May'n

, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer from Nagoya. Aspiring to become a singer since childhood, she began her music activities in 2003 upon passing an audition held by talent agency Horipro International. She made her major debut in 2005 under the Universal Music label with the release of her first single "Crazy Crazy Crazy". She would release two more singles under Universal Music, before transferring to Victor Entertainment in 2008. That same year, she had her break as the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome in the anime series Macross Frontier.

May'n's musical style varies in genre, ranging from pop and rock, to dance music and R&B. Her music has been featured in anime series such as Macross Frontier, Aria the Scarlet Ammo, Accel World, Aquarion Logos, and Restaurant to Another World. She has also performed at several music events in Japan, Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2013, she represented Japan at the ABU TV Song Festival in Vietnam.

Early life and childhood Nakabayashi was born in Nagoya on October 21, 1989. She had become interested in music at an early age, and had been singing at least since she was three years old.

Career Nakabayashi debuted under the Universal Music Japan label with the release of her first single "Crazy Crazy Crazy" on April 27, 2005; This was followed by the release of the digital single "Happy" in December of that year.

Nakabayashi transferred to Victor Entertainment in 2008 and began using the stage name May'n. That same year, she gained popularity after being cast as the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome in the anime television series Macross Frontier. She then gave her first live performance outside Japan in Singapore at Anime Festival Asia in November of that year. She has since become a regular guest at this event as well, also appearing at its iterations in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

In January 2009, May'n released the mini-album May'n Street, which reached number 2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart in its first week. In March of the same year, she held her first tour of Asia, with concerts in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. This was followed in July by a 17-city summer tour of Japan. She released her second album Cosmic Cuune in November 2010 as her character Sheryl Nome. In February 2011, she released her 3D live documentary movie May'n The Movie: Phonic Nation, and later that month released her third album If you..., which made number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Chart. In March of that year, she held her second solo Budokan concert. She then made an appearance at Japan Expo in Paris. She also sang the song "Mr. Super Future Star", which was used as the theme song for the Capcom game E.X. Troopers.

In 2011 and 2012, May'n collaborated with music artist Daisuke Asakura for the singles "Scarlet Ballet", which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Aria the Scarlet Ammo, and "Chase the world", which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Accel World. She released her fourth album Heat on March 21, 2012. She represented Japan in October 2013 at the ABU TV Song Festival 2013 in Hanoi, Vietnam with her single "Vivid". She was scheduled to make an appearance at Animax Carnival Philippines in December 2013, but the event was cancelled as a result of the effects of Typhoon Haiyan. She then returned to the United States with a solo concert in San Francisco and a performance at Union Square for J-Pop Summit Festival 2014.

May'n performed "Yamaidare darlin'", which was used as the first opening theme to the 2015 anime television series Aquarion Logos, and later performed the songs "Yoake no Logos", which was used as the second opening theme to Aquarion Logos, and the series' second ending theme "Hontō no Koe wo Anata ni Azuketakute", which was performed with Haruka Chisuga. She released her fifth album Powers of Voice on September 7, 2015. She would also make an appearance at Animax Carnival Malaysia in March of that year. In 2016, she performed the song "Belief", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Taboo Tattoo. She performed the song "Hikari Aru Basho e", which is used as the ending theme to the 2016 anime television series Izetta: The Last Witch. She also appeared at Animax Carnival Philippines in October of that year.

In 2017, May'n collaborated with idol unit Wake Up, Girls! in performing the song "One in a Billion", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Restaurant to Another World. She made an appearance at Illinois' Anime Central event in May, and she also appeared at Anime Festival Asia Indonesia in August as a replacement for singer Ami Wajima, who had cancelled her appearance for health reasons. She released her sixth album Peace of Smile on October 30, 2017. She returned to Singapore in March 2018 for the anime event Anime Garden, and she appeared at the Anisong World Matsuri event in Los Angeles in July of that year. In September 2018, May'n and Megumi Nakajima, who played the role of Ranka Lee in Macross Frontier, released the single "Good job!"; it was their first Macross-related single in seven years. She released an album titled Yell!! and a single titled on July 31, 2019, which was used as the ending theme to the anime series Kochoki: Wakaki Nobunaga. She appeared at Cosplay Mania in the Philippines in September 2019.

In 2022, May'n became a part of the mixed-media project D4DJ, voicing the role of Neo of the in-universe group Abyssmare.

