May J.

Biography

Mei Jamileh Hashimoto (Japanese: 橋本 芽生 Hashimoto Mei, Persian: جمیله هاشیموتو; born June 20, 1988) better known by her stage name May J., is a Japanese pop and R&B singer who made her major label debut under Sony Music Japan on July 12, 2006, with her first mini-album All My Girls×All my girls12 July 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1MY GIRLS4:012MILLION WAYZ3:303Baby Close Your Eyes4:334Good Tymez4:205DESTINATION4:176Thanx4:587Baby Eyes (MA$AMATIXXX Dancehall Mix)4:23. She was born to an Iranian mother and Japanese father.

Early life

May J. was born as Mei Hashimoto on June 20, 1988, in Yokohama, Japan. The "J" in her name comes from the Persian name "Jamileh" (Persian: جمیله), meaning "beautiful". She is fluent in four languages, including Persian, Japanese, English and Spanish.
May J.'s Iranian mother refused to acknowledge her Persian roots due to perceived negativity towards Iranians in Japan and May J. grew up forbidden to speak the Persian language. Believing she was American, she discovered her true heritage on a chance overhearing of a conversation between her mother and grandmother. During her formative middle school years she began listening to Iranian singers Googoosh and Afshin and has later said she hopes to debut in Iran.
At the age of 14, May J. was successful at a Sony Music Japan audition and soon signed onto Sony Music. While waiting to make her major label debut, May J. was a dancer for Aaron Carter's Japanese concert and was featured on the track Luyva: Another Episode from Sphere of Influence's album Big Deal, credited simply as May.
A childhood fan of Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston she then came to admire Canadian rock singer Avril Lavigne, winning a MTV lookalike contest as Avril. She began listening to R&B while studying at the American School in Japan, from which she graduated in 2007 following a period of balancing her studies and her singing career.

2006–2009: Debut and development

Released July 12, 2006, under Neosite Discs, the hip-hop division of Sony's Ki/oon Records, the music of her debut mini-album All My Girls×All my girls12 July 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1MY GIRLS4:012MILLION WAYZ3:303Baby Close Your Eyes4:334Good Tymez4:205DESTINATION4:176Thanx4:587Baby Eyes (MA$AMATIXXX Dancehall Mix)4:23 was billed by her label as "Jennifer Lopez/Beyoncé style music which has never before existed in Japan."
To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Neosite Discs, the single "I Say Yeah!×I Say Yeah!4 October 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11I Say Yeah!4:352I Say Yeah! (DJ BOBO JAMES RMX)4:353I Say Yeah! (breakthrough remix)5:564I Say Yeah! (fickle remix)5:14Disc 21I Say Yeah!2Making of I Say Yeah!" was released on October 4, 2006, as a collaboration by all 5 of the label's signed artists. The single marked May J.'s first appearance in the Oricon top 10.
May J. performed as the opening act for American R&B singer Cassie alongside Rōma Tanaka at Cassie's concert at Shibuya O-EAST on November 28, 2006. December 20, 2006, saw May J.'s first solo single release when "Here We Go feat. Verbal (M-Flo)" dropped and charted at #70 on the weekly charts.
Her follow-up single, "Dear…" was released on May 30, 2006, and was unlike most of her previous work. Despite the ballad being much more Japanese-friendly than her debut, the single charted at just #90. May J. was then featured on Hip-Hop artist Zeebra's new album World of Music on the track "Shinin' Like a Diamond". In October, it was announced that May J. would be releasing her 3rd single, "Do tha' Do tha'×DO tha' DO tha'21 November 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1DO tha’ DO tha’3:372brand‐new days4:523DO tha’ DO tha’ (BACK LOGIC Remix)4:014DO tha’ DO tha’ (Back Track)3:37" on November 21, followed shortly by her first full-length studio album, Baby Girl×Baby Girl5 December 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1DO Tha' DO Tha'3:312MY GIRLS3:583Destination (D.O.I. Hip Hop Mix)4:364Dear...4:565why why why...4:026Baila Conmigo4:017HERE WE GO4:528YOU5:259Jealous Girl4:0410Baby Eyes (DJ WATARAI Remix)4:4011Feel the Sunshine4:1312Don't worry dear my boy4:2713My Way, Your Way3:1414LOVE BLOSSOM (FPM house mix)7:29 on December 5.
In October 2008, she became the co-host of NHK's English-language weekly music program J-Melo, with Shanti Snyder, going out to 180 countries via NHK World. She became sole host in March 2010 and stayed as the host through March 2026.

