Kiriko Takemura (
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
: 竹村 桐子, born January 29, 1993), known professionally as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (
Hiragana
is a Japanese syllabary, part of the Japanese writing system, along with ''katakana'' as well as ''kanji''.
It is a phonetic lettering system. The word ''hiragana'' literally means "flowing" or "simple" kana ("simple" originally as contrast ...
: きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ), is a Japanese
tarento
Television personalities in Japan, known as in Japanese, are celebrities who regularly appear in mass media in Japan, especially as panelists on variety shows. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, bankable stars in America were described as " ...
, singer, and model. Her public image is associated with Japan's ''
kawaii
''Kawaii'' is the culture of cuteness in Japan. It can refer to items, humans and non-humans that are charming, vulnerable, shy and childlike.Kerr, Hui-Ying (23 November 2016)"What is kawaii – and why did the world fall for the ‘cult of c ...
'' and ''
decora'' culture, centered in the
Harajuku
is a district in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Harajuku is the common name given to a geographic area spreading from Harajuku Station to Omotesando, corresponding on official maps of Shibuya ward as Jingūmae 1 chōme to 4 chōme. In popular refere ...
neighborhood of Tokyo. Kyary's music is produced by musician
Yasutaka Nakata
is a Japanese DJ and music producer. He formed the band Capsule in 1997 with vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and himself as composer and record producer when both were 17. The band debuted in 2001 with the song "Sakura".
He is known for being the ...
of electronic music duo
Capsule.
Her 2011 single "
PONPONPON" reached the top ten on Japan's
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...
music chart; the 2012 singles "
Candy Candy
is a Japanese series created by Kyoko Mizuki. The main character, Candice "Candy" White Ardley is a blonde girl with freckles, large emerald green eyes and long hair, worn in pigtails with bows. ''Candy Candy'' first appeared as a man ...
" and "
Fashion Monster
is the third physical single by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The single is Halloween themed, and was released October 17, 2012. The song was used in commercials for G.u. Kyary re-released the single through Sire Records in the United St ...
" followed this success. Kyary has since released five full-length albums: ''
Pamyu Pamyu Revolution'' (2012), ''
Nanda Collection'' (2013), ''
Pika Pika Fantajin'' (2014), ''
Japamyu'' (2018), and ''
Candy Racer'' (2021).
Though most of her success as a recording artist has been in Asia, she has also gained popularity in Western countries due in part to Internet videos which have gone
viral. Media outlets have referred to Kyary as a "Fashion Monster", and she has been photographed for magazines such as ''
Dazed & Confused''.
In 2013, she signed a distribution deal with
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehre ...
to release her material in the United States.
As of February 2020, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has sold over 970,000 physical albums and singles in Japan according to
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...
as well as over 2.25 million downloads of her singles.
Early life
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was born in
Nishitōkyō, Tokyo
() is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 206,047, and a population density of 13,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Nishitokyo is located at t ...
, Japan, in a traditional strict household. She started modeling and appearing as a junior idol when she was just 12 years old, using her real name, Kiriko Takemura, although those videos and DVDs are now part of a hidden past that has been forgotten. She writes in her autobiography, ''Oh! My God!! Harajuku Girl'', that her father was more supportive of her, although they had their fair share of quarrels as well.
Career
2009–2010: Career beginnings
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu started as a fashion blogger, and then began her professional career as a model for
Harajuku
is a district in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Harajuku is the common name given to a geographic area spreading from Harajuku Station to Omotesando, corresponding on official maps of Shibuya ward as Jingūmae 1 chōme to 4 chōme. In popular refere ...
fashion magazines such as ''Kera!'' and ''Zipper''.
Her stage name combines "Kyari" (acquired in school because she embraced Western culture and seemed "like a foreign girl"); she later added "Pamyu Pamyu" because it sounded cute.
She was inspired to sing by
Yasutaka Nakata
is a Japanese DJ and music producer. He formed the band Capsule in 1997 with vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and himself as composer and record producer when both were 17. The band debuted in 2001 with the song "Sakura".
