I. Introduction
Miho Katō (加藤 美穂, Katō Miho) (born June 22, 1988), better known by her stage name of Miliyah Kato (加藤 ミリヤ, Katō Miriya) is a Japanese pop and urban singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and author. In 2003, Kato started her career as a singer when she provided vocal to Reggae Disco Rockers' song "Cherry Oh! Baby". Her hip-hop-influenced debut album, Rose (2005) was certified platinum in Japan. She gained further recognition when she was featured in M-Flo's track "One Day" (2005). Kato's second studio album Diamond Princess achieved minor commercial success, certified gold by the RIAJ and peaking at number five in Japan. Her third studio album, Tokyo Star (2008) yielded her first top-ten single, "La La La", which was later certified double-platinum for its ringtone sales. Kato's first compilation album Best Destiny (2008) became her first number-one album, certified platinum in Japan. Her fourth studio album Ring became her best-selling album, and yielded three top-ten singles: "Sayonara Baby", "20 -Cry-", and "Love Forever", which was certified million in Japan.
II. Career
III. Pre-debut to Debut
Kato started writing lyrics and composing music at the age of fourteen. She made her debut onto the music scene with the track, "Cherry, Oh Baby". The song was featured on an album released by Reggae Disco Rockers. In 2004 she reappeared again as a featuring artist on Dozhi-T's single "Shouri no Megami". She also starred in the commercial the song was used for.
In September of 2004, Kato made her solo debut with the single, "Never let go / Yozora". The single sold well, reaching the #15 position on the Oricon charts. The track "Yozora", even sampled the hit song "Ningen-hatudenjyo" by Buddah Brand. The pre-release LP of the single is now rare to find as it sold out on the day of it's release. Two months later came the release of her second single, "Beautiful". The song was about Kato wanting to stay strong and beautiful, and was used as Lotte's Pure White Gum commerical theme song. Much like her debut LP it also sold out the day it released.
In March of 2005 Kato came back with the single, "Dear Lonely Girl". The single ended up being a big hit, and currently her best selling single. Soon she released a limited line of clothing named Miliyahhood, which was only available in Shibuya's Marui JAM department store. Kato's love for fashion runs strong with her just like her love for music and she hopes to release more clothing again soon.
Her next single, "Jounetsu" was released in Sepember. The song used a sample from UA's hit song of the same name. This fact on its own attracted many listeners and the single end up reaching #11 on the Oricon charts. Only a month had passed before the Kato's nest release. Her debut album, Rose was released on October 26th, 2005. The album ranked in at the #2 position on the Oricon charts. The album was very sucessful and sold a total of 189,293 copies that year, making the #79 album of the year. On November 29th, Kato held her very first one-man live concert to promote her album.
IIII. Post Diamond Princess to Present
Only four months after the release of her debut album, Kato started releasing singles again. The first of these singles was "Sotsugyou". The single showcased a more mature sound for Kato. The single was less successful then any of her previous releases ranking in at #23 on the Oricon.
Kato's next release, "Last Summer", was released in June, and did worst than her previous single. It ranked in at #30 on the Oricon charts. Her next release held up with the sucess of her Rose-era singles, and was used as the subject song for the movie, Otoshimono. The single ended up at #17 on the Oricon charts, becoming her most sucessful single since "Jounetsu".
Kato kicked of 2007 with the February release of "Eyes on you." The single charted at #24 on the Oricon charts. Her second album, Diamond Princess was released exactly a month later on March 7th. The album reached #5 on the Oricon charts. Though the album didn't rank less then Rose its sales were significantly less. After being on the Oricon for three weeks it had only sold a total of 68,029 copies.
Not even a month off the heals of the release of her previous album Kato annouced the release dates for two singles. The first of which being being a cover of the 1965 #1 hit by The Temptations, "My Girl". The song also features the Japanese R&B group COLOR. The second of the two was titled "Love is..." and faired much better one the Oricon than the first.
Kato's next single, "LALALA / FUTURECHECKA", is collaboration heavy. The song "LALALA" features the reggae styling of Wakadanna of the band Shonannokaze and production by MINMI. The second A-side, "FUTURECHECKA", features collaborations with SIMON, COMA-CHI (who recently appear on Kato's "Kono Mama Zutto Asa Made Remix") & TARO SOUL. The song is being produced by ZEEBRA & DJ KEN-BO.
