Lilas Ikuta

, known mononymously as Lilas, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She is best known as the vocalist of the duo Yoasobi with producer Ayase, under the stage name Ikura, and a former member of the cover group . Following numerous singles and extended play releases, Ikuta released her debut studio album Sketch in March 2023, which peaked at number four on the Oricon Albums Chart.

Early life and education Lilas Ikuta was born on September 25, 2000, in Tokyo, Japan, and has three older siblings. She moved to Chicago, United States, in 2001, living there until she was three years old. Ikuta learned piano when she attended the first year of elementary school, and then acoustic guitar in sixth grade. She was also a member of the school's music club from third to sixth grade. Ikuta wrote her first song when she was still at elementary school and performed her first concert when she was a middle school student. She told Cinematoday that her wish to become a musician was set when her parents promised to write songs for each other for Valentine's and White Days. She attended College of Art, Nihon University in April 2019, and graduated in March 2023. Ikuta has cited Taylor Swift as her major music influence, as well as Arashi, Ikimonogakari, Radwimps, and Yui. She was influenced by Western music such as songs from Disney, folk, and country music, In 2015, she participated in several casting auditions, including Singin'Japan hosted by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, where she was selected as a finalist. In 2016, she participated in the artist training course, the Lesson, sponsored by Sony Japan and released her demo CD 15 no Omoi. She later became a member of cover group until 2021.

In February 2018, Ikuta made her debut televised appearance at . and in November 2019 through independent label After School. In 2020, Ikuta performed the Japanese version of the end-credit song "Rocket to the Moon" for the animated fantasy film Over the Moon, and released a new single, "Hikari", accompanying Kissme's exhibition Atta Koto Aru no ni, Hajime Mashite.

In 2019, Ikuta was contacted by musician and record producer Ayase, who had seen one of her cover videos on Instagram and asked her if she was willing to start a music project with him and the creative writing social media Monogatary.com, which became the start of the duo Yoasobi. Their debut single "Yoru ni Kakeru", which was released in late 2019, went viral and became a musical success in Japan, beginning Yoasobi's rise to popularity in the Japanese music scene.

2021–2023: Sketch

On March 9, 2021, Ikuta released "Answer" for Tokio Marine & Nichido Life Insurance's Anshin Disability Insurance advertisement. She covered Seiko Matsuda's "Sweet Memories" for Takashi Matsumoto's 50th-anniversary tribute album . Ikuta re-released "Romance no Yakusoku", originally from her EP Jukebox, on August 14, accompanied love reality series . She voiced Hiro-chan in the 2021 animated science fantasy film Belle. Additionally in 2021, Ikuta featured on Fujifabric's "Tarinai Sukunai" from their eleventh studio album , Tomorrow X Together's Japanese version of "0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)" from the group's first Japanese EP Chaotic Wonderland, and Rei's "Hōseki", and collaborated with Milet and Aimer for The First Take "Omokage" to advertise Sony's wireless noise-cancelling headphones. The trio performed "Omokage" at the 73rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31, 2022.

Ikuta's "Sparkle" was released on January 17, 2022, as a theme for the TV program Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita: Mikan-hen and Sotsugyō-hen 2022. She collaborated with hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts and Ayase for the single "Baka Majime", released on March 20. It accompanied the All Night Nippon 55th-anniversary stage Ano Yoru o Oboe Teru. The single "Lens", a theme for the TBS drama , was released on June 14. Ikuta featured on Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's single "Free Free Free", released on July 27. She was in charge of Fuji TV's 2022 FIFA World Cup's theme "Jump", released on November 20. In January 2023, Ikuta released "Tanpopo" for NHK's Drama 10 Ōoku, which preceded her debut studio album Sketch, issued on March 8. The album debuted at number four on the Oricon Albums Chart, and number two on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums.

2023–present: Laugh

Ikuta features on Chiaki Satō's single "Senkō Hanabi" from her third studio album Butterfly Effect (2023), released on June 14, 2023. She released the singles "P.S." for the film 1 Byō Saki no Kare on July 7, and "With" on October 6, inspired by the 2023 film Analog. In 2024, Ikuta voiced the main character Kadode Koyama in the two-part anime film Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, and performed songs for the film—"Zezezezettai Seiiki" (Ano featuring Ikuta), and "Seishun Ōka" (Ikuta featuring Ano). The latter was released on March 20. She participated in Ikimonogakari's compilation album Ikimonogakari Meets, covering the song "Nostalgia", and Ikusaburo Yamazaki's album The Handsome on "Like, Kasaneteiku".

Ikuta released "Humming" on June 1, 2024, which was used as a theme for the morning show Mezamashi Saturday, starting on April 6. Her song "Sign" is used as a theme for horror web series Tōmei na Watashi-tachi, which was available on September 16. Ikuta performed "Shinsekai yori" with Ano for the anime series version of Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction. In 2025, Ikuta performed "Hyakka Ryōran", an opening theme for the second season of The Apothecary Diaries, "Nameless Faces" for video game Honkai: Star Rail in both English and Japanese, "Koikaze", a theme for Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita: New Zealand-hen, "Here, Tomorrow" with Kevin Penkin for MOBA game League of Legends, "Actor", an ending theme for the third season of Spy × Family, and "Voyage", a theme for high school dance competition Love Dance 2026.

