{
  "title": "Japanese pop: people and prefectures",
  "checked": "2026-09-08",
  "selection": "Editorial selection of commercially prominent solo performers active in or after the mid-1970s, drawn from the existing record-sales discovery list plus contemporary and city-pop selections. Not a top 100 or exhaustive census. Morning Musume is a separate, complete cohort of generations 1–6, who joined in 1997–2003.",
  "counting": "Each person counts once in their cohort. No band sales are assigned to members. Overseas birthplaces are retained outside the prefecture totals. Biography-linked places, with origin-only exceptions labeled.",
  "artists": [
    {
      "name": "Ayumi Hamasaki",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_Hamasaki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yumi Matsutoya",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yumi_Matsutoya",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hikaru Utada",
      "prefecture": null,
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Utada",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Namie Amuro",
      "prefecture": "Okinawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namie_Amuro",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Seiko Matsuda",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiko_Matsuda",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Koda Kumi",
      "prefecture": "Kyoto",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koda_Kumi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Akina Nakamori",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akina_Nakamori",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Masaharu Fukuyama",
      "prefecture": "Nagasaki",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaharu_Fukuyama",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maki Ohguro",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maki_Ohguro",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miyuki Nakajima",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyuki_Nakajima",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi",
      "prefecture": "Kagoshima",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuyoshi_Nagabuchi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Noriyuki Makihara",
      "prefecture": "Osaka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noriyuki_Makihara",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Misia",
      "prefecture": "Nagasaki",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misia",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hiroshi Itsuki",
      "prefecture": "Fukui",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshi_Itsuki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Toshinobu Kubota",
      "prefecture": "Shizuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshinobu_Kubota",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kyosuke Himuro",
      "prefecture": "Gunma",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyosuke_Himuro",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Momoe Yamaguchi",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momoe_Yamaguchi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mariya Takeuchi",
      "prefecture": "Shimane",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariya_Takeuchi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yōsui Inoue",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dsui_Inoue",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hiromi Go",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiromi_Go",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kenji Sawada",
      "prefecture": "Tottori",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Sawada",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mai Kuraki",
      "prefecture": "Chiba",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mai_Kuraki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shizuka Kudo",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shizuka_Kudo",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miho Nakayama",
      "prefecture": "Nagano",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Nakayama",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kyoko Koizumi",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoko_Koizumi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shinichi Mori",
      "prefecture": "Yamanashi",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinichi_Mori",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hideki Saijo",
      "prefecture": "Hiroshima",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideki_Saijo",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tomoyasu Hotei",
      "prefecture": "Gunma",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoyasu_Hotei",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Misato Watanabe",
      "prefecture": "Kyoto",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misato_Watanabe",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Toshihiko Tahara",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshihiko_Tahara",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Masahiko Kondō",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiko_Kond%C5%8D",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tomomi Kahara",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomomi_Kahara",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ringo Sheena",
      "prefecture": "Saitama",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Sheena",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hiromi Iwasaki",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiromi_Iwasaki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Goro Noguchi",
      "prefecture": "Gifu",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goro_Noguchi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ami Suzuki",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_Suzuki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ai Otsuka",
      "prefecture": "Osaka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Otsuka",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Naoko Kawai",
      "prefecture": "Osaka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoko_Kawai",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mari Amachi",
      "prefecture": "Saitama",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Amachi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hiroko Yakushimaru",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroko_Yakushimaru",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gackt",
      "prefecture": "Okinawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gackt",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yoko Minamino",
      "prefecture": "Hyogo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Minamino",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yōko Oginome",
      "prefecture": "Chiba",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dko_Oginome",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Crystal Kay",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Kay",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yui",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yui_(singer)",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kenshi Yonezu",
      "prefecture": "Tokushima",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenshi_Yonezu",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ado",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ado_(singer)",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tatsuro Yamashita",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsuro_Yamashita",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eiichi Ohtaki",
      "prefecture": "Iwate",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/material/files/group/185/report2025winter02.pdf",
      "sourceType": "Oshu municipal publication",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kazumasa Oda",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://kazumasaoda.site/kazumasaoda/biography/?event=bio_152146",
      "sourceType": "Official biography",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Masashi Sada",
      "prefecture": "Nagasaki",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masashi_Sada",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yutaka Ozaki",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "solo",
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutaka_Ozaki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuko Nakazawa",
      "prefecture": "Kyoto",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 1,
      "source": "https://filmarks.com/people/43973",
      "sourceType": "Filmarks biography",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kaori Iida",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 1,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaori_Iida",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Natsumi Abe",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 1,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsumi_Abe",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aya Ishiguro",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 1,
      "source": "https://ameblo.jp/ishiguro-aya/",
      "sourceType": "Official blog profile",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Asuka Fukuda",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 1,
      "source": "https://thetv.jp/person/0000128490/",
      "sourceType": "The Television profile",
      "placeType": "reported origin",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kei Yasuda",
      "prefecture": "Chiba",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 2,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_Yasuda",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mari Yaguchi",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 2,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Yaguchi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sayaka Ichii",
      "prefecture": "Chiba",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 2,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayaka_Ichii",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maki Goto",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 3,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maki_Goto",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rika Ishikawa",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 4,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rika_Ishikawa",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hitomi Yoshizawa",
      "prefecture": "Saitama",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 4,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitomi_Yoshizawa",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ai Kago",
      "prefecture": "Nara",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 4,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Kago",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nozomi Tsuji",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 4,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nozomi_Tsuji",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ai Takahashi",
      "prefecture": "Fukui",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 5,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Takahashi",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Asami Konno",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 5,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asami_Konno",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Makoto Ogawa",
      "prefecture": "Niigata",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 5,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makoto_Ogawa",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Risa Niigaki",
      "prefecture": "Kanagawa",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 5,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risa_Niigaki",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miki Fujimoto",
      "prefecture": "Hokkaido",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 6,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miki_Fujimoto",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eri Kamei",
      "prefecture": "Tokyo",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 6,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eri_Kamei",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sayumi Michishige",
      "prefecture": "Yamaguchi",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 6,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayumi_Michishige",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    },
    {
      "name": "Reina Tanaka",
      "prefecture": "Fukuoka",
      "cohort": "musume",
      "generation": 6,
      "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reina_Tanaka",
      "sourceType": "Biography (Wikipedia)",
      "placeType": "birthplace",
      "checked": "2026-09-08"
    }
  ]
}