Miyuna’s melancholic vocal register and sharp-truthed lyricism have struck a chord with listeners well beyond her years. Now, she’s set to make her UK debut at HYPER JAPAN Manchester 2025.
Born in Miyazaki prefecture in 2002, Miyuna began writing songs in her early teens after stepping away from school, finding in music a way to articulate thoughts she couldn’t express aloud. She made her full-scale debut in 2018 and, at 17, became one of the youngest performers at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL. Her early works ‘Gamushara’ and ‘Tenjou Tenge’ reached international audiences through the anime Black Clover, while ‘Boku to Kimi no Lullaby’ for Fairy Tail further cemented her as one of Japan’s most distinctive young voices.
Her latest single ‘TOMODAMASHI’, written for Prime Video’s Can You Summon 100 Friends?, reflects the show’s uneasy look at friendship and authenticity in a world that often feels like a performance.
Ahead of her first UK appearance at HYPER JAPAN Manchester 2025 on November 16th, Miyuna spoke with Electric Bloom Webzine about the beginnings of her songwriting, the importance of creating emotional refuge through music, and what she hopes to share with fans in the UK.
For UK listeners seeing you for the first time, what kind of atmosphere do you want to create on stage, and what do you hope they take away from your performance?
I think this event will bring together many people who love Japan or are interested in Japanese culture. Among them, there will probably be many anime and manga fans too. Since I’ve had the opportunity to perform theme songs for anime in the past, I’d like to create a stage where everyone can feel even a little of the charm of Japanese music. For those hearing my music for the first time, I want to sing with all my heart so that my feelings reach them directly.
You started writing songs as a teenager and even played FUJI ROCK at 17. What pushed you to take music seriously so young?
When I was in primary school, I was bullied, and by my second year of junior high school, I stopped going to school. I tried my best to go back, but whenever I did, I found it hard to breathe and couldn’t stop worrying about how people saw me, so I couldn’t keep going.
Around that time, I began writing down my feelings on the back of test papers and showing them to my mother. One day, she suddenly brought home a guitar for me, and as I practiced every day, original songs naturally started to come out of me. That’s how my journey with music began.
At first, music was something I started as a form of escape. But now, I hope the songs I create can stay close to people who are struggling so much that they want to run away, or who blame themselves for doing so, or who are still trying their best to move forward.
Many of your songs were born from tough emotions. What helps you turn those feelings into stories that other people can hold?
Somewhere inside me, there’s a wish that people who listen to my music won’t blame themselves.
When I write songs, I focus on the emotion and passion of that exact moment, so I’m not always conscious of a specific theme, but for me, the “main character” is always the listener.
That’s why I don’t want them to feel like they have to punish or push themselves too hard. I keep that feeling in mind as I write my lyrics.
Music video for Miyuna’s 2025 single ‘TOMODAMASHI’, theme song for Amazon Prime Video’s Can You Summon 100 Friends?
You often write from a character’s point of view rather than your own. What draws you to that approach, and how do those characters appear to you?
I’ve always found it difficult, and a little embarrassing, to express my true feelings honestly. That’s why, at first, creating characters allowed me to entrust my anger and sadness to someone imaginary, and that became the starting point for how I express myself.
I’ve always loved telling stories, so turning my own emotions into someone else’s story felt very natural to me.
When I write songs, certain words or phrases come to mind first. Then I start thinking, “If this is the mood, maybe this kind of character would fit”. From there, the characters just start appearing naturally. As I imagine their backgrounds and emotions, I often realize that my own feelings are reflected through them without even noticing.
Your songs have connected with anime and drama audiences (Black Clover, Fairy Tail, Octo). When someone discovers you through a story on screen, what do you hope they notice when they come to your own world of songs?
As I mentioned earlier, I see the listener as the “main character.” So no matter what emotions or impressions someone has when they listen to my songs, I believe they’re all correct.
What makes me happiest is when people look forward to hearing my new songs—that’s when I truly feel that my music has reached them.
Music video for Miyuna’s 2018 single ‘Gamushara’, the 5th opening for Black Clover.
You’ve just begun performing overseas as well. What surprised you about meeting fans outside Japan, and what do you want to bring to the UK stage at HYPER JAPAN?
I was really surprised when Japanese fans came to see me at shows outside Japan. Knowing that there are people supporting me even in countries I haven’t been to yet makes me feel so happy and truly grateful.
This time, I want to do my best to share the beauty of Japanese music with everyone in the beautiful city of London.
When you’re on tour, what is one small thing that makes you feel comfortable or “at home” in a new place?
One moment that really left an impression on me during my overseas shows was when I heard Japanese being spoken from the audience.
When people call out things like “Kakkoii!” or “Kawaii!” in Japanese, all my tension melts away, and I suddenly feel at ease (laughs).
It means so much to me, because I can tell they worked hard to learn those words just to share their feelings, and that makes me really happy.
Finally, what message would you like to say to listeners in the UK who are looking forward to seeing you perform for the first time?
In such a vast world, the fact that you and I can meet in the UK feels like something beyond a miracle.
Even for people who don’t know me yet, and even for those I might just pass by on the street, this moment itself feels like a miracle, so I want to sing with that feeling in my heart, and make sure it reaches everyone.
It will be my first time visiting the UK, so I’m also really looking forward to sightseeing (laughs). I want to etch this experience into my heart.
Miyuna will perform live at HYPER JAPAN Manchester 2025 on Sunday, November 16th, from 12:30 to 13:30. Fans will also have the chance to meet her in person during an autograph session at 14:00 the same day.
Miyuna
TOMODAMASHI
Release Date: 01/08/2025
Label: A.S.A.B
Stream: Links
