Hikaru
Background information
Birth nameHikaru Masai
Also known asH-el-ical//
Born (1987-07-02) July 2, 1987
Toyama Prefecture, Japan
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop, anison
OccupationsSinger
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2008–present
LabelsNBCUniversal Entertainment Japan (2020–present)
Formerly ofKalafina
Websiteh-el-ical.com

Hikaru Masai (born July 2, 1987),[1] who has gone by the stage names Hikaru and currently Helical (stylized H-el-ical//), is a Japanese pop singer. She was one of the core members of the vocal group Kalafina, which was started by Yuki Kajiura to perform anime television and film theme songs. She is from Toyama Prefecture.[2] In 2007, she was selected to join Kalafina in an audition held by Sony Music Japan, and debuted on their second single "Sprinter" in 2008.[1] During her ten years there, Kalafina released five studio albums and two compilation albums, all of which have charted in the Oricon top 10. Her Kalafina profile describes her voice range as the mid-to-high register, a wide range that is "powerful, stylish, and sharp".[3] Following the resignation of music composer Yuki Kajiura from Space Craft, Hikaru would later leave the label on October 20, 2018, after her contract expired.[4]

In November 2019, she launched her solo project under the name H-el-ical//, pronounced "he-ri-ka-ru" (ヘリカル).[5][6] In April 2020, she released her first single "Altern-ate-" under NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. It was used as the theme song for the anime television series Gleipnir.[7] and reached No. 9 on the Oricon charts.[8] She has written and released some concept music on her self-titled mini-album and another mini-album called elements,[9] releasing videos on YouTube. In November, she released her second single "disclose", which was the ending theme for the anime television series Magatsu Wahrheit -Zuerst-.[10] In November 2021, she released her third single "The Sacred Torch", which was used as the opening theme for the anime television series The Faraway Paladin.[11] On the same month, she released her fourth indie album Story.[9] In January 2022, she released her fourth single "JUST DO IT", which was used as the opening theme for the anime television series World's End Harem.[12] The single was originally scheduled to release in November 2021, but it was postponed until January 2022.[13]

In April 2022, she announced her first major studio album Kaihouku. Her past four singles were included. The album was released on June 29, 2022.[14]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Oricon[8] Album
Peak
position		 Weeks
charted
"Altern-ate" 2020 9 4 Kaihouku
"disclose" 24 1
"The Sacred Torch" 2021 41 3
"JUST DO IT" 2022 35 2

As a collaborating artist

List of guest appearances, with selected chart positions
Title Year Oricon[8] Album
Peak
position		 Weeks
charted
"[Re]Rise Short"
(Feryquitous feat. H-el-ical//)
Theme song of the mobile game DUEL MASTERS PLAY'S[15]		 2020 – – Non-album single

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak Sales (JPN)
JPN
[16]
Kaihouku 47 931

Studio concept albums

Title Album details
H-el-ical//
  • Released: December 1, 2019
  • Label: Hifumi
  • Format: CD, limited release[9]
elements
  • Released: April 5, 2020
  • Label: Hifumi
  • Format: CD, limited release[9]
Blooming
  • Released: December 29, 2020
  • Label: Hifumi
  • Format: CD, limited release[9]
Story
  • Released: November 7, 2021
  • Label: Hifumi
  • Format: CD, limited release[9]

Music videos


Concept videos

List of music videos, showing year released, director(s) and album
Title Year Director(s) Album Link
"pulsation" 2019 Kaito Sasaki H-el-ical//
"Avaricia" Yoshihisa Bamba
"Splendore" Kaito Sasaki
"Amanhecer" Yoshihisa Bamba
"yolcu" Kaito Sasaki
"紡 - TSUMUGU -" Kaito Sasaki
"Mizu - Find your answer" (水 - Find your answer) 2020 Yoshihisa Bamba elements
"Kaze - Struggle to admit" (風 - Struggle to admit) Yoshihisa Bamba
"Tsuchi - Side by side" (地 - Side by side) Yoshihisa Bamba
"Spiranthes" Yoshihisa Bamba Blooming
"Shion" (シオン) Yoshihisa Bamba
"Kalanchoe" Yoshihisa Bamba
"Saki -SHOW-" (咲 -SHOW-) Kaito Sasaki
"I am me" 2021 Minamo Story
"midnight" Minamo
"Angel" Minamo
"Sei -SAY-" (生 -SAY-) Minamo


References

  1. 1 2 ""Hikaru"のただのヲタ活 Vol.1 はじめましてと、ヲタ活をする理由のおはなし | SPICE - エンタメ特化型情報メディア スパイス". SPICE（スパイス）｜エンタメ特化型情報メディア スパイス.
  2. ↑ "Space Craft Group". spacecraft.co.jp.
  3. ↑ "PROFILE｜Kalafina OFFICIAL WEBSITE". www.sonymusic.co.jp.
  4. ↑ "Bunshun: Kalafina Members Want to Get Back Together". Anime News Network. 26 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "元Kalafina・Hikaru、事務所所属を報告 「H-el-ical//」名義でのソロプロジェクトも発表". 8 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Komatsu, Mikikazu (3 May 2020). "Ex-Kalafina Member Hikaru Posts TV Anime GLEIPNIR OP Song "Altern-ate-" Music Video". Crunchyroll.
  7. ↑ "Gleipnir Anime Reveals Cast, More Staff, Theme Song Artist". Anime News Network. 26 May 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 H-el-ical//の売上ランキング [A Look at H-el-ical Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "DISCOGRAPHY – H-el-ical//".
  10. ↑ Sherman, Jennifer (August 24, 2020). "Magatsu Wahrheit -Zuerst- Anime Reveals Theme Song Artists, October Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Faraway Paladin TV Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals More Cast, October 9 Premiere". Anime News Network. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  12. ↑ "World's End Harem Anime's Full Promo Video Unveils Theme Songs, More Staff, October Debut". Anime News Network. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "World's End Harem Anime's Episode 2 and Later Delayed to January (Updated)". Anime News Network. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kaihouku". H-el-ical. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. ↑ "[Re]Rise Music Video". DUEL MASTERS PLAY'S. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ "H-el-ical//'s work: Albums". Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved May 10, 2022.
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