Hatsune Miku

Created in 2007 in Sapporo by the Japanese company Crypton Future Media, Hatsune Miku refers both to a voicebank for vocal‑synthesis software and to a virtual character depicted as a 16‑year‑old with turquoise hair, illustrated by the artist KEI. Based on recordings by voice actress Saki Fujita, Hatsune Miku’s voice is used by producers of all levels to compose primarily J‑pop, electro‑pop, dance, and rock‑ or EDM‑adjacent styles, often linked to anime aesthetics and otaku cultures. Initially disseminated on Japanese video‑sharing platforms, Hatsune Miku established herself as a central tool in the Vocaloid scene, giving rise to a vast repertoire of songs, remixes, and collaborative projects, in which her bright, synthetic timbre is treated like that of a fully fledged singer. The discography credited to Hatsune Miku includes numerous compilation albums, video‑game soundtracks, and series of musical illustrations, released by various Japanese labels from the late 2000s onward. The character is also at the heart of concerts that employ 3D projection with musicians on stage, first presented in Japan and later internationally, which carry the online circulation of her songs into the live realm and help make this virtual singer a meeting point between amateur creativity, the music industry, and global digital culture.