Question from the readers:
Who are some charismatic artists born in the Showa era? I think of names like Yazawa Eikichi, Kuwata Keisuke, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, and Hamada Shogo, but are there any other famous ones? I’m also curious about Sano Motoharu, Ozaki Yutaka, Himuro Kyosuke, Hotei Tomoyasu, Inaba Koushi, Inoue Yosui, Matsuyama Chiharu, and Yoshida Takuro. Can someone tell me?
Charismatic
Artists of the Showa Era
While chatting with friends, the topic of charismatic artists born in the Showa era came up. Artists like Yazawa Eikichi, Kuwata Keisuke, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, and Hamada Shogo are all fantastic, aren’t they? I love them too, especially Kuwata Keisuke’s live performances—I’ve lost count of how many I’ve attended! Whenever I hear his voice, I feel energized, no matter how tired I am. But there are still many other captivating artists out there. Take Matsutoya Yumi, for example; listening to her songs brings back bittersweet memories of youth. I remember the first time I heard her music during a school cultural festival in high school. A friend covered “Haru yo, Koi,” and I almost cried from the emotions it stirred.
Charismatic Artists of the 90s
Recently, artists from the 90s have also gained a charismatic status. Hyde from L’Arc-en-Ciel and GLAY are part of that group. I still cherish the memories of going to karaoke with friends in high school, belting out their songs. We would shout, “Isn’t Hyde’s voice amazing?” and get so into it that we ended up singing too much and losing our voices. We can’t forget YOSHIKI from X JAPAN either. Listening to his piano performances feels like being in heaven. Especially when I hear “Forever Love,” I can’t help but feel the bittersweetness of love. I vividly remember how that song brought back memories of my first love.
Surprising Artists
Interestingly, one of my favorites is Kiyoshiro Imawano. His humor and impactful messages in his songs always lead to new discoveries every time I listen. When I attended one of his live shows, the entire venue was filled with a sense of unity—it was such a fun experience. I also fondly remember eating too many snacks and getting a stomachache! Kitajima Saburo and Sawada Kenji are fantastic as well. In particular, listening to Julie’s “Katte ni Shiyagare” always boosts my spirits. His unique staging and the ability to engage the audience are truly remarkable. It makes me want to sing along!
Who are your favorite artists?
Now that we’ve talked about artists from the Showa era to the 90s, who do you like? Please share your memorable songs or concert stories in the comments. I’m eager to learn more about other artists, so I would love to hear your experiences!