On April 4, 2019, she announced that she had married an ordinary man and was pregnant. She announced the birth of her first child on June 12, 2019. She reported that she was pregnant with her second child on December 8, 2020.
III. Discography
IIII. Studio Albums
[2005.10.26] Rose
[2007.03.07] Diamond Princess
[2008.04.02] TOKYO STAR
[2009.07.08] Ring
[2010.07.28] HEAVEN
[2012.11.21] TRUE LOVERS
[2014.02.19] LOVELAND
[2016.03.02] LIBERTY
[2017.04.17] Utopia
[2018.06.20] Femme Fatale
[2021.10.13] WHO LOVES ME
[2023.04.05] BLONDE16
IIIII. Best Albums
[2008.11.05] BEST DESTINY
[2011.08.03] M BEST
[2014.10.29] MUSE
[2019.11.27] M BEST II
[2019.11.27] M BEST II UPPER SIDE -Extra Edition (Digital)
[2019.11.27] M BEST II BALLAD SIDE -Extra Edition- (Digital)
[2019.12.25] M BEST -FAN'S SELECTION- (Digital)
IIIIII. Cover Albums
[2020.11.25] COVERS -WOMAN & MAN-
IIIIV. Tribute Albums
[2020.10.28] INSPIRE
IIIV. Other Albums
[2014.04.02] THE BEST (Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota)
[2015.07.29] Kato Miliyah M-MIX ~MASTERMIX Vol.1~ (mix album)
IIIVI. Mini-Albums
[2014.12.17] M's X'Mas EP (digital)
[2018.03.21] I HATE YOU E.P.
[2025.01.22] Epiphany EP
IIIVII. Singles
[2004.09.08] Never let go / Yozora (夜空; Night Sky)
[2004.11.17] Beautiful
[2005.03.24] Dear Lonely Girl (ディア・ロンリーガール)
[2005.09.21] Jounetsu (ジョウネツ; Passion)
[2006.02.01] Sotsugyou (ソツギョウ; Graduation)
[2006.07.19] Last Summer
[2006.09.27] I WILL
[2007.02.07] Eyes on you
[2007.05.30] My Girl feat. COLOR
[2007.06.20] Love is...
[2007.10.17] LALALA / FUTURECHECKA
[2008.02.21] 19 Memories
[2008.09.24] SAYONARA Baby / Koishiteru (SAYONARAベイベー / 恋シテル; Goodbye Baby / I Am In Love)
[2009.01.28] 20 -CRY-
[2009.05.13] Love Forever (Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota)
[2009.11.18] WHY
[2010.03.24] BYE BYE
[2010.06.09] Last Love
[2011.03.16] Yuusha-tachi (勇者たち; Heroes)
[2011.06.22] DESIRE / BABY!BABY!BABY!
[2011.07.13] BELIEVE (Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota)
[2011.12.14] ROMAN
[2012.06.06] AIAIAI
[2012.08.08] HEART BEAT
[2012.10.17] LOVERS part II feat. Wakadanna
[2013.04.17] LOVE STORY (Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota)
[2013.06.26] EMOTION
[2013.10.02] Lonely Hearts
[2014.01.22] Love/Affection / Kamisama (神様; God)
[2014.06.04] Fighter / Gift (Nakashima Mika x Kato Miliyah)
[2014.09.03] YOU… (feat. Nakasone Izumi (HY))
[2015.01.14] Shounen Shoujo (少年少女; Boys and Girls)
[2015.09.02] Piece of Cake -Ai wo Sakebou- (ピース オブ ケイク―愛を叫ぼう―; Shout Love) feat. Mineta Kazunobu
[2015.11.25] Lipstick (リップスティック)
[2016.01.13] FUTURE LOVER -Mirai Koibito- (FUTURE LOVER-未来恋人-)
[2016.12.07] Saikouna Shiawase (最高なしあわせ; Supreme Happiness)
[2017.03.01] Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~ (どこまでも; Anywhere)
[2017.12.06] Shinyaku Dear Lonely Girl feat. ECD (新約ディアロンリーガール; New Dear Lonely Girl)
[2018.05.09] ROMANCE
[2019.06.19] Ai ga Furu (愛が降る; Love Falls)
[2019.09.04] Honto no Boku wo Shitte (ほんとの僕を知って; Know the Real Me)
