May J.

Mei Jamileh Hashimoto ( Hashimoto Mei, ; born June 20, 1988) better known by her stage name May J., is a Japanese pop and R&B singer who made her major label debut under Sony Music Japan on July 12, 2006, with her first mini-album All My Girls. She was born to an Iranian mother and Japanese father. She is fluent in four languages, including Persian, Japanese, English and Spanish.

May J.'s Iranian mother refused to acknowledge her Persian roots due to perceived negativity towards Iranians in Japan and May J. grew up forbidden to speak the Persian language. Believing she was American, she discovered her true heritage on a chance overhearing of a conversation between her mother and grandmother.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Neosite Discs, the single "I Say Yeah!" was released on October 4, 2006, as a collaboration by all 5 of the label's signed artists. The single marked May J.'s first appearance in the Oricon top 10.

May J. performed as the opening act for American R&B singer Cassie alongside Rōma Tanaka at Cassie's concert at Shibuya O-EAST on November 28, 2006. December 20, 2006, saw May J.'s first solo single release when "Here We Go feat. Verbal (M-Flo)" dropped and charted at #70 on the weekly charts.

Her follow-up single, "Dear…" was released on May 30, 2006, and was unlike most of her previous work. Despite the ballad being much more Japanese-friendly than her debut, the single charted at just #90. May J. was then featured on Hip-Hop artist Zeebra's new album World of Music on the track "Shinin' Like a Diamond". In October, it was announced that May J. would be releasing her 3rd single, "Do tha' Do tha'" on November 21, followed shortly by her first full-length studio album, Baby Girl on December 5.

In October 2008, she became the co-host of NHK's English-language weekly music program J-Melo, with Shanti Snyder, going out to 180 countries via NHK World. She became sole host in March 2010 and stayed as the host through March 2026.

2009–present: Rise to prominence On March 6, 2009, label Rhythm Zone opened a new official site for May J. confirming that she had left Sony to join the Avex imprint. On the May 23, 2009, her second album Family was announced, featuring the single Garden (featuring DJ Kaori, Diggy-MO', クレンチ＆ブリスタ). The album charted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.

Her third full album titled For You was released on February 17, 2010. Her first solo live tour, lasting ten weeks and including 40 shows followed, culminating at Tokyo's Shibuya AX venue on May 23, 2010. In 2018, she performed the song live in the finale of the touring ice show Fantasy on Ice in Makuhari and Kanazawa.

May J. has appeared on the variety show Kanjani8 no Shiwake Eight since 2012, as part of a karaoke contest segment, winning 26 straight contests before losing to Sarah Àlainn with the Idina Menzel version of "Let It Go", on the May 3, 2014, edition.

Personal life On June 20, 2022, May J. announced that she has married actor Shogen. On May 13, 2023, May J announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child. May J. announced on March 16, 2023, through a post on Instagram that she had given birth to her first child. The specific date of birth of the child was not disclosed.

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales Album information Chart position First week sales (Oricon) Copies sold (Oricon) JPN Baby Girl Released: December 5, 2007504,11012,078Family Released: May 27, 2009426,66294,848For You Released: February 17, 2010910,97630,334Colors Released: January 26, 2011234,5478,243Secret Diary Released: January 25, 2012353,1055,140Brave Released: December 5, 2012572,5853,331Imperfection Released: October 1, 2014316,79939,917Futuristic Released: October 25, 2017243,1283,984Silver Lining Released: December 8, 202154Bittersweet Song Covers Released: November 9, 2022391,130

Singles "×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.

