Hikaru Utada

Did you know a 16-year-old made the best-selling album in Japan? Hikaru Utada is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter who became famous in the late 1990s. Her debut album First Love came out when she was 16 and became the most-loved album in Japan. That's the main thing we'll focus on — how her music reached millions and changed pop music.

Her music mixes Japanese and English, and she writes many of her own songs. She sang songs for the video game Kingdom Hearts, including Hikari (Simple and Clean), which helped kids around the world hear her music. Millions of people listened and sang along.

Utada helped change J-pop by showing that singers could be writers who tell real stories. Her honest voice and modern sounds opened doors for new styles and helped Japanese music reach fans beyond Japan. She sold millions of records, won awards, and inspired many young singers.

Today people still listen to her songs on phones and at concerts. Hikaru Utada's story shows how one voice can travel far and make people feel less alone. If you like music, try listening to her songs — you might find a melody that speaks to you.