[2021.06.16] Kono Yume ga Sameru Made feat. Yoshida Brothers (この夢が醒めるまで; Until This Dream Awakens)
IIIVIII. Digital Downloads
[2008.05.28] Saigo no I LOVE YOU (Acoustic Ver.) (最後の I LOVE YOU)
[2010.12.10] Only holy
[2012.10.24] Konya wa Boogie Back feat. Shimizu Shota & SHUN (今夜はブギー・バック; Boogie Back Tonight)
[2012.11.14] HEART BEAT (English Version)
[2013.05.08] Love/Affection
[2014.10.15] I’ll be there with you feat. AI & Aoyama Thelma
[2016.11.18] Saikouna Shiawase -Drama exclusive mix- (最高なしあわせ -Drama exclusive mix-)
[2018.04.13] WALK TO THE DREAM
[2018.08.08] NAO
[2018.12.12] Holy Happy Family
[2019.10.26] PARADE
[2019.11.12] SAYONARA Baby feat. SKY-HI (SAYONARAベイベー)
[2020.06.19] Aitai (From THE FIRST TAKE)
[2020.06.19] Honto no Boku wo Shitte (From THE FIRST TAKE) (ほんとの僕を知って)
[2020.10.07] WING
[2021.03.24] Shukumei (宿命)
[2021.04.09] Kono Yume ga Sameru Made (feat. Yoshida Brothers) (この夢が醒めるまで)
[2022.04.27] LIE LIE LIE
[2022.06.01] Goodbye Darling / Cry Me A River
[2022.06.29] BE MY BABY
[2022.08.10] KILL MY LOVE
[2022.09.07] WILD & FREE
[2022.09.21] Otona Hakusho (オトナ白書; White Paper on Adults)
[2023.03.22] Respect Me
[2023.04.12] DEVIL KISS - With ensemble
[2023.04.12] SAYONARA Baby - With ensemble (SAYONARAベイベー)
[2023.05.31] PRAYER
[2023.08.16] ROCK YOUR BODY
[2023.12.13] Poison (Kato Miliyah & MUD & Neetz)
[2024.02.07] Respect Me - With ensemble
[2024.02.07] Aitai - With ensemble
[2024.03.27] No No No
[2024.07.31] Lonely feat. LANA
[2024.10.23] Aigyou (愛楽) (Kato Miliyah×Shiina Ringo)
IIIIX. Vinyl Singles
[2004.08.12] Yozora ~DO THE BOBO JAMES RMX.~ feat. ILLMATIC BUDDHA MC'S (夜空)
[2005.01.26] AT THE FEVER feat. TWIGY, NIPPS, DEV LARGE, SHINNOSK8
[2005.03.11] Dear Lonely Girl (ディア・ロンリーガール)
[2005.09.09] Jounetsu (ジョウネツ)
[2006.03.24] Sotsugyou (ソツギョウ)
[2006.07.13] 24HOURS feat. TWIGY
[2006.07.24] for so long
[2007.01.26] Kono Mama Zutto Asa Made (このままずっと朝まで)
[2007.07.27] Kono Mama Zutto Asa Made Remix (このままずっと朝まで)
[2007.09.14] FUTURECHECKA feat. SIMON, COMA-CHI & TARO SOUL
IIIX. Video Releases
[2007.12.12] Diamond Princess Tour 2007
[2008.12.10] TOKYO STAR Tour 2008
[2010.05.26] Ring Tour 2009
[2010.12.08] MILIYAH THE CLIPS 2004-2010
[2011.11.02] "ETERNAL HEAVEN" TOUR 2010-2011
[2012.12.12] M BEST Tour 2011
[2014.02.19] TRUE LOVERS TOUR 2013
[2015.02.25] LOVELAND TOUR 2014
[2015.04.22] Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota - THE BEST 2 MAN TOUR 2014
[2016.04.06] 10th Anniversary "A MUSE" Tour 2015
[2017.01.11] "DRAMATIC LIBERTY" tour 2016
[2017.01.18] "Utopia" tour 2017
[2018.11.21] "CELEBRATION" tour 2018
[2021.03.17] 15th Anniversary MILIYAH BUDOKAN 2020
IIIXI. Compilations / Other
[2003.09.18] Reggae Disco Rockers - Reggae Magic (#5 "Cherry Oh!Baby" feat. Miliyah)
[2004.05.26] Dohzi-T - "Shouri no Megami" feat. Kato Miliyah
[2005.03.02] Heartsdales - Super Star (#13 "Paradise" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2005.03.24] We Love Dance Classics Vol.1 (#2 "IN THE NIGHT")
