Lilas Ikuta


Lilas Ikuta, 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. 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.
WWW Official Site𝕏 ikutalilasYT UCztEY6czNyJKjRWMwuur9bg

Early life and education

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. Ikuta learned piano when she attended the first year of elementary school, and 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. 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.

Career

2015–2020: Early career and Yoasobi

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 until 2021.
In February 2018, Ikuta made her debut televised appearance at '. She released her first two extended plays Rerise in April 2018, and ' 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.

2021–2023: ''Sketch''

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 '. Ikuta re-released "Romance no Yakusoku", originally from her EP Jukebox, on August 14, accompanied love reality series '. 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 ', Tomorrow X Together's Japanese version of "0X1=Lovesong " 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 ', 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 , 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.

2023–present: ''Laugh''

Ikuta features on Chiaki Satō's single "Senkō Hanabi" from her third studio album Butterfly Effect, 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", and "Seishun Ōka". 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 "Stay with Me" for an anime adaptation of fictional character Rilakkuma by Production I.G, and "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.

Endorsements

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

Discography

Songwriting and production credits

All song credits are adapted from the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers's database unless stated otherwise.
SongYearArtistAlbumLyricistComposerArranger
"Dreamer"2023EikoDreamer

Concerts