Discover imase
imase and his musical career is far from ordinary. With no formal music training, his catchy songs quickly went viral on TikTok. Less than a year after joining the platform, the talented singer-songwriter was launched into a globally successful music career.
This article answers commonly asked questions about the talented singer-songwriter, imase.
RELATED: Every anime song by imase
Table of Contents
Who is imase?
imase is a Japanese singer-songwriter who gained popularity through the social media platform TikTok. He gained global fame through his viral hit, “NIGHT DANCER.” He has been referred to as a “new generation” artist.
How do you pronounce imase’s name?
imase is pronounced “ee-mah-seh”( /iːmaꜜse/.)
What is the origin of imase’s name?
imase comes from the singer-songwriter’s last name, written in English. In a 2022 interview, he candidly shared that his rise to fame was not expected, and there is no other deeper meaning behind his name.
Where is imase from?
imase was born and raised in Gifu prefecture, geographically located in the central part of Japan.
When did imase start making music?
imase began making music in November of 2020, when he was 20 years old. In one interview, he shares there was no special occasion when starting–he bought his guitar when his friend got one too.
imase became interested in the music-making process by watching others share original songs on TikTok. The talented singer-songwriter shared that he has a strong challenge-based mindset, and wanted to try making music himself.
In the beginning, imase had no experience playing instruments or producing music. Without any formal background or professional training, he self-taught himself various instruments from scratch. He also learned about each component of the music production process, frequently searching online for guidance.
When did imase make a TikTok account?
imase created his TikTok account in May 2021; he began sharing music on the platform, which he made in his bedroom at home.
In a 2022 interview, the singer expressed that TikTok’s wide reach and its focus on short-form content has made it easy for beginners in the music industry to get started.
When did imase debut?
Less than a year after sharing music on TikTok, imase became popular on the platform. He made his major debut in December of 2021 with Virgin Music, a subsidiary of Universal Music Japan.
He debuted the single, “Have a nice day.” The song expresses the singer-songwriter’s feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How did imase become popular?
imase became popular through his viral TikToks. He quickly developed a strong following within a few months, opening the door to his major label debut.
After his debut, his viral song “NIGHT DANCER” catapulted him to reach great fame—both in Japan and overseas. At the beginning of 2024, the song hit over 100 million streams.
Indeed, imase’s journey is far from the norm, as he gained rapid popularity in a short period.
When was “NIGHT DANCER” released?
“NIGHT DANCER” was released as a digital single on August 19, 2022. Before the song was released, the singer shared part of the song on TikTok a few months prior, in June of that year. This generated a lot of buzz on the platform, and the momentum grew when the full version was digitally released.
Check out the music video above, with closed captions in several different languages.
How did “NIGHT DANCER” become popular?
“NIGHT DANCER” became a viral hit on TikTok. The song’s popularity grew in large part through TikTok dances, thanks to the choreography created by the 5 member unit, Hoodie Fam.
The hit number danced its way to great fame, both in Japan and overseas. The song ranked on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100 and was selected as one of the Songs of the Year at the 65th Japan Record Awards. The song’s success was palpable globally, as the song ranked in Spotify’s Top 50 chart in 31 countries.
Is “NIGHT DANCER” popular in Korea?
“NIGHT DANCER” became the first J-pop song in history to rank in South Korea’s Melon Top 100 chart, reaching an incredible #17. The song was also featured in Korea’s Year On TikTok 2023 as #6 in their Top Tracks playlist.
Many of today’s top K-pop idols began posting their dances on TikTok, helping the song gain fame across the country. In celebration of the song’s massive success, imase held a free concert for fans in Korea. He also performed at the 2023 Melon Music Awards.
What was imase’s first K-pop group collaboration?
imase collaborated with the famous K-pop group LE SSERAFIM to produce two Japanese songs for the globally renowned group.
“Jewelry” (ジュエリー). The song is known for its retro, city-pop feel—a first for the K-pop superstars. The song was released in August 2023, alongside the Japanese version of their song, “UNFORGIVEN.” Check out the live clip above, which features him singing alongside the LE SSERAFIM members.
Later that year, “Dresscode” (ドレスコード ) was released as a digital single in November.
What are anime songs that imase has worked on?
Explore every anime song by imase.
Where can I follow imase?
Follow using the links below.
Official website
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/imase/
X (Formerly Twitter)
https://twitter.com/imase_1109
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@imase119
https://www.instagram.com/imase11_9/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@imase_1109
Check out other artist profiles and articles on utatune.