He is known for being the ...
.
2011–2012: ''Moshi Moshi Harajuku'' and ''Pamyu Pamyu Revolution''
In April 2011 Kyary participated in the charity event "One Snap for Love" to benefit victims of the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (M) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six mi ...
. In July, she released her first promo single, "
PONPONPON", citing
Gwen Stefani,
Katy Perry and
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
as inspirations at that time.
The music video, a psychedelic tribute to kawaisa and Decora culture, was released to YouTube and became a viral hit.
[Favorite Summer Artists & Cats Grilling Out (!!!): It's Episode 2 Of MTV's Pop Music Web Show, 'Bigger Than The Buzz'!](_blank)
. MTV.com (August 4, 2011). Retrieved 8 December 2011. "PONPONPON" entered ''Billboard'' Japan's Hot 100 chart at 72 on July 31, 2011.
Her debut EP, ''
Moshi Moshi Harajuku'', was released August 17, 2011, followed a week later by her autobiography, ''Oh! My God!! Harajuku Girl''.
On December 6, 2011, her single "
Tsukematsukeru
is a song by Japanese recording artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, from her debut studio album '' Pamyu Pamyu Revolution''. The lyrics are about a girl putting on her false eyelashes. The song is described as "an ambitious track" that is "bursting with ...
" was digitally released internationally via iTunes. On December 9, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made her American debut in
Culver City, California to perform in a fashion show and play two of her songs, as well as her first time performing the single. "Tsukematsukeru" was released physically on January 11, 2012, which included a special edition photobook. It was eventually certified gold in April 2012. In February and March 2012, she represented Japan during Japanese performing arts exhibitions in Shanghai and Hong Kong. She released her second single, "
Candy Candy
is a Japanese series created by Kyoko Mizuki. The main character, Candice "Candy" White Ardley is a blonde girl with freckles, large emerald green eyes and long hair, worn in pigtails with bows. ''Candy Candy'' first appeared as a man ...
" as a digital download on March 14, 2012. The single debuted at eighty-nine on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and later peaked at number two. It was released as a CD single on April 4, 2012, and sold 9,913 copies its first week, debuting at number eight on the ''Oricon'' weekly singles chart.
Her debut full-length album, ''
Pamyu Pamyu Revolution'', was released on May 23, 2012. Along with the announcement of her second single back in February, it was revealed that she was planning to hold her first nationwide tour in June of that year, as well as launching an official fan club. The tour kicked off on June 2 at the Namba Hatch in Osaka. It continued in Hiroshima, Nagoya, Sendai, Sapporo, Fukuoka and finished in Tokyo on June 29. In July 2012, she made her European debut by performing for 13,000 fans at the Japan Expo in Paris. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was bestowed the title of "Kawaii Harajuku Ambassador" on August 30, 2012 by the Mayor of
Shibuya
Shibuya (wikt:渋谷, 渋谷wikt:区, 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern ...
. Following a montage of her successes performed on a large screen, she performed several songs in front of a crowd after accepting the award. In early September 2012, Kyary announced that she was collaborating with Japanese budget fashion brand
g.u. for her new single "
Fashion Monster
is the third physical single by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The single is Halloween themed, and was released October 17, 2012. The song was used in commercials for G.u. Kyary re-released the single through Sire Records in the United St ...
", which was given a CD release date of October 17, 2012. She was also used as the image character for g.u. after the announcement. Around the same time, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu announced her debut world tour titled ''
100% KPP World Tour'', which began in February 2013 and lasted until June. The tour visited the United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and her native Japan.
2013–2014: ''Nanda Collection'' and ''Pika Pika Fantajin''
During 2012 and 2013, she began receiving more attention in Western media.
Sputnikmusic listed ''
Pamyu Pamyu Revolution'' as number one on their "Best Pop Albums of 2012" list. Britain's ''
Dazed & Confused magazine'' became an enthusiastic supporter. Kyary was photographed by Matt Irwin for the magazine's December 2012 issue, styled by
Nicola Formichetti
Nicola Formichetti (; born 31 May 1977) is a fashion director and fashion editor. Born in Japan, he is most widely known as the artistic director of the Italian fashion label Diesel and for being a frequent collaborator with singer-songwriter Lad ...
