When Crypton Future Media first developed Hatsune Miku in 2007 – the second iteration of Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2’s Character Vocal Series software – the Sapporo-based company must have had no idea that those who invested in the software would immediately fall in love with the 16-year-old blue-haired girl with a trademark voice and extrovert personality. Leaping off the box as the fans breathed life into her, Hatsune Miku has become a cult figure, with over two million followers online and a repertoire of crowdsourced songs provided by creators. Considered the first truly crowd-created virtual talent, Hatsune Miku has already teamed up with major artists like Lady Gaga and Pharrell Williams and has been successfully touring Southeast Asia for five years, with recent stints in North America, before embarking on EXPO 2020 EUROPE in January 2020.
Photos: Ben Turnbull