Mika Hashizume (Japanese: 橋爪ミカ, Hepburn: Hashizume Mika; born 21 December 1998), known mononymously as Mikah (stylized mikah), is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter and model.
He was a member of the Japanese-American boy group INTERSECTION and was subsequently in the Chinese boy group Into1 after placing fourth in the hit Chinese reality competition program Chuang 2021.
In December 2023, Mikah released his digital EP “bleached” and officially launched his solo career as a singer-songwriter.
Personal life
Mikah was born on 21 December 1998, in Hawaii, to a German father and a Japanese mother. He lived in Hawaii for 16 years, and attended University Laboratory School, a charter school in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.[1] In 2016, Mikah moved to Japan alone after being recruited by a Japanese agency Avex. He attended an international school and continued on to Temple University, Japan Campus in Tokyo, where he also began his music career.
Mikah played soccer from the ages of 9 to 15 and dreamed of becoming a professional player. He won the Hawaii state championship for his age group.
Mikah has also played violin and ukulele from a young age.
Career
In 2017, Mikah became a member of the Japanese-American boy group INTERSECTION. They released their first single in 2017 with "Starting Over" but officially debuted in 2018 with "Heart of Gold".[2]
In December 2018, Mikah released his first solo single "Tell Me". In March 2019, he released his second single "Road Trips".[citation needed]
Mikah and two other members of Intersection took part in the Chinese survival reality program CHUANG 2021.[3] On the final episode, Mikah placed fourth and became a member of the multi-national boy group INTO1.[4]
During his two years of activity with “INTO1”, he released cover songs and singles, such as “Beautiful,” many of which topped various charts.[citation needed]
After being a part of two boy groups in America, Japan, and China, he released his 1st EP, bleached, in December 2023, officially starting his solo singer-songwriter career. In 2024, he released his 2nd EP, Pretty Lies, in all English, and increased his presence as a global artist with his first performance at SUMMER SONIC (Tokyo) as well as the Meta Moon Festival in Dubai. The live performance video of his hit song “so I don’t forget” gained 8 million views on YouTube, establishing it as a long-term hit.[5]
In 2025, starting with a collaboration with 88rising, he will step into the next stage, where he aims for the global music scene.[citation needed]
↑"Intersection がいよいよ始动!デビュー曲「Heart of Gold」のミュージックビデオも公开"[Intersection is finally starting! The music video for the debut song "Heart of Gold" has also been released.]. Barks (in Japanese). 5 October 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"「50億再生を超える、中国最大級の超人気オーディション番組《创造营2021》に 橋爪ミカ、ミッチェル和馬、モリアティー慶怜が出演決定!」"["In China's largest super-popular audition program," Chuang 2021 ", which has over 5 billion plays Mika Hashizume, Kazuma Mitchell, and Caelan Moriarty will appear!]. Intersection (in Japanese). Retrieved February 3, 2021.
↑"创造营男团 Into1 名单公布:刘宇获中心位,赞多力丸分获第二三名"[Produce Camp men's team Into1 list announced: Liu Yu won the center position, Santa and Riki won the second and third place]. QQ (in Chinese). 24 April 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"植萃之力,年轻迸发 娇韵诗联手 Into1 米卡,空降杭州闪亮登陆天猫超级品牌日"[The power of plant extracts, bursting out of youth, Clarins teamed up with Into1 Mika, airborne in Hangzhou and landed on Tmall Super Brand Day]. Elle China (in Chinese). 20 May 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"恭喜米卡成为YSL美妆品牌挚友"[Congratulations to Mika for becoming the brand ambassador of YSL beauty brand]. INF (in Chinese). Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"Into1 米卡代言丸美品牌|米卡廣告代言拍攝植入直播帶貨推薦"[Into1 Mika endorses Marumi brand|Mika advertising endorsement shooting implanted live broadcast recommendation Marumi]. KK News (in Chinese). Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"Red Earth 红地球携全球品牌大使 Into1 米卡 重磅推出「肌」智乳超新星亮彩控油隔离乳"[Red Earth brings global brand ambassador Into1 Mika to launch "Muscle" Supernova Bright Color Oil Control Isolation Lotion]. Elle Men (in Chinese). 31 May 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"米卡新代言官宣米卡正式官宣成为黑人牙膏品牌大使"[Mika's new spokesperson announced that Mika was officially announced as a black toothpaste brand ambassador]. Sina (in Chinese). Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"Urban Revivo 推出丹宁无性别系列,并宣布 Into1 米卡任代言人"[Urban Revivo Launches Denim Gender-Free Collection and Announces Into1 Mika as Spokesperson]. Brandstar (in Chinese). Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"【代言】NARS娜斯宣布国际男团 Into1 成员米卡成为NARS底妆品牌挚友"[[Endorsement] NARS announced that Mika, a member of the international men's group Into1, has become a close friend of the NARS base makeup brand]. PCYSY (in Chinese). Retrieved April 13, 2022.
↑"本季DIESEL新品,@米卡MIKA 同款DZ4631,以亮眼白色硅胶包裹51mm大表盘,线条利落简单,大胆干练。"[This season's DIESEL new product, MIKA of the same model, is wrapped in bright white silicone with a 51mm large dial, with neat and simple lines, bold and capable.]. Sina Weibo (in Chinese). Retrieved July 26, 2023.
↑"与我一起感受 #Bottega Veneta# 的感性与真诚,继续讲述动态的工艺与安静的力量。"[Join me in the sensibility and sincerity of #Bottega Veneta , continuing the story of dynamic craft and quiet power.]. Sina Weibo (in Chinese). Retrieved July 26, 2023.