.
The magazine also cited her video for "
Furisodation" in their "Video of the Week" category in January 2013, and named her "The Star of Tomorrow" in August. In January 2013,
MTV Iggy
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
called Kyary "the coolest girl on the planet" and ''
The Fader
''The Fader'' (stylized as ''FADER'') is a magazine based in New York City that was launched in 1999 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture. It was the first print publication to be released on iTunes.
It is o ...
'' called her "the most exciting person making music". Furisodeshon's video was also named by
Stereogum as a "Video of the Week" in January. ''
Elle France'' promoted Kyary Pamyu Pamyu in its February 2013 issue, and she appeared on the French television show ''
Le Petit Journal'' on February 11. During this period, she also appeared in the Swedish newspaper ''
Svenska Dagbladet'' and was interviewed on the British radio station
Monocle 24
Monocle 24 is a mainly speech-based internet radio station, broadcasting from Monocle's headquarters at Midori House in London, England. On weekdays, the station produces three hours of live, current affairs-based programmes. It also broadcasts ...
. February also saw the release of Kyary's first concert DVD/Blu-ray, ''
Dokidoki Wakuwaku Pamyu Pamyu Revolution Land'', recorded live in November 2012 at the
Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. A month-long exhibition in March 2013 titled "Kyary Pamyu Pamuseum" was held in Tokyo's
Roppongi Hills
is a development project in Tokyo and one of Japan's largest integrated property developments, located in the Roppongi district of Minato, Tokyo.
Constructed by building tycoon Minoru Mori, the mega-complex incorporates office space, apartm ...
complex, showcasing all costumes from her music videos and live performances. In April, a deal for American distribution was reached with Sire Records, and "
Fashion Monster
is the third physical single by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The single is Halloween themed, and was released October 17, 2012. The song was used in commercials for G.u. Kyary re-released the single through Sire Records in the United St ...
" was re-released in the United States. In summer 2013, Pamyu Pamyu's television series ''TV John!'' was broadcast in France on the
Nolife channel. In America, ''
Paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distrib ...
'' featured her in its July issue, and she received her largest American exposure to date in a lengthy profile in ''
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
'' the same month.
![Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at MTV VMAJ 2014 (1)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Kyary_Pamyu_Pamyu_at_MTV_VMAJ_2014_%281%29.jpg)
Kyary performed her songs "
Invader Invader
is the sixth physical single by Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. It was released on May 15, 2013, in both regular and limited editions. The song "Invader Invader" is used for the G.u. clothing retailer commercials in Japan while the second track ...
" and "
Ninja Re Bang Bang" at the end ceremony for the
2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan was held in Chiba on June 22, 2013 at the Makuhari Messe and was hosted by Atsuko Maeda and Nobuaki Kaneko from Rize.
Awards
Video of the Year
Exile Tribe — "24karats Tribe of Gold"
* Namie Amuro — " ...
Awards, where she also received the awards for Best Pop Video and Best Karaoke! Song for "
Fashion Monster
is the third physical single by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The single is Halloween themed, and was released October 17, 2012. The song was used in commercials for G.u. Kyary re-released the single through Sire Records in the United St ...
". In late June, it was revealed that she was working on a documentary film entitled ''Kyary Pamyu Pamyu the Movie''. The film received a one-day limited screening and featured concert footage from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's 100% KPP World Tour. Internationally the same year, she was nominated for Best New International Pop Artist by
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American pay television channel launched in 1994 which was originally dedicated to music. After merging with the Latino-oriented NuvoTV in 2015, Fuse shifted its focus to general entertainment and lifestyle programming targeting multi ...
and Best Japan Act at the
2013 MTV Europe Music Awards
The 2013 MTV EMAs (also known as the MTV Europe Music Awards) were held at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 10 November 2013. This was the second time the awards had taken place in the Netherlands, the last time being in 1997.
