Who is Hikaru Utada?

I imagine your reaction to the name Hikaru Utada is the same as the name Jean-Michel Jarre.  Where in the world?  I do have a reason, so stick around.

Where French musician and performer Jean-Michel Jarre set multiple records for highest attendance concerts (free), Hikaru Utada is paving her path to profound success.  (Refer briefly to the post, Music in Japan.)

So.  Who is Hikaru Utada?

Hikaru Utada (born on January 19, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter born to Japanese parents.  

Hikaru's first English-language album, Precious, was released in 1998 but failed.  Her first Japanese-language album, First Love, was released in 1999 and was a success - 2 million copies sold in the first week in Japan.  First Love became Japan's best-selling album of all time with 6 million more copies sold throughout 1999.

Hikaru's 2001 album, Distance, launched million-selling singles, including - "Addicted to You," "Wait & See (Risk)," and "Can You Keep a Secret?".  The album itself shattered records with 3 million copies sold in Japan alone.  "...fastest-selling album..."

In 2002, Hikaru's album, Deep River, became a top-selling record (of all time in Japan).

Exodus, Ultra Blue, and Heart Station were certified million by the RiAJ (Recording Industry Association of Japan).

Hikaru Utada is considered to be an influential artist in Japan (through the first decade of the 2000's).

Career Success -

A top-selling recording artist in Japan

Over 52 million records sold

12 singles have reached No. 1 on the Oricon Singles Chart

10 albums are chart-toppers

Genres considered - J-pop, R&B, Dance, Electronica, Rock

English Studio Albums -

Precious (1998)

Exodus (2004)

This Is the One (2009)

Japanese Studio Albums -

First Love (1999)

Distance (2001)

Deep River (2002)

Ultra Blue (2006)

Heart Station (2008)

Fantome (2016)

Hatsukoi (2018)

(Source - WIkipedia)

(List of awards received by Utada Hikaru - Wikipedia)

My take away -

I always seem to go as far as UK musicians and bands.  Hikaru Utada is truly a foreign musician with exceptional success and I am sure she will keep going with a long career ahead.