Hatsune Miku's Birthday

What Is Hatsune Miku's Birthday?

August 31st marks "Hatsune Miku's Birthday," commemorating the release of the voice synthesizer software "Hatsune Miku" by Crypton Future Media, Inc. on August 31, 2007.

The Background of Hatsune Miku's Birthday

Hatsune Miku is software built on Yamaha's "VOCALOID2" voice synthesis technology, allowing users to input lyrics and a melody to generate a sung vocal performance. After its release, an enormous wave of user-created songs, illustrations, and videos featuring Hatsune Miku began appearing online, helping to fuel the rise of user-generated content (UGC) culture as we know it today.

• Release date: August 31, 2007.
• Developer/publisher: Crypton Future Media, Inc.
• Underlying technology: VOCALOID2 voice synthesis technology.

Fun Facts About Hatsune Miku

• Character design: Hatsune Miku is known for her long blue-green twintails. Her official profile lists her age as 16, her height as 158 cm and her image color as blue-green.
• The voice behind her: Her voice was created from recordings of voice actress Saki Fujita.
• "Miku Day" too: From a wordplay reading of 3-9 as "Mi-ku," March 9 is known as "Miku Day."
• Live concerts: Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid characters have "performed" in concerts featuring CG projections combined with live instrumental performances.
• Global reach: Hatsune Miku has become widely known not just in Japan, but among artists and fans around the world.

Ways to Celebrate Hatsune Miku's Birthday

Take some time to listen to songs created using Hatsune Miku, or look back on how Vocaloid culture has evolved from its early days to today. It's a great opportunity to explore one of the defining symbols of internet-born culture and its history.