Several ...
.
Kyary's second studio album, ''
Nanda Collection'', was released on June 26, 2013.
In September 2013, she announced a second world tour titled ''
Nanda Collection World Tour'' and a new single "
Mottai Night Land" was released in late October and received positive reviews from Western media outlets. The single was released on November 6. The world tour visited the United States, Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Kyary's native Japan, lasting from February until November. It was originally to last until June but was postponed due to
political unrest
Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
. She was interviewed by or was the focus of articles in internationally renowned publications such as ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', ''
Time Out London
''Time Out'' is a global magazine published by Time Out Group. ''Time Out'' started as a London-only publication in 1968 and has expanded its editorial recommendations to 328 cities in 58 countries worldwide.
In 2012, the London edition becam ...
'', ''
Sydney Morning Herald'', and ''
VICE
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character t ...
''. in April 2014, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made her Australian television debut on the program ''
Sunrise
Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects.
Terminology
A ...
'' and was the focus of Australian news programs such as ''
ABC News
ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
''. In May 2014, she appeared in the British fashion magazine ''
i-D''. In July 2014, ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
'' premiered Kyary's first English-language song, "Ring A Bell," in the United States. In October 2014, she was the focus of an article and photoshoot in the American fashion magazine ''
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic.
Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from pe ...
''.
In February 2014, Kyary announced her single "
Yume no Hajima Ring Ring" in which her theme would be "evolution" which provides a theme relating to graduation. The music video was uploaded to YouTube on February 19. The single was released on February 26. In March, she announced that her upcoming single "
Family Party" will be used as an ending theme for the movie ''
Crayon Shin-chan: Serious Battle! Robot Dad Strikes Back''. Kyary has stated that this is her first original theme song for a film. "Family Party" was released on April 16. On May 9, she announced her first limited-run single, "
Kira Kira Killer", which was released on June 11. The single was featured in commercials for au's "Lucky" campaign. Also in May, ''
Dazed & Confused'' announced that Kyary was working with international musicians
Sophie and
Yelle
Yelle is a French band founded by lead singer and namesake Yelle (Julie Budet) and GrandMarnier (Jean-François Perrier). A third member, Tepr (Tanguy Destable), joined the band before the recording of their debut album. Yelle and GrandMarnier b ...
on new upcoming music. she announced at her Zepp Tokyo concert that she would be releasing her third full album, titled ''
Pika Pika Fantajin'' on July 9, 2014. Along with the album announcement on May 18, Kyary also announced that she would be holding an arena tour after her hall tour in Japan. Both nationwide tours were held after the Nanda Collection World Tour. The Hall tour consisted of 17 shows in 13 cities, visiting Saitama, Tokyo, Miyagi, Matsudo, Hokkaido, Tochigi, Niigata, Ishikawa, Yamanashi, Chiba, Hiroshima, Kagawa, and Aichi, and lasting from July 27 until September 22. The arena tour consisted of nine shows in five cities, which ran from October 18 to November 9, visiting the cities of Makuhari, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Yoyogi.
2015–2016: ''KPP Best''
![西武9101F](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/%E8%A5%BF%E6%AD%A69101F.jpg)
In January 2015, she was mentioned by ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...
'' as one of the "major recent sellers" for
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...
alongside artists including
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University ...
and
Ed Sheeran
Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently re ...
. In March 2015, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released her single "
Mondai Girl". In June, she was chosen by the international cosmetic brand
MAC Cosmetics as one of its "Global Heroes" and was profiled in an interview on their website. In the following month, Kyary was chosen to represent Japan in Italy at
Expo 2015
Expo 2015 was a World Expo hosted by Milan, Italy. It opened on May 1 at 10:00 CEST and closed on October 31. Milan hosted an exposition for the second time; the first was the 1906 Milan International.
The Bureau International des Expositi ...
