Kanata Okajima

Kanata Okajima[1]
Born
Kanata Okajima

(1984-07-07) July 7, 1984
OriginJapan; Victor Music College
Genres
OccupationsSinger, Songwriter, Lyricist, Rapper
Years active2004–present

Kanata is a Million Selling Songwriter, top-liner & vocal producer.

She has accrued more than 170 No. #1 hits, and got the Japanese Record Award on 2017.      She co-wrote “Crystal Snow” by BTS that went No.1 in more than 17 countries, wrote “DA DA DANCE” by Baby Metal that went No.1 on US Billboard Rock Chart, and also “Kissin’ My Lips " by Snowman, that sold million on 2020.

Her recent work includes many established artists such as Jax Jones, aespa, TXT, LE SSERAFIM, TWICE,  IVE, HONNE, NCT127, Kep1er, SHINee, Ado, to name just a few.

Career

She first appeared on Kors.K's “Bounce Bounce Bounce” (beatmania IIDX 18, 2010) and was the vocalist for all songs on Lady Gaga's punk cover album A GAG PUNK (2011). In 2013, she signed with Sweden's Roasting House and began her international career.

Her lyrics for “Happiness,” the theme of Dear Sister (2014), became the most searched lyrics of the year's second half. She contributed to Girls’ Generation's LOVE&PEACE (Japan Gold Disc Award, 2014) and later won the Japan Record Award for Song of the Year with Daichi Miura's “EXCITE” (2017).

She co-wrote BTS's “Crystal Snow,” which hit #1 in 17 countries, and contributed to Namie Amuro's best album Finally (2018, double-million seller). She penned Miura Haruma's drama theme “Fight for your heart” (2019), and co-wrote BABYMETAL's “DA DA DANCE” for METAL GALAXY (2020), the first Japanese album to top Billboard's Rock Albums chart. The work also won MTV VMAJ's Album of the Year (2021).

Her songs for Johnny's WEST (“Shōko,” platinum, 2021), BTS (BTS, THE BEST, million-seller, 2021), and Snow Man (Snow Mania S1, million-seller, 2022; Album of the Year at Japan Gold Disc Awards) cemented her status as a million-seller songwriter three years running.

She released her book There Isn't Just One Way to Make Your Dreams Come True (2023), directed Sooyoung's solo debut single in Japan (2024), and wrote Snow Man's “KISSIN’ MY LIPS,” included in THE BEST 2020-2025, which sold 1.105M copies on its first day (2025). That same year, Leo Ieiri's “Mikansei” surpassed 100M streams, and she collaborated with Jax Jones on the anime BEYBLADE X ending theme.

Awards and honors

THE JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD

  • 27th Best 3 Albums – Asia Category: 200miles / "Just Crazy" / Jang Keun Suk
  • 28th Best 3 Albums – Asia Category: Gossip girls, DO THE CATWALK / "LOVE&PEACE" / Girls' Generation
  • 32nd Album of the Year: Big Boys Cry / "Finally" / Namie Amuro
  • 33rd Album of the Year – Asia Category: Crystal Snow / "FACE YOURSELF" / BTS
  • 33rd Best 3 Albums – Asia Category:
  • Crystal Snow / "FACE YOURSELF" / BTS. BDZ / "Wishing" / TWICE
  • 35th Best 5 Singles: KISSIN' MY LIPS / "KISSIN' MY LIPS / Stories" / Snow Man
  • 36th Album of the Year: KISSIN' MY LIPS / "Snow Mania S1" / Snow Man
  • 36th Album of the Year – Asia Category: BTS, THE BEST / BTS
  • 36th Best 3 Albums – Asia Category: 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) feat. Ikuta Rira [Japanese Ver.] / "Chaotic Wonderland" / TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  • 36th Best 3 Music Videos: KISSIN' MY LIPS / "Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D." / Snow Man
  • 37th Best 5 Singles: Passion Fruit no Tabekata / "Suki to Iu no wa Rock da Ze" / Nogizaka46
  • 37th Music Video of the Year: KISSIN' MY LIPS / "Snow Man LIVE TOUR 2021 Manias" / Snow Man
  • 37th Best 3 Music Videos: Shouko / "Johnny's Festival ~ Thank you 2021 Hello 2022~" / WEST.
  • 37th Best 3 Music Videos: Naughty Girl / "King & Prince CONCERT TOUR 2021 Re Sense " / King & Prince

Discography

→For a list of works provided to J-POP, please refer here.

