Mika Nakashima

Mika Nakashima, born on 19 February 1983 in Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, is a Japanese jazz and J-pop singer and actor. From a young age, she aspired to become a famous singer and actress. At the age of 17, her demo tape secured her an audition opportunity with Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ), leading to her debut as a singer in November 2001 with "Stars", the theme song for the TV series Kizudakare no Love Song. Her second single, "CRESCENT MOON", was released in February 2002 with her debut album, MUSIC, following in March 2005 and reaching number one on the Oricon charts. Her breakthrough role as Nana Ōsaki in the film NANA (2005) marked a significant shift in her musical direction, with the chart-topping rock/punk single "GLAMOROUS SKY", produced by Hyde of L'Arc~en~Ciel, becoming one of the best-selling singles of that year. Her acting career also flourished with roles in television series and films such as Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike and Guuzen Nimo Saiaku na Shounen. Throughout her career, she has released numerous successful albums and singles, including YES (2007), VOICE (2008), and I (2021). Her contributions to music have earned her multiple awards, including the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist in 2002. She released a new single, "NANPASEN", in 2025.