. On June 17, 2015, a remake of the movie ''
Nutcracker Fantasy
is a Japanese-American stop motion animated film produced by Sanrio, very loosely based on Tchaikovsky's 1892 ballet ''The Nutcracker'' and E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It is directed by Takeo Nakamura and writ ...
'' with a remix of her song "
Oyasumi" as the theme song. On September 2, 2015, Kyary released the Halloween-themed single "
Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushū)" and began the Crazy Party Night 2015 Tour, a nationwide concert tour that lasted until December 2015. The music video for the single premiered beforehand on August 20, 2016 and has since amassed over thirteen million views as of May 2018. On October 11, 2015, she played a one-off international concert at
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue situated at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhous ...
in London, England. In November 2015, Kyary was featured prominently in advertising for "The World Goes Pop" exhibition at the
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is an art gallery located in London. It houses the United Kingdom's national collection of international modern and contemporary art, and forms part of the Tate group together with Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It ...
national art gallery in London.
On May 25, 2016, her debut compilation album ''
KPP Best'' was released, featuring her single "
Sai & Co
is the 12th single by Japanese model-singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, released on April 20, 2016. The single was released in both CD and digital editions, containing songs tied into several commercials. The title is a play on the word Saikou, meaning Gre ...
" which was released on April 20. Around that time, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu announced a third world tour titled the Five Years Monster World Tour. The world tour visited Singapore, London, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, New York City, Taipei, and Tokyo. Her first art exhibition titled the Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Artwork Exhibition 2011–2016 was held at
Laforet Harajuku from December 16. In addition to every CD jacket design being present at the event, over 100 images were displayed, including photos from Kyary's photobooks that were available exclusively within her album releases, outfits and wigs worn by Pamyu Pamyu herself, interactive displays of the jacket images, and more. In conjunction with the exhibition was released the book "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Art Works 2011–2016", compiling around 300 unseen images from her photobooks. It was Kyary's first release together with art director and designer Steve Nakamura, who has been responsible for the art direction of Kyary's releases since her debut in 2011.
2017–18: ''Japamyu''
On December 27, 2016, she announced that she would be collaborating with English singer
Charli XCX
Charlotte Emma Aitchison (born 2 August 1992), known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery ...
on Yasutaka Nakata's solo track "
Crazy Crazy". The song was released on January 18, 2017, followed later in January by her single "
Harajuku Iyahoi". In April 2017, Kyary released the single "
Easta". From August 12, 2017 to October 1, 2017, the Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Art Exhibition 2011–2016 was held in Taipei. Kyary also embarked on a tour titled The Spooky Obakeyashiki: Pumpkins Strike Back in 2017. The following year, she performed at six international concerts in London, Cologne, Berlin, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as The Spooky Obakeyashiki World Tour.
In an interview with ''Billboard'' Japan, Pamyu Pamyu stated that although her music and performance style have evolved, she hopes to "maintain that basic 'kawaii' side" which her music and style is known for.
She released the single "
Kimino Mikata" on April 11, 2018, along with an accompanying music video.
In September 2018, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released her fourth studio album ''
Japamyu'', her first studio album in four years. The album included her 2016 single "Sai & Kou" as well as "Harajuku Iyahoi" and "Kimino Mikata". Kyary performed a new song from the album titled "Kizunami" on
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. Broadcasting live weekly on TV Asahi since October 24, 1986, it currently airs from 9PM-10PM on Fridays. The program is also colloquially known as , , and . The show is currently syndicated throughout th ...
on September 7. On that same year, her contract with WMG expired.
2019–present: ''Candy Racer''
On March 20, 2019, Kyary announced a new concert tour, "Oto no Kuni Live Tour", which commenced on March 30 at Izumo-taisha Shrine in
Shimane
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Shimane Prefecture is the second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 665,205 (February 1, 2021) and has a geographic area of 6,708.26 km2. Shimane Prefecture borders Yamaguc ...
