Discover Haru Igarashi (五十嵐ハル)
Haru Igarashi (五十嵐ハル) is an artist on the rise. With a growing following on TikTok and Instagram, he’s one of Japan’s internet musicians who is breaking into the mainstream music scene.
This article answers frequently asked questions about the Japanese singer Haru Igarashi.
Table of Contents
Who is Haru Igarashi?
Haru Igarashi, also known as 五十嵐ハル, is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He gained prominence in the music industry by sharing his original songs across various social media platforms.
Known as a multi-talented artist, he is involved in the song creation, production, arrangement, music video production, and even illustrations (including his profile image). A former police officer, he quit his job to pursue his passion for music.
Known for his straightforward and critical lyrical style, Igarashi’s music often touches on navigating difficult times in life. He hopes to connect with his listeners, sharing that he writes “lyrics that express things like ‘there are unpleasant things, right?’ or ‘life is tough, but we have to keep going.’”
“…Life is tough, but we have to keep going.”
Haru Igarashi
Igarashi’s relatability has contributed to his growing fanbase, whose painfully honest lyrics provide a combined sense of comfort and hope. As one Billboard JAPAN article notes, Igarashi “sings as if it were speaking on behalf of everyone…who live each day painfully and with difficulty, but still give their all to live in the present moment.”
In the face of life’s challenges, Igarashi’s music encourages many to find the strength to move forward.
Where was Haru Igarashi born?
Igarashi was born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
When did Haru Igarashi begin making music?
Haru Igarashi began making music during his third year of high school after his band decided to break up. He started using DTM music software to create his songs.
Is Haru Igarashi a Vocaloid producer?
Igarashi initially began sharing music online as a Vocaloid producer under the name “pemu,” hoping that the two-letter hiragana name would align with the popular trends of the time. Soon after, he found himself getting embarrassed about his cute-sounding name.
It wasn’t until late 2020, when he started singing his songs, that he adopted his current artist name.
What is the origin of Haru Igarashi’s name?
Igarashi uses a name that is slightly different from his actual name. “Haru,” comes from the name of his favorite ramen shop, and “Igarashi” is his real last name. He decided to use his actual last name because he likes it and it is frequently mentioned on television as a popular surname.
Igarashi updated his artist name alongside releasing his song “Ao”(青) in November 2020.
Has Haru Igarashi revealed his face?
Igarashi has not publicly revealed his face.
This decision to adopt a “faceless” artist persona is quite common among many of Japan’s top artists—especially to those who have started their music careers in the Vocaloid scene. The motivations for maintaining anonymity can differ or remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, many artists discover innovative ways to engage with their fanbase, both on and offline.
Igarashi is active on social media, using various methods to conceal his face when posting videos on his platforms. He’s also accepted various media appearances and interviews.
What is Haru Igarashi’s real name?
Like most of his personal information, Igarashi’s full real name has not been publicly disclosed.
When was Haru Igarashi a police officer?
Igarashi became a police officer after graduating from high school. While he initially planned to attend university, his grades dropped after he started skipping classes, leading him to look into various opportunities. By chance, he passed the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department exams.
Igarashi worked as a police officer for five years. Initially, he continued making music while working full-time. However, the increasing intensity of his job left him with a sense of burnout, and little time for his music. Eventually, he left his law enforcement job to dedicate himself to his music career.
How did Haru Igarashi become popular?
While gaining popularity on various social media platforms, Igarashi gained recognition in the music industry with his song “Just a Little” (少しだけ).
“Just a Little” was Igarashi’s first song to break through into the Japanese music charts, including the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 and Spotify’s Viral 50. “Just a Little” held a multi-week consecutive reign at the top of the Billboard JAPAN’s Heatseekers Songs chart.
The song’s lyrics explore themes of love that ended up unsuccessful. From his perspective, Igarashi describes the song as portraying “a pathetic guy…with an ’I love you’ that is too late.”
Check out the music video above.
When did Haru Igarashi begin making art?
Haru Igarashi started drawing when he was in elementary school. A skilled illustrator, he began utilizing these skills in the artwork and music videos for his songs. His social media profile states, “I do music and art.”
When asked about his many faceless characters (whose faces are often hidden or wearing masks), he candidly shared that he struggles with drawing faces.
Where can I follow Haru Igarashi?
Follow Igarashi’s great rise to prominence, via the links below:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/haru_pemu
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haru.igarashi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haru_pemu/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlmYdONXzsoTnuoT9kRqOA
Check out other artist profiles and articles on utatune.
