Daoko

Overview

Daoko (だをこ) is a Japanese singer, rapper, lyricist and novelist born in Tokyo on March 4, 1997. She began posting rap to Nico Nico Douga's "Nico Rap" scene while in her third year of junior high school, and made her major debut through Toys Factory in 2015. She is widely known for "Uchiage Hanabi" with Kenshi Yonezu (2017) and for her first appearance at the 69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2018. Her name comes from a shortened version of her web handle, used when posting her drawings.

Career

Indie years (2012–2015)

• At 15 she re-arranged the Hatsune Miku original "Gigoto Speaker" as a rap version and uploaded it to Nico Nico Douga. A track she joined at the invitation of Jinmenusagi caught the attention of the head of the internet-born indie label LOW HIGH WHO? PRODUCTION, and she signed with them as she entered high school. She performed with her face hidden during this period.
• She released her first album, HYPERGIRL, on December 5, 2012. On September 11, 2013 she put out her first EP UTUTU and, the same day, "IRONY" with m-flo (as m-flo + daoko), which became the theme song of the Eagle Talon film. Her second album GRAVITY followed on December 11, 2013.
• In 2014 her song "Fog" was used in Tetsuya Nakashima's film The World of Kanako, and her vocal work on the Studio Khara short ME!ME!ME!, with music by TeddyLoid, drew worldwide attention. She left LOW HIGH WHO? PRODUCTION in November 2014 and released her third album Dimension on February 4, 2015 as her final work with the label, after which she shut down her blog.

Major label years (2015–2019)

• Graduating from high school in March 2015, she debuted on Toys Factory with the album DAOKO and changed her stylization to DAOKO. Her face was first shown on the artwork of the major first single ShibuyaK / Samishii Kamisama (October 21, 2015). She was nominated for Next Break Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2015.
• Her first tour began on January 15, 2016 at Tsutaya O-East in Tokyo, and in September 2016 she released Moshimo Bokura ga GAME no Shuyaku de / Daisuki with TeddyLoid / BANG!. In March 2017 she performed the Aoiro Jidai Tour at LIQUIDROOM in Ebisu.
• In 2017 she featured on works by Seiko Oomori and Queen Bee, sang anime themes such as "Haikei Goodbye Sayonara" and "Cinderella step" (Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul) and "Step Up LOVE" with Yasuyuki Okamura (Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond), and collaborated with Beck on "UP ALL NIGHT × DAOKO". On August 16 she released "Uchiage Hanabi" with Kenshi Yonezu, the theme of the anime film Fireworks; that month she also published her first novel, One Room Seaside Step (KADOKAWA). Her second album THANK YOU BLUE arrived on December 20. She also performed at Anime Weekend Atlanta that September.
• In 2018 she released "Owaranai Sekai de" (produced by Takeshi Kobayashi, theme of the game Dragalia Lost) and "Bokura no Network" with Yasutaka Nakata, issued her third album Shiteki Ryokou on December 12, and made her first appearance at the 69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31.
• In 2019 she released "Drama" with Takeshi Kobayashi, "Senkyaku Banrai" with MIYAVI (theme of the film Diner), and "Hajimemashite no Kimochi wo" (insert song of a Kaguya-sama: Love Is War film). In June she founded her own management office, Tefutefu.

Independent label years (2020–present)

• On June 24, 2020 she released the digital version of her fourth album anima, co-produced with Akito Katayose of GREAT3 (CD on July 29). She also released "Otogi no Machi" with Nariaki Obukuro as sound producer and "Ocharaketa yo" featuring Indonesian trackmaker pxzvc.
• Her own label Tefutefu started in September 2021, and she now works under the name Daoko. She released "groggy ghost" with TAAR, "Affordance" with GuruConnect and "escape" with Yohji Igarashi, followed by the MAD EP on March 23, 2022, "Rinkou" (written for the RPG Memento Mori, arranged by Shohei Amimori) on May 25, and the live album Daoko Live Unplugged in Soso Hall on August 3.
• From March 31 to April 13, 2022 she held her first solo painting exhibition, "the twinkle of euphoria," at GINZA SIX, and took on acting in Mika Ninagawa's film xxxHOLiC (released April 29, 2022).
• On May 26, 2023 she released "Tsuki no Hana," the theme of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos (composed by Seiichi Nagai). On June 21, 2023 she formed the five-piece band QUBIT, releasing the single "G.A.D." and then the album 9BIT (November 22, 2023) and "Contact," written for NHK's Minna no Uta (February 21, 2024). She also performed at Cosplay Mania in the Philippines in 2023.
• Other releases include "Abon," "Allure of the Dark," "Nanairo Colorful," "Troy feat. Daoko," "Tenshi ga Ita yo," the album Slash-&-Burn (May 22, 2024), "Yoyuu no Gaisen" and the ESME MORI remix of "Kataizon." In May 2025 she joined UNIERA, a new label of Bandai Namco Music Live, and has since released "Zense wa Busho," "Boku dake no Photon," "Iiyo" and "meta millefeuille."

Musical style

Her indie-era sound rested on three pillars: rap, poetry reading and whispery vocals, combining dark, introspective lyrics with beautiful choral work. Though categorized as hip-hop, she belongs to the "yuru-fuwa bunkakei joshi rap" movement alongside artists such as DJ Misoshiru and MC Gohan, and has no musical roots in traditional hip-hop culture. Over time she has expanded into J-pop, anime music and rock.

She cites Sheena Ringo's "Marunouchi Sadistic," played endlessly by her father in the car, as an influence that has become "like blood" to her, and she has described being strongly influenced by the world of Susumu Hirasawa. Beyond music, she continues to explore novels, photo books, painting and acting.