. On May 10, she released an independent digital single "
Kimi ga Iine Kuretara" as a tie-up song to the Japanese drama ''Mukai no Bazuru Kazoku''. In January 2020, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was announced as a performer at
Coachella Coachella may refer to:
* Coachella, California
* Coachella Canal, in California
* Coachella (festival), an annual music and arts festival in California
* "Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind", a 2017 song by Lana del Rey
See also
* Coachell ...
2020 in Indio, California. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, the "Kamaitachi Tour''"'' was cancelled and overseas shows were also postponed. Unable to perform live for everyone during the current situation, Kyary made available a curated selection of her past live concerts on YouTube from April 14 to May 17, 2020.
Kyary released a digital single "Kamaitachi" on April 24, 2020 with its accompanying music video premiering on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
the same day. On September 12, 2020 Kyary Pamyu Pamyu launched her new fragrance brand ‘Nostalgia Syndrome’. The brand was backed by a crowdfunding campaign in February 2020 for Kyary who wanted to turn her favourite scent, fragrant olive, into a fragrance. October 18, 2020, she released, exclusively at her store, a limited edition DVD / Blu-ray of her 2 performances of "Otonokuni Live Tour 2019", inspired on
Kabuki
is a classical form of Japanese dance- drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.
Kabuki is though ...
theatre. On October 31, 2020, Kyary held the online concert "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Online Halloween Live 2020 「THE FAMILY 10.31」", later available exclusively at "smash." streaming service, re-edited into a vertical image.
On January 29, 2021, Kyary released a digital single "Gum Gum Girl" under her newly established label
KRK Lab. On April 17, 2021 it was released the video of "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu PREMIUM LIVE" GREAT INVITATION "" held at EX THEATER ROPPONGI in Tokyo as a free video service "
GyaO!
is a Japanese internet company originally formed as a joint venture between the American internet company Yahoo! (later divested by Verizon into Altaba) and the Japanese company SoftBank. It is headquartered at Kioi Tower in the Tokyo Garden Ter ...
" It was revealed that it will be exclusively distributed from April 30 (Friday) on Softbank's content distribution service "5G LAB". Live footage carefully selected from the performance on the day of the two-part system is not only delivered in normal 2D (GYAO!), But also in 3D free-viewpoint footage (VR SQUARE) with a back dancer and a luxurious stage set. It will be delivered in various variations such as multi-angle video (FR SQUARE) that can be viewed from various angles such as from the front or side of. Her 5th album "
Candy Racer" was released on October 27, 2021. On November 1, 2021 Kyary released a science-based hair care brand named ‘Curuput.’ Her goal is to create a future where everybody, including Kyary herself, can dye their hair freely, without the worry of damage.
On January 8, 2022 Kyary released a digital single "Maybe Baby", used as opening theme of Ninjala anime series. On January 16, 2022 she began the "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE", the largest tour in the history of Kyary. The European leg of the tour, which was to occur in November 2022 was cancelled in Germany, with further dates in Paris and London still being reviewed.
Artistry
Public image
![Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (9388083915)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Kyary_Pamyu_Pamyu_%289388083915%29.jpg)
As a musical entertainer, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has been recognized as the "J-Pop Princess" or "Harajuku Pop Princess".
Her fashion sense is the subject of much media coverage. Kyary is often called "Japan's
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
",
citing her similar use of fashion to attract attention.
A review of her London concert stated "
yaryis not supposed to be musically talented. She is more about image featuring her creative fashion sense as one of the main subjects of her career, not just the music."
She has cited American singers
Gwen Stefani,
Katy Perry, and
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
as her inspirations in both music and fashion.
Kyary's fashion sense has also been criticized. While being interviewed on TV Asahi's ''Music Station'', she was wearing an oversized ribbon on her head, which blocked Japanese boy band
Kanjani8
is a five-member Japanese boy band from Japan's Kansai region. They are managed by the multimedia talent agency Johnny & Associates and signed to Infinity Records. The group was formed in 2002 and made their CD debut in 2004 as "Johnny's modern ...
from being seen on camera, angering fans of Kanjani8 by her outrageous fashion style. She later stated that when she is being interviewed on television, she would restrict what she is wearing.