Extended plays Album # Album information Chart position Debut Week Sales (Oricon) Sold Copies (Oricon) JPN1st"All My Girls " Released: July 12, 2006852,0979,4322nd"Believin'... " Released: November 24, 2010422,8194,4243rd"Love Ballad" Released: October 23, 2013618,77350,5994th"Christmas Songs" Released: November 16, 2016224,283 7,551

Best albums Album # Album information Chart position Debut Week Sales (Oricon) Sold Copies (Oricon) JPN1st"With ~Best Collaboration Non-Stop DJ Mix~" (Collaboration Mix Album) Released: April 27, 2011952nd"Don't Stop! Summer Best!" (Rental Album) Released: August 8, 2012710,68462,4093rd"May J. Best - Selected Edition -" (iTunes Exclusive Digital Album) Released: January 30, 2013—4th"May J. BEST -7 Years Collection-" Released: February 6, 2013137,93544,3495th"Selected Ballads"(Digital Album) Released: August 21, 2013—6th"Ballad Best '09~'13"(Rental Album) Released: September 27, 2013—7th"mu-mo Gentai May J. 2013 Summer Best 3"(mumo Exclusive Digital Album) Released: September 30, 2013—8th"mu-mo Gentei ☆May J. 2013 SUMMER BEST 6"(mumo Exclusive Digital Album) Released: September 30, 2013—9th"May J. W BEST -Original & Covers-" Released: January 1, 2015710,68462,40910th"Best of Duets" Released: March 29, 2017302,839 3,51911th"May J. W BEST 2 -Original & Covers-" Released: January 1, 202184

Cover albums Album # Album information Chart position Debut Week Sales (Oricon) Sold Copies (Oricon) JPN1st"Summer Ballad Covers" Released: June 19, 2013446,418203,1862nd"Heartful Song Covers" Released: March 26, 2014229,375245,4733rd"May J. sings Disney" Released: November 4, 201569,00622,9814th"Sweet Song Covers" Released: March 16, 201668,16815,0375th"Cinema Song Covers"(Standart Album, English Album and Instrumental Album) Released: July 25, 2018296th"Heisei Love Song Covers Supported by DAM"(Standart Version and Karaoke Version) Released: April 17, 201924

Live albums Album # Album information Chart position Debut Week Sales (Oricon) Sold Copies (Oricon) JPN1st"May J. Live Autumn Tour 2013 ~Best & Covers~"(Rental Album) Released: July 2, 2014—2nd"Budokan Live 2015 ~Live to the Future~"(Rental Album) Released: March 30, 2016—3rd"10th Anniversary Tour 2016 @ Nakano Sun Plaza 2016.7.3" (Fanclub Limited Album) Released: October 25, 2017—4th"10th Anniversary Grand Finale ~The Request Live~ @ Orchard Hall 2016.10.9" (Fanclub Limited Album) Released: October 25, 2017—5th"Tour 2017 ~ME, MYSELF & OUR MUSIC~ "Futuristic" @ Hitomi Kinen Koudou 2017.7.3" (Fanclub Limited Album) Released: October 25, 2017—6th"Billboard Classics May J. Premium Concert 2017 ~Me, Myself & Orchestra~" (Digital Album) Released: July 25, 2018—

Video albums Album # Album information Chart position Debut Week Sales (Oricon) Sold Copies (Oricon) JPN1st"Baby Girl Clips"(PV collection DVD) Released: January 30, 20082972nd"Budokan Live 2015 ~Live to the Future~" Released: August 19, 2015283rd"May J. BEST LIVE DVD BOOK" Released: June 7, 2018—

As featured artist May 27, 2009 - "Unchain my Heart" by WISE feat. May J. (in album Love Quest) December 15, 2010 - "HeartBeat" by TARO SOUL & KEN THE 390 feat. May J. (in album So Much Soul) May 16, 2012 - "REBIRTH-DAY SONG" by Demon Kakka feat. May J. (in album MYTHOLOGY) October 24, 2012 - "who.am.i.?" by Bentley Jones feat. May J. and Curtis Young (in album UPGRADE 1.0) March 12, 2013 - "Sweet Spot" by Flo Rida featuring May J. November 27, 2015 - "北極星" by Show Luo - 羅志祥 feat. May J. - 橋本芽生 April 2017 - Jun. K (from 2PM) - 私たちの別れた話 (Duet with May J.)