[2005.04.20] KM-MARKIT - VIVID (#7 "Sunshine" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2005.06.29] Heartsdales - Heart Attack! 2 The Remixes & Video Clips (#7 "Paradise ~DJ TARO Cosmic Bass Mixx~" feat. Miliyah Kato)
[2005.08.24] m-flo - BEAT SPACE NINE (#6 "ONE DAY" loves Kato Miliyah)
[2005.11.02] m-flo - DOPE SPACE NINE (#1 "ONE DAY (KREVA remix)" loves Kato Miliyah)
[2006.02.15] Dohzi-T - "Better Days" feat. Kato Miliyah & Tanaka Roma
[2006.02.22] m-flo - m-flo Tour 2005 Beat Space Nine at NihonBudokan (#8 "One Day" loves Kato Miliyah)
[2006.03.22] Dohzi-T - WARABEST ~The Best of Dohzi-T~ (#2 "Better Days" feat. Kato Miliyah & Tanaka Roma)
[2006.04.26] TWIGY - Thing Twice (#11 "RIGH' NOW!" feat. YOU THE ROCK★ & Kato Miliyah)
[2006.05.10] TWIGY - TWIG (#2 "RIGH' NOW!" feat. YOU THE ROCK★ & Kato Miliyah)
[2006.07.12] Heartsdales - The Legend (Disc 2 #2 "Paradise" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2006.07.26] m-flo - m-flo Inside -Works Best II- (#4 '"One Day -Yozora Remix-" loves Kato Miliyah)
[2006.09.06] Lupin III TV Special Seven Days Rhapsody Original Soundtrack (#12 "Michelle")
[2006.12.06] KM-MARKIT - MARK OUT (#9 "Me & My..." feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2006.12.20] Heartsdales - The Legend Final Live (#17 "Paradise" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2007.07.18] ZEEBRA - "My People" feat. Kato Miliyah
[2007.08.29] Dohzi-T - ONE MIC (#14 "Hikaru Mirai" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2007.09.26] TRIBUTE TO CELINE DION (#9 "I'M YOUR ANGEL" feat. Kato Miliyah & Shimizu Shota)
[2007.10.31] m-flo - m-flo Tour 2007 "Cosmicolor" @ Yokohama Arena (#19 "One Day" loves Kato Miliyah)
[2007.12.05] Dohzi-T - Complete Clips (#6 "better days", #11 "Shouri no Megami")
[2008.04.02] Rhythm Nation 2007 -The biggest indoor music festival- (#11 "Diamond")
[2009.03.18] m-flo - m-flo inside -Works Best III- (CD 1 #9 "for so long", #11 "TURN IT UP" feat. VERBAL, LITTLE, KOHEI JAPAN, & Kato Miliyah)
[2009.06.10] HASE-T presents Reggae Gold Mine (#3 "PERFECT PITCH")
[2009.10.14] Dohzi-T - 12 Love Stories Live Tour 2009 at Shibuya C.C.Lemon Hall (#2 "better days", #3 "Hikaru Mirai")
[2009.12.23] Hit Songs - Yasashii Hikari / Unmei no Hito - Hit Songs Orgel Collection (#10 "LOVE FOREVR")
[2010.02.03] Shimizu Shota x Kato Miliyah - "FOREVER LOVE"
[2010.10.27] AI - "Stronger" feat. Kato Miliyah
[2011.01.12] FREEDOM 2010 in Awajishima "Aozora" (#20 "LALALA")
[2011.05.04] Dohzi-T - 10th ANNIVERSARY BEST (Disc 1 #9 "Hikaru Mirai" feat. Kato Miliyah, Disc 1 #11 "Better Days" feat. Kato Miliyah & Tanaka Roma)
[2011.12.14] AI - "Densetsu NIGHT" at Nippon Budokan with Cho SPECIAL GUEST Ozei!!! (#17 "STRONGER" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2012.03.14] m-flo - SQUARE ONE
[2012.03.28] DJ KAORI - DJ KAORI'S JMIX V (#3 "BYE BYE")
[2012.10.17] Wakadanna - "LOVERS" feat. Kato Miliyah
[2013.02.06] m-flo - LOVER (#1 "LOVER", #2 "ONE DAY (KREVA Remix)" loves Kato Miliyah, #3 "Baby I See You" feat. VERBAL)
[2013.03.13] m-flo - NEVEN (#11 "LOVER")