2009–present: Rise to prominence

On March 6, 2009, label Rhythm Zone opened a new official site for May J. confirming that she had left Sony to join the Avex imprint. On the May 23, 2009, her second album Family×FAMILY27 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Garden5:262もし君と…4:263旅立つ君に5:384FAMILY –Interlude–1:205Story of Love4:096Give my heart5:027サヨナラの他に4:578Remember5:519Unity –Outro–2:1610Crescent Moon –DAISHI DANCE remix–5:16 was announced, featuring the single Garden (featuring DJ Kaori, Diggy-MO', クレンチ＆ブリスタ). The album charted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.
Her third full album titled For You×for you17 February 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Be mine ~君が好きだよ~4:092I'm yours4:463My Sunshine4:464Sing for you5:335好きと言わせて4:546Beautiful Days5:137風になりたい4:018君がいて4:079WISH5:2710手をつないで5:0011Garden5:2512ありがとう4:5913for you2:0214Garden (CLASSIC HOUSE ANTHEM) (English version)6:15 was released on February 17, 2010. Her first solo live tour, lasting ten weeks and including 40 shows followed, culminating at Tokyo's Shibuya AX venue on May 23, 2010.
On November 24, 2010, she released a mini-album titled Believin... as a prelude to her fourth full album Colors×Colors26 January 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11ONE MORE KISS5:042FYI3:063Say my name3:454君のとなりに5:035Step by Step4:036Shiny Sky4:287Super Star3:098Colors2:359One in a million4:5110My Pride4:2611Every Single Day3:3412あの日があるから4:5813ONE MORE KISS -DJ WATARAI Remix-5:13Disc 21ONE MORE KISS –Music Video–2あの日があるから –Music Video–3Shiny Sky –Music Video–4Medley: Garden (CLASSIC HOUSE ANTHEM) –English ver.‐ 〜 DO tha’ DO tha’ 〜 HERE WE GO (Scene1.)5Be mine 〜君が好きだよ〜 (Scene2.)6旅立つ君に (Scene3.)7Sing for you (Scene4.)8Garden (Scene5.), released on January 26, 2011.
In 2012, May J. recorded the song "Back to Your Heart" with Canadian singer Daniel Powter.
May J. sang the end roll version of the title song "Let It Go" in Disney's Japanese release of the Frozen animated movie which hit No. 8 on the Japan Hot 100 after the film's Japanese release in March 2014. In 2018, she performed the song live in the finale of the touring ice show Fantasy on Ice in Makuhari and Kanazawa.
May J. has appeared on the variety show Kanjani8 no Shiwake Eight since 2012, as part of a karaoke contest segment, winning 26 straight contests before losing to Sarah Àlainn with the Idina Menzel version of "Let It Go", on the May 3, 2014, edition.

Personal life

On June 20, 2022, May J. announced that she has married actor Shogen. On May 13, 2023, May J announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child. May J. announced on March 16, 2023, through a post on Instagram that she had given birth to her first child. The specific date of birth of the child was not disclosed.

As featured artist

May 27, 2009 - "Unchain my Heart" by WISE feat. May J. (in album Love Quest)
December 15, 2010 - "HeartBeat" by TARO SOUL & KEN THE 390 feat. May J. (in album So Much Soul)
May 16, 2012 - "REBIRTH-DAY SONG" by Demon Kakka feat. May J. (in album MYTHOLOGY)
October 24, 2012 - "who.am.i.?" by Bentley Jones feat. May J. and Curtis Young (in album UPGRADE 1.0)
March 12, 2013 - "Sweet Spot" by Flo Rida featuring May J.
November 27, 2015 - "北極星" by Show Luo - 羅志祥 feat. May J. - 橋本芽生
April 2017 - Jun. K (from 2PM) - 私たちの別れた話 (Duet with May J.)