Kyary's fans, however, defended her wearing the outfit.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu cites "kawaii" (meaning "cute" or "cuteness") as her background style.
Her international success has also received much attention. During an interview with ''
The Fader
''The Fader'' (stylized as ''FADER'') is a magazine based in New York City that was launched in 1999 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture. It was the first print publication to be released on iTunes.
It is o ...
'', Kyary was asked if she meant to make music outside of Asia, where she responded; "At first, I didn't think about global markets at all. But even in Japanese, my lyrics don't make any sense and have a kind of mystery, like on "
Pon Pon Pon
"PonPonPon" (stylized as PONPONPON) is a song and debut single by Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. It was released as the lead single for her EP, ''Moshi Moshi Harajuku'', and later included on her debut album, ''Pamyu Pamyu Revolution''. The s ...
" and "
Tsukematsukeru
is a song by Japanese recording artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, from her debut studio album '' Pamyu Pamyu Revolution''. The lyrics are about a girl putting on her false eyelashes. The song is described as "an ambitious track" that is "bursting with ...
". I can feel that what I'm doing in Japanese is catchy to global audiences anyway."
Keiichi Ishizaka, chairman and CEO of Warner Music Japan Inc, commented on her image to ''
The Japan Times
''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc.. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
History
''The Japan Times'' was launched b ...
'', saying "
yaryis a person who came directly out of Tokyo's Harajuku culture, and there is a growing international interest in Japan's ''kawaii'' culture."
Many critics and publications noted the increase in popularity of Japanese pop culture outside Japan, such as its fashion and animation, and Kyary's role as its global ambassador. Ishizaka believed that with the advent of the Internet, there is no difference in time and distance among countries anymore."
Seibu Railway
is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism, and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbrevi ...
honored her by running a train on the
Seibu Ikebukuro Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway operator Seibu Railway. It originates at Ikebukuro Station, a large railway junction in north-western Tokyo, extending to northwest suburbs as far as Tokorozawa, Saitama, and nominally ter ...
, part of their
Seibu 9000 series, from June to September 2016, themed on the pop star's music videos, which also passed through her birthplace
Nishitōkyō, Tokyo
() is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 206,047, and a population density of 13,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Nishitokyo is located at t ...
.
In the media
Many of Kyary's singles, including "
Candy Candy
is a Japanese series created by Kyoko Mizuki. The main character, Candice "Candy" White Ardley is a blonde girl with freckles, large emerald green eyes and long hair, worn in pigtails with bows. ''Candy Candy'' first appeared as a man ...
", "
Invader Invader
is the sixth physical single by Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. It was released on May 15, 2013, in both regular and limited editions. The song "Invader Invader" is used for the G.u. clothing retailer commercials in Japan while the second track ...
", and "
Fashion Monster
is the third physical single by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The single is Halloween themed, and was released October 17, 2012. The song was used in commercials for G.u. Kyary re-released the single through Sire Records in the United St ...
", have generated millions of views on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
. Her single "
Furisodation" generated minor controversy in Japan, where a citizens' group believed the video encouraged alcohol and smoking, a claim which her label denied.
朝日新聞デジタル:きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅさん、新曲PVで一気飲み? – カルチャー
Filmography
Film
Television
Website
Radio
Discography
* '' Pamyu Pamyu Revolution'' (2012)
* '' Nanda Collection'' (2013)
* '' Pika Pika Fantajin'' (2014)
* '' Japamyu'' (2018)
* '' Candy Racer'' (2021)
Tours
* 100%KPP World Tour (2013)
* Nanda Collection World Tour (2014)
Awards and nominations
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
References
External links
Official English-language website
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamyu Pamyu, Kyary
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
1993 births
Japanese synth-pop singers
Japanese female models
Japanese women pop singers
Japanese dance musicians
Japanese bloggers
Warner Records artists
Sire Records artists
Nippon Columbia artists
Musicians from Harajuku
Living people
Yasutaka Nakata
Japanese women bloggers
Japanese women in electronic music
Models from Tokyo Metropolis