[2013.09.25] DAISHI DANCE - NEW PARTY! (#3 "I miss you" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2013.11.20] AI + Kato Miliyah + VERBAL - "RUN FREE" (digital release)
[2013.11.20] AI - MOTTO MORIAGARO (#14 "RUN FREE" + Kato Miliyah + VERBAL)
[2013.11.27] m-flo DJ MIX "ASOBON! ENKAI" (#24 "RUN FREE" (AI+Kato Miliyah+VERBAL)))
[2014.01.29] DJ GEORGIA - Sweet Grande 3 mixed by DJ GEORGIA (#11 "Sayonara Baby", #29 "LOVERS" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2014.03.19] Kato Miliyah x Shimizu Shota - "Sakura Melody" (digital release)
[2014.03.26] AI - Moriagatchaimashita in Budokan (#29 "RUN FREE" feat. Kato Miliyah & VERBAL)
[2014.02.26] DJ KAORI - DJ KAORI'S JMIX VI (#22 "RAINBOW")
[2014.12.09] Utada Hikaru no Uta (#9 "For You")
[2015.11.25] AI - THE BEST (#11 "STRONGER" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2015.12.23] SPICY CHOCOLATE - Shibuya Junai Monogatari 2 (#4 "Last Forever'" feat. Kato Miliyah & SKY-HI)
[2016.03.16] Aoyama Thelma - "One Day" (feat. Kato Miliyah, AI)
[2016.04.26] Aoyama Thelma - PINK TEARS (#1 "One Day" feat. Kato Miliyah, AI)
[2016.04.26] Aoyama Thelma - SMOKE & TEARS (#1 "One Day" feat. Kato Miliyah, AI)
[2016.11.02] AI - THE FEAT. BEST (CD2 #3 "STRONGER" feat. Kato Miliyah, #5 AI + Kato Miliyah + VERBAL - "RUN FREE", #14 Kato Miliyah - "I'll be there with you" feat. AI & Aoyama Thelma)
[2017.09.06] Aoyama Thelma - 10TH DIARY (MIX CD #15 "One Day" feat. Kato Miliyah, AI)
[2018.02.14] Dream 2 ~Disney Greatest Songs~ Hougaku-ban (#3 "Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~")
[2018.07.25] Aoyama Thelma - HIGHSCHOOL GAL (#2 "poppin'" feat. Kato Miliyah)
[2018.08.08] CHANPURU STORY ～HY tribute～ (#3 "NAO")
[2018.11.14] Moana to Densetsu no Umi The Songs (#38 "Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~ (End Song) [Nihongo Han]" / Kato Miliyah)
[2018.12.05] MIYAVI - SAMURAI SESSIONS vol.3 - Worlds Collide - (#12 MIYAVI vs Kato Miliyah - "Our Love")
[2019.01.18] RUN THE FLOOR - "RUN 100" feat. Kato Miliyah & SWAY
[2020.11.04] DJ KAORI DISNEY MIX (#23 "Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~ (End Song) [Moana to Densetsu no Umi]" / Kato Miliyah)
[2020.12.02] Disney BEST Collection Selected by DJ FUMI★YEAH! (#38 "Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~ (End Song) [Moana to Densetsu no Umi]" / Kato Miliyah)
[2020.12.02] Disney BEST Megamix by DJ FUMI★YEAH! (#38 "Dokomademo ~How Far I'll Go~ (End Song) [Moana to Densetsu no Umi]" / Kato Miliyah)
IV. Publications
IVI. Photobooks
[2009] PASSION
[2010] ETERNAL HEAVEN "MAGAZINE"
[2011] TRANSFORMATIONS
[2013] Soft & Hard
[2014] Love Island
[2014] cupido
IVII. Books
[2011.09.22] Umareta Mama no Watashi wo (生まれたままの私を; Let Me Be in the Way I Am)
[2012.11.09] UGLY
[2013.08.01] Umareta Mama no Watashi wo (Paperback)
[2014.01.30] Kamisama (神様; God) (Short Novel)
[2016.04.10] UGLY (Paperback)
[2016.05.26] Koufuku no Megami (幸福の女神; The Happiness of the Goddess)
[2017.11.24] 28
IVIII. Band Scores
[2011.10] Piano Hikikatari Artist Collection Kato Miliyah
[2012.12] Pianos Solo Kato Miliyah Best Selection
