Mai Kuraki

A promotional picture for “Relax -What a Wonderful World-“

Quick Facts:

Debut: December, 1999 (Japan) / October, 1999 (US)
Genre: J-Pop / R&B / Anime song
Notable song: “Love, Day After Tomorrow”, “Secret of My Heart”, “Togetsu-kyo -Kimi Omou-“

Profile:

Mai Kuraki is a Japanese singer-songwriter signed to Northern Music, a subsidiary of B-ZONE. She released her U.S. debut single, “Baby I Like,” in October 1999, followed by her Japanese debut single, “Love, Day After Tomorrow,” in December of the same year. The latter debuted at No. 14 on the Oricon chart, later climbing to No. 2 and ultimately selling over 1.4 million copies nationwide.

Kuraki’s R&B-infused J-pop style and the song’s music video drew frequent comparisons to Hikaru Utada, with some critics at the time even accusing her of imitating Utada.

Her debut studio album Delicious Way sold more than 4 million copies and remains one of the best-selling albums in Japanese music history. Her second album Perfect Crime (2001) and third album Fairy Tale (2002) were also major commercial successes, each selling over one million copies nationwide.

Kuraki’s career has been marked by several periods of commercial decline followed by notable comebacks. In 2009, despite having made very few television appearances since her debut, she returned to television promotion and appeared in cosmetic advertisements to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her career. This renewed exposure led to a resurgence in sales, with both albums she released that year topping the charts in Japan.

Her 2017 single “Togetsukyo -Kimi Omou-” became her first major hit in years. In the song, Kuraki drew on elements of gagaku (traditional Japanese court music) blended with J-R&B. The track peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Its success also led to Kuraki’s return to Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 12 years.

To date, Kuraki has released 42 CD singles, all of which have reached the top 10 in Japan—an all-time record among Japanese female artists. Beginning with her third single, “Secret of My Heart”, she has contributed numerous theme songs to the long-running anime series Detective Conan (Case Closed), earning a Guinness World Record for performing the most theme songs for a single television series. This association has helped her establish a loyal and enduring fanbase.

In December 2025, Kuraki released her first B-side compilation album, Mai Kuraki B-Side Best: This Is Our Life, which also achieved commercial success.

Discography:

Albums –