 2020.
We hope he continues to channel his talents as a musician in the right way.
BeginKitano Shīko
This is Shoko Kitano, who also drew attention as Beat Takeshi’s daughter.
She made her entertainment debut in 1997 with an appearance in the film HANA-BI, and later launched her singing career with Begin, produced by YOSHIKI of X JAPAN.
Her hallmark is a mature, cool singing voice.
She is not currently active in the public eye, but many may remember her sensational debut at the time.
Tears Flowing EndlesslyMoriyama Ryoko
Ryoko Moriyama is a folk-pop singer-songwriter known for her warm singing voice.
She made her major debut in 1967 and took the country by storm with songs themed around Okinawa.
She has appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and in 2005 she drew attention for a duet with her son, Naotaro Moriyama.
Her works have even been included in school music curricula, demonstrating her significant influence on the Japanese music scene.
Her father, Hisashi Moriyama, was a trumpeter, and her mother, Yoko Asada, was a jazz singer.
PanoramaLUNA
LUNA is a rapper and R&B singer.
She’s the daughter of Mr.
Maric, the magician famous for his “hand power” tricks.
While leveraging the rap skills she honed during her time studying in the United States, she creates songs that feel familiar and easy on the ears.
Beyond music, she launched the fashion brand ViiDA, and despite various challenges, she’s been active as a second-generation celebrity, appearing on TV alongside her father and in the Amazon Prime Video drama Tokyo BTH.
A magic-and-live-music collaboration would be amazing to see!
Surprisingly many!? A roundup of second-generation singers and musicians who have inherited shining talent (41–50)
From HereMiyazaki Kaoru
Singer-songwriter Kaoru Miyazaki, born in Tokyo.
She spent her early childhood in London and grew up surrounded by music, beginning to compose using piano and guitar.
She made her major-label debut in 2012, and her fresh, easy-to-listen-to voice leaves a strong impression.
Influenced by artists like Carole King and Joni Mitchell, her musicality—along with performances on piano, acoustic guitar, and trumpet—conveys a rich expressive range.
As a second-generation entertainer, she fully showcases her talent, making her an artist whose future endeavors are exciting to watch.
Her deeply nuanced lyrical world is also captivating, so be sure to listen to her songs while reading the lyrics.
I WILLTakekawa Ai
Ai Takekawa, known as the daughter of Yukihide Takakawa, made her debut in November 2009 with the single “I WILL” and has since produced numerous works.
Her music is characterized by moving lyrics layered with sweeping, grand melodies.
In 2010, she performed at Japan Expo in Paris, captivating an audience of over 1,000.
Fluent in English, she pursues international collaborations that fuse trance and rock music with J-pop.
Nurtured from a young age and guided by her unique artistic vision, her work is perfect for music fans seeking fresh inspiration.