Miho Fukuhara

Miho Fukuhara made her claim to the J-pop throne in the late 2000s, debuting in 2006 and scoring on the yearly Japanese Top 100 chart by 2008. Her rise was prompted by her good looks and strong label support, but most important was her strong voice, reminiscent of Mariah Carey, although her own style leans toward '80s-inspired pop ballads rather than R&B. Growing up in a musical family didn't hurt, either, as the future pop star, born in 1987 on the northern island of Hokkaido, had access to her parents' huge record collection from an early age. Fukuhara made her first notable...