Lilas Ikuta
The crystalline voice behind Yoasobi's global hits, she crafts stories into song, becoming a defining sound of contemporary Japanese pop.
Born 2000 (age 26)·Japanese singer-songwriter·Birthday: September 25·Generation Z
Biography
Lilas Ikuta operates in two distinct musical realms. To the world, she is Ikura, the ethereal vocalist of the chart-dominating duo Yoasobi, where her voice gives flight to producer Ayase's novel-inspired electronic compositions. Songs like 'Idol' and 'Yoru ni Kakeru' showcase her ability to convey profound narrative emotion with startling clarity. Simultaneously, as Lilas, she pursues a more intimate, jazz-inflected solo career, releasing EPs and the album 'Sketch' that reveal a thoughtful singer-songwriter with sophisticated musical instincts. A former member of the cover group Plusonica, her artistic journey reflects a deep, dual commitment: to the massive, story-driven pop anthems of her group work and the personal, nuanced explorations of her own music. She represents a new breed of Japanese artist, equally adept at defining mainstream trends and cultivating a devoted niche audience.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Lilas was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lilas Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Lilas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As Ikura of Yoasobi, performed 'Idol', which set a record for the longest-running number-one single on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
- Her debut solo studio album, 'Sketch', peaked at number four on the Oricon Albums Chart in 2023.
- Provided the singing voice for the character of Belle in the Japanese dub of Disney's 2017 live-action 'Beauty and the Beast'.
Did You Know?
She is a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo College of Music.
She was a member of the cover band Plusonica while still in high school.
Her stage name for Yoasobi, 'Ikura', is derived from the first syllables of her given and family names (Ikuta Lilas).
“A song is a conversation between the story and the listener's heart.”
