Mao Sasagawa

Mao Sasagawa is a Japanese singer-songwriter and Vocaloid producer. He started his career releasing Vocaloid music on Nico Nico Douga under the name Tofuya at 17 years old. He switched to the name Nagisa the following year. In 2017, he started releasing music under his real name, mao sasagawa and released his first album, Graduation in 2018. Later that year, he started releasing music with his own voice, under his real name and released his first major album, New Body in 2019. Since then, he has released two more albums, Welcome to Sunnyside in 2023 and Strange Pop in 2025.
Alongside his own activities, he also frequently works on music for other artists, most prominently, Rim from Kamitsubaki Studio.

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Early life

Mao Sasagawa was born on November 25, 1995, in Kita-ku, Niigata in Niigata Prefecture. He became interested in music after listening to Ling Tosite Sigure in High school, and started producing music on the Nintendo DS app Daigasso! Band Brothers. He claims he wasn't interested in Vocaloid music at first. "To be honest, I didn't like Vocaloid at first, but then I heard a song by someone called saiB and thought, "Maybe it's not so bad," so that was my starting point."

Career

Sasagawa started releasing music in 2012, at 16 years old, under the name Tofuya. In August 2013, he changed to the name Nagisa and released his first mini-album End-roll ha Owaranai. The CD was sold at that year's Niigata Comic Summit. He released his second mini-album, Kyoumei in November.
He joined his University's light music club and remained active there. He also performed live in Niigata under the name Bungaku Shoujo. In July 2017, he changed to the name mao sasagawa and released his first single, "Hakidasu". In June 2018, he released his first studio album, Graduation. Sasagawa explained that the album's title was based on his graduation, or departure from the Vocaloid scene. Around the same year, he started producing music for other artists, such as the idol group cana÷biss. In May 2019, he released his first single with his own voice, "Mammy" / "From The New World", under his real name Mao Sasagawa. Sasagawa was chosen for Apple Music Japan's "This week's New Artist" and in June, his next single, "Sex&Food", was chosen as the first song for Spotify Japan's June 2019 Early Noise playlist. In September of the same year, he released his first major album, New Body. Sasagawa explained that the album's title and themes were based on the new freedom he experienced as a singer-songwriter:

"I wanted to do something new, and I wanted to be well-received by the listeners. I was blind, as if my purpose and means had been mixed up, and I was making songs chasing after someone I couldn't see. But I thought I'd stop doing that. It doesn't have to be new, I'll just do what I like... It's a common thing, but I thought, "What's the point of making something I don't like?" So this time, I just wanted to make songs I like."

In December, he wrote the song "You and Me" for Japanese singer and virtual YouTuber Rim. Since then, he has been active as her primary composer. In August 2021, he released the single "Stranger" and in 2022, he released his own cover version of "Carnivorous Plant". In 2023, he released his second album Welcome to Sunnyside. The CD included three additional cover versions of his Vocaloid songs, "sasayaku", "for lust" and "Freud".
In March 2025, he announced his third album, Strange Pop, which was released on April 16. It is his first release in two and a half years, and includes special appearances from virtual YouTuber Kaf, and guitarist Kimishima Ohzora. Two weeks later, he released the first single from the album, "Thus Scorched". He also directed the song's music video. Sasagawa described the album as an ambitious experimental work that "goes beyond hyperpop and explodes with more alternatives."

Personal life

Sasagawa studied at the Niigata University of Health and Welfare, but dropped out after deciding to make a living as a music producer. He moved to Tokyo, and lived with fellow musician and former Vocaloid producer Tatsuya Kitani, who he is close friends with, until 2020.

Artistry

Sasagawa works from home. For his first album, everything from lyrics, composition, arrangement, recordings and artwork was handled by himself. He uses the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Studio One.
He considers Shuntarō Tanikawa a massive influence in his songwriting and lyrics. His style of whispery vocals, popularized by American singer Billie Eilish, was inspired by Japanese musician TK (Toru Kitajima).

Discography

EPs

As mao sasagawa (2018–2019)

Notes:

kokyu was released as a free download EP. Sasagawa says he "made it on a whim."
Cerberus is a collaboration EP with Vocaloid producer Mel.

Singles

As Mao Sasagawa (2019–present)

Notes:

English/Romanized titles obtained from Sasagawa's official YouTube channel and Apple Music.April is a self-cover for the song of the same name, from his 2018 Vocaloid album Graduation.