Utada Hikaru is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter known for her influential role in the J-Pop genre. Born on January 19, 1983, in New York City, she gained fame in the late 1990s with her debut album, First Love, which became one of the best-selling albums in Japan's history. Her music often blends pop, R&B, and electronic elements, showcasing her unique vocal style and songwriting skills. Utada is also recognized for her contributions to video game soundtracks, particularly for the Kingdom Hearts series, where her song "Simple and Clean" became iconic among fans.