Ikuta released her second studio album, titled Laugh, digitally on December 10, 2025, and physically on January 14, 2026. To promote the album, she will embark on a concert tour in May. She sang a song for South Korean television series Surely Tomorrow, titled "Caffe Latte", and collaborated with South Korean rapper Zico for "Duet". The singer performed as a soloist for the first time at the 76th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with "Koikaze". In 2026, Ikuta released the fourth song accompanying Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita, titled "Puzzle", for Daegu Edition. and performed "Stay with Me" for an anime adaptation of fictional character Rilakkuma by Production I.G, which she also provides the narration. Ikuta collaborated with composer Joe Hisaishi on creating and performing the theme song for video game Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.

Endorsements

In September 2025, Ikuta was chosen to be a global ambassador for Coach New York, alongside Elle Fanning and Soyeon.

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, showing selected details, chart positions, and sales Title Details Peak positions Sales JPN JPNCmb. JPNHot Sketch Released: March 8, 2023 Label: Sony Japan Formats: CD, CD+BD, DL, streaming 4 3 2 JPN: 26,841 Laugh Released: December 10, 2025 Label: Echoes, Sony Japan Formats: CD, DL, streaming 6 5 12 JPN: 24,226

Extended plays + List of extended plays, showing selected details Title Details Rerise Released: April 21, 2018 Label: After School Formats: CD Jukebox Released: November 16, 2019 Label: After School Formats: CD, DL, streaming

Demos + List of demos, showing selected details Title Details 15 no Omoi Released: August 26, 2016 Label: After School Formats: CD

Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album JPN JPNCmb. JPNHot "Rocket to the Moon" 2020 — — — — Over the Moon (Music from the Netflix Film) "Hikari" — — — — Sketch "Answer" 2021 — — 96 — RIAJ: Platinum "Sweet Memories" — — — — Take Me to Kazemachi! "Romance no Yakusoku" — — — 61 — "Tanpopo" 2023 — — — — — — "Seishun Ōka" 2024 14 — — — — — Dead Dead Demon's DeDeDeDe Destruction "Hyakka Ryōran" 2025 11 19 25 — — "Stay with Me" — — "Stay with Me" did not enter Billboard Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 47 on the Download Songs. JPNCmb. JPNHot "Tarinai Sukunai" 2021 — — — I Love You "0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)" (Japanese version) — 42 42 Chaotic Wonderland and Sweet "Hōseki" — — — Just Wanna Sing "Free Free Free" 2022 23 — 24 Junk or Gem "Senko Hanabi" 2023 — — 76 Butterfly Effect "Zezezezettai Seiiki" 2024 13 — 45 Bone Born Bomb "Like, Kasaneteiku" — — — The Handsome "Nameless Faces" (English version) 2025 — — — "Nameless Faces" (Japanese version) — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Promotional singles + List of promotional singles, showing year released, and album name Title Year Album "Caffe Latte" (English version) 2025 Lilas X Surely Tomorrow

Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other performing artists, and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Aitai" 2020 Miliyah Kato Inspire: Miliyah Kato Tribute "Inochi no Namae" 2023 Ghibli o Utau "Nostalgia" 2024 Ikimonogakari Ikimonogakari Meets "Yume Miru 16 Sai" 2025 Masayuki Suzuki All Time Doo Wop "Sing Along " Eiko, Shin Count on Me "Time to Luv" PeanutsKun Tele Club II "Perfectos Imperfectos" Pablo Alborán KM0 "Plus rien" Orelsan La fuite en avant "Sekishunka" 2026 Sumika "Honto"

Songwriting and production credits

All song credits are adapted from the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers's database unless stated otherwise.

+ List of songs written by Lilas Ikuta for other artists, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album Song Year Artist Album Lyricist Composer Arranger "Dreamer" 2023 Eiko Dreamer

Filmography Film Title Year Role Note Belle 2021 Hiro-chan (voice) Sukiyaki 2026 Michiyo Azusa

Television series Title Year Role Note Ya Boy Kongming! 2023 Herself Cameo (episode 10)

Television shows Title Year Note Lilas: From Street to Dreams 2026 Documentary Lilas Ikuta Dreams & Memories Travel

Concerts

1st One Man Live: Bouquet (2019) MTV Unplugged: Lilas Ikuta (2022) 1st One Man Tour: Sketch (2023) Laugh Live Tour (2026)

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result AnimaniA Awards 2026 Best Anime Song "In Bloom" Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Best Anime Song Best Ending Sequence "Actor" Fan ga Atsui, Anime Manga Awards 2025 Best Theme Song "Hyakka Ryōran" Japan Expo Awards 2026 Daruma for Best Opening "In Bloom" Daruma for Best Ending "Actor" Japan Record Awards 2025 Grand Prix "Koikaze" Excellent Work Award MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2025 Video of the Year "Zezezezettai Seiiki""Seishun Ōka" Best Collaboration Video (Japan) Music Awards Japan 2026 Best Cross-Over Collaboration Song "Duet"

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement result Publisher Year Listicle Result Forbes Japan 2026 30 Under 30 Japan Placed