From YouTube piano covers to a global viral sensation

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Fujii Kaze didn't just enter the music scene; he scaled it through digital persistence and cross-cultural appeal. Starting as a teenager uploading piano covers, he transformed into a powerhouse artist whose reach now spans from Japanese stadiums to global TikTok trends.

Born in Okayama in 1997, Fujii Kaze began his musical journey at age 12 by sharing piano and vocal covers on YouTube. These early efforts amassed over 30 million views before he took a hiatus during high school to focus on formal musical studies. Upon returning to the platform after graduation and moving to Tokyo in early 2019, he signed with Hehn Records under Universal Sigma, leading to his major label debut single "Nan-Nan" in November 2019.

His rapid ascent was marked by significant milestones: his first studio album, Help Ever Hurt Never (2020), hit number one on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart. He also became the first Japanese artist named YouTube's Artist on the Rise in August 2020. A pivotal moment occurred in September 2021 when a free live-streamed performance at Nissan Stadium attracted about 180,000 simultaneous viewers, making it the world's No.1 trending word.

Fujii’s international breakthrough was fueled by the unexpected viral success of "Shinunoga E-Wa." Originally released in 2020, the song gained massive traction on TikTok starting in July 2022, peaking at #4 on Spotify's Global Viral chart and reaching number one in local viral charts across 23 countries. This digital momentum paved the way for his first English language album, Prema, released in September 2025.

His work often blends high-production value with personal artistry. For his single "Workin' Hard," Fujii visited Los Angeles to create a demo and collaborated with international producers like DJ Dahi. He has also demonstrated versatility by composing for other artists, such as accompanying Misia on the song "Higher Love" during his first appearance on the prestigious NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2021.

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