In 2026, May'n released "Love is the Strongest", the ending theme of the TV Asahi tokusatsu series Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity.

Musical style and influences May'n's musical style varies in genre, ranging from pop and rock, to dance music and R&B, She also cites her relationship with composer Yoko Kanno as a major factor in her career.

In interviews with Anime News Network, May'n discussed her performance style and her experiences working with composers such as Kanno and Daisuke Asakura. She stated that her initial preferred genres were R&B and dance music, but collaborating with Kanno made her realize that her voice fit rock songs more. Whenever she performs theme songs for anime, she would try to "feel each character's heart." May'n also explained the reason for her stage name. She stated that she began using the name "May'n" when she started performing songs for anime series, and that the name was a play on the English word "main", as she wanted her songs to be seen as "main themes" to her audiences, and for her fans to consider her their "main singer".

Personal life On December 28, 2025, May'n announced her marriage to guitarist Takashi Nakagawa.

Discography

Albums Released asYearTitleOricon chart positionRef. Daily/weekly peak WeeksSales May'n 2009Styles Label: Victor Entertainment (VTZL-11; VTCL-60190) Released: November 25, 20093/71036,611 Sheryl Nomestarring May'n 2010Cosmic Cuune Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-60230) Released: November 24, 20105/61049,663 May'n 2011If You... Label: Victor Entertainment Released: February 23, 20117/7828,493 May'n 2017Peace of Smile Label: Victor Entertainment Released: October 18, 2017?/134? May'n 2024Prismverse Label: Victor Entertainment Released: February, 14, 2024 Sheryl Nomestarring May'n Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-60177) Released: November 25, 20092/316101,599

Singles Released asYearTitleOricon chart positionAlbumTheme song featured inRef.Daily/weekly peakWeeksSalesMay Nakabayashi2005"Crazy Crazy Crazy" Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5012) Released: April 27, 2005; June 1, 2005 (re-release)——— "Sympathy" Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5018) Released: August 3, 2005———— 2006"Fallin' in or Not" feat. SEAMO Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5039) Released: September 27, 20061591544 Love Get Chu: Miracle Voice Actress Hakusho Sheryl Nomestarring May'n2008 Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35025) Released: May 8, 20082/227108,504 —Macross Frontier Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35033) Released: August 20, 20082/319123,900 May'n Street May'n2009 Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35070) Released: May 6, 20095/101420,671 Styles Shangri-La Sheryl Nomestarring May'n"Pink Monsoon" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35088) Released: October 21, 20092/5938,703 Universal Bunny Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime May'n2010"Ready Go!" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35093 ) Released: July 28, 201011/21813,292If You... Ōkami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35101) Released: October 13, 201012/1448,513 Injitemiru 7-nichikan no Death Game 2011"Scarlet Ballet" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35106) Released: May 11, 20119/111024,435Heat Aria the Scarlet Ammo "Brain Diver" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35116) Released: November 2, 201116/1868,320 Phi Brain: Puzzle of God May'n 2012"Chase the world" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35135) Released: May 9, 20125/71333,556— Accel World May'n2013"Run Real Run" w/ "アウトサイダー" (Outsider) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35150) Released: May 8, 201310/2034,825 Real Onigokko The Origin / Onimusha Soul "Vivid" w/ "ワイルドローズ" (Wild Rose) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35155) Release Date: July 24, 201315/1957,876— Blood Lad/Ikenie no Dilemma May'n2014 Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-VTCL-35170) Released: January 29, 2014——— Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha "Re:REMEMBER" w/ "誰がために" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTZL-81) Release Date: June 18, 2014———— M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane May'n2017"Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to" Release Date: May 31, 2017———— Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers May'n 2018"You" Release date: February 7, 2018——— — The Ancient Magus' Bride 2019 Release date: July 31, 201930 2— — Kochoki: Wakaki Nobunaga "Graphite/Diamond" Release date: November 20, 201918 8— — Azur Lane (Anime)

Digital singles Year Title Theme song featured in 2005"Happy" Released: December 11, 2005 2007 Released: January 31, 2007 2009"My Teens, My Tears" Released: October 21, 2009 2009"Grand Piano" Released: November 25, 2009 2010 Released: May 12, 2010 Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi 2012 Released: October 11, 2012 Btooom! 2012"Mr. Super Future Star"

Collaborations