Lilas Ikuta

• Name — Lilas Ikuta • Other Names — * Ikura • Lilas • Born — 25 September 2000 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Japan • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • Education — Nihon University • Agent — * Echoes • Creative Artists Agency born September 25, 2000, 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 Plusonica. 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.

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. She learned piano in the first year of elementary school, 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. As of 2026, she is currently studying abroad in New York City, United States.

Ikuta began her music career by performing on the streets and small venues with a guitar at the age of 14, as well as uploading her music and covers on YouTube. 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 Plusonica until 2021. In February 2018, Ikuta made her debut televised appearance at Kon'ya, Tanjō! Ongaku Champ. She released her first two extended plays Rerise in April 2018, and Jukebox (Lilas Ikuta EP) 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.

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 Take Me to Kazemachi!. Ikuta re-released "Romance no Yakusoku", originally from her EP Jukebox, on August 14, accompanied love reality series Kyō, Suki ni Narimashita: Himawari-hen. 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 I Love You (Fujifabric 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 Jizoku Kanō na Koi desu ka?: Chichi to Ko no Kekkon Kōshin Kyoku, 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.

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.

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, as well as Japanese R&B and hip-hop. Ikuta's lyrics are mostly about daily life, dream, and love, reflecting her "fragile heart".

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

List of studio albums, showing selected details, chart positions, and sales • Title — Details — Peak positions — Sales • JPN — JPN Cmb. — JPN Hot • 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

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

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

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name • Title — Year — Peak positions — Certifications — Album • JPN — JPN Cmb. — JPN Hot — KOR • "Rocket to the Moon" — 2020 — — — — — — — — — Over the Moon (Music from the Netflix Film) • "Hikari" — — — — — — — — — Sketch • "Answer" — 2021 — — — — — 96 — — — * RIAJ: Platinum (st. streaming) • "Sweet Memories" — — — — — — — — — Take Me to Kazemachi! • "Romance no Yakusoku" — — — — — — — — — * RIAJ: Gold (st. streaming) — Jukebox and Sketch • "Omokage" (with Milet and Aimer) — — — 27 — 11 — — — * RIAJ: Platinum (st. streaming) • "Sparkle" — 2022 — — — 26 — 35 — — — * RIAJ: 2× Platinum (st. streaming) — Sketch • "Baka Majime" (with Creepy Nuts and Ayase) — — — 50 — 38 — — — * RIAJ: Platinum (st. streaming) — Ensemble Play • "Lens" — — — 24 — 12 — — — * RIAJ: Gold (st. streaming) — Sketch • "Jump" — — — — — 61 — — • "Tanpopo" — 2023 — — — — — — — — • "P.S." — — — — — — — — — Laugh • "With" — — — — — — — — • "Seishun Ōka" (featuring Ano) — 2024 — 14 — — — — — — • "Humming" — — — — — — — — • "Sign" — — — — — — — — • "Shinsekai yori" (with Ano) — — — — — — — — — Dead Dead Demon's DeDeDeDe Destruction • "Hyakka Ryōran" — 2025 — 11 — 19 — 25 — — — * RIAJ: Gold (st. streaming) — Laugh • "Dreamer" — — — — — — — — • "Koikaze" — — — 21 — 19 — — — * RIAJ: Platinum (st. streaming) • "Here, Tomorrow" (with Kevin Penkin) — — — — — — — — • "Actor" — 18 — — — — — — • "Voyage" — — — — — — — — • "Duet" (with Zico) — — — — — 64 — 39 — rowspan="3" • "Puzzle" — 2026 — — — — — 57 — — • "Stay with Me" — — — — — — — — • "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

List of singles as featured artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name • Title — Year — Peak positions — Album • JPN — JPN Cmb. — JPN Hot • "Tarinai Sukunai" (Fujifabric featuring Lilas Ikuta) — 2021 — — — — — — — I Love You • "0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)" (Japanese version) (Tomorrow X Together featuring Lilas Ikuta) — — — 42 — 42 — Chaotic Wonderland and Sweet • "Hōseki" (Rei featuring Lilas Ikuta) — — — — — — — Just Wanna Sing • "Free Free Free" (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra featuring Lilas Ikuta) — 2022 — 23 — — — 24 — Junk or Gem • "Senko Hanabi" (Chiaki Satō featuring Lilas Ikuta) — 2023 — — — — — 76 — Butterfly Effect • "Zezezezettai Seiiki" (Ano featuring Lilas Ikuta) — 2024 — 13 — — — 45 — Bone Born Bomb • "Like, Kasaneteiku" (Ikusaburo Yamazaki featuring Lilas Ikuta) — — — — — — — The Handsome • "Nameless Faces" (English version) (HoYo-Mix featuring Lilas Ikuta) — 2025 — — — — — — — rowspan="2" • "Nameless Faces" (Japanese version) (HoYoFair featuring Lilas Ikuta) — — — — — — • "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

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

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"

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

• Title — Year — Role — Note • Ya Boy Kongming! — 2023 — Herself — Cameo (episode 10)

• Title — Year — Note • Lilas: From Street to Dreams — 2026 — Documentary • Lilas Ikuta Dreams & Memories — Travel

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

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