Western

  • Adexe&Nau,わーすた
    • Yo Quiero Vivir
  • Arjun Kanungo,れん
    • Tell Me
  • Arvingarna
    • Bara jag och du
  • HONNE
    • Warm on a Cold Night
    • la la la that's how it goes
  • 88rising / ATARASHII GAKKO! & Warren Hue  
    • Freaks
  • Pink Sweat$
    • 17
  • Angelica
    • Calling
  • Che'Nelle
    • Happiness (TV drama「Dear sister」)
    • 奇跡
    • 君がいれば
      • Fall in Love Again
    • Fun
    • HIKARI
    • ラストボーイ
    • SOS (TV drama 「FuuFu no Himitsu」)
  • Gabby Mae
    • Path Ahead
  • Gia & J1
    • Xfa Quédate 
  • Jax Jones × Ado
    • Stay Gold
  • KIRA (feat.Kagamine Rin & Kagamine Len)
    • FAKE HEART
  • Orelsan
    • Plus rien (feat.Lilas[YOASOBI])
  • Pablo Alborán
    • Perfectos imperfectos (feat.Lilas[YOASOBI])
  • Ren Kai
    • Mr. Dalaba 大喇叭
  • Shao Hao
    • Where Is My Home
  • Kaiya Campbell
    • Pick Up the Pieces

K-Pop

HYBE

  • BTS
    • Crystal Snow
  • TOMORROW × TOGETHER
    • 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) feat. Rira Ikuta (Japanese ver.)
    • GOOD BOYS GONE BAD (Japanese ver.)
    • Deja vu(Japanese ver.)
  • LE SSERAFIM
    • FEARLESS(Japanese ver.)
    • UNFORGIVEN(Japanese ver.)
    • Star Signs
    • CRAZY (Japanese ver.)
    • Kawaii (Prod. Gen Hoshino)
  • GFRIEND
    • BEAUTIFUL
  • &TEAM
    • バズ恋(BUZZ LOVE) 
    • Running with the pack
    • Blind Love
  • BOYNEXTDOOR
    • Earth, Wind & Fire (Japanese Ver.)
    • Count to Love

JYP

SM

  • aespa
  • BoA
    • LOOK BOOK
    • Message
    • Shout it Out
  • Girls Generation
    • DO THE CATWALK
    • Gossip Girls
  • Sooyong(Girls Generation)
    • Unstoppable (Japan Solo debut single produce)
    • C.A.L.M
    • Konosekaini Utsutterunoha Dare
    • Call me
  • Red Velvet
    • You better know
  • SHINee
    • BOYS WILL BE BOYS
    • To Your Heart
    • Run With Me
    • Seesaw
  • Taemin from SHINee
    • Flame of Love
    • Colours
  • NCT 127
    • Dreaming

STARSHIP

  • IVE
    • LOVE DIVE -Japanese ver.-
    • Classic

WAKEONE

CUBE

  • 4minuite
    • WHY(TV drama「Akutou」)
    • FIRST
    • DREAMS COME TRUE
    • グッバイ

Taiwan

  • Vivian Hsu
    • Nice and Naughty
    • Sunday Morning
  • SHOW
    • Dante
    • Hero
    • Runner
  • Jay Chou
    • Wont' cry 說好不哭

Overseas Work and Creative Activities

Since 2013, Kanata Okajima has actively participated in a range of international songwriting camps, music production sessions, and creative exchanges, working across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. These experiences have expanded her global network and deepened her cross-cultural collaborations in pop and contemporary music.

  • Eurovision Songwriting Camp Brussels, Belgium – June 2023
  • Out of the Woods Songwriting Camp Norway – September 2023
  • MÜST International Music Creation Camp Taipei, Taiwan – September 2023
  • Fjord MGP Camp Oslo, Norway – April 2024
  • Writers Off the Block The Netherlands – April 2024
  • SONY / Warner Latin KIZUNA Camp Colombia – March 2024
  • Eurovision Songwriting Camp Brussels, Belgium – June 2024
  • Writing and Recording Sessions Seoul, South Korea – July 2024
  • London Songwriting Camp London, United Kingdom – November 2024
  • RIGaLIVE Songwriting Camp Riga, Latvia – November 2024

References

  1. ^ "Kanata Okajima Official Site". kanata.st. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  1. "BTS (Bangtan Boys) tops the charts with their new song - A track from their latest album ranks #1 on iTunes charts in 10 countries"
  2. "BABYMETAL's new release, METAL GALAXY, breaks a 56-year record on the U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Album Chart - rockinon.com|rockinon.com."
  3. "June GD Certifications: BTS's album BTS, THE BEST becomes the first to receive Million Certification this year." Press Release and News Release Distribution Platform No.1|PR TIMES.
  4. "Written and composed by BTS, Crystal Snow featured in the album BTS, THE BEST, received the Asian category 'Album of the Year' award at the 36th Japan Gold Disc Awards."