Crystal Kay is a Korean African-American actress, singer, songwriter, from Yokohama, Japan.
Crystal is a versatile stage and screen artist, with roles in Netflix’s “Seoul Searching” and “Earthquake Bird,” the feature film “Between the White & Black Keys,” as well as starring roles in the Japan runs of Broadway musicals “Pippin” and “Rent.”
She boasts an impressive resume of voice acting in both film and TV. She is the Japanese voice behind “Gloria” in Happy Feet 2, “Lucretia” in Netflix’s The Upshaws, “Chansey” in “Pokémon: Giratina & The Sky Warrior” and “Suzuran” in EA Games’ Wild Hearts.
Crystal has also contributed memorable songs to various anime soundtracks, including the ending themes “Motherland” for Fullmetal Alchemist, “Konna ni Chikaku de…” for Nodame Cantabile, as well as “One” for Pokémon: Giratina & The Sky Warrior and “Attitude” for PaRappa the Rapper.
Crystal Kay is a pioneer for interracial acts in Japan, with an active worldwide fan base. In 2020, she became the first mixed race performer to win “Best Actress Award” at the Yomiuri Theater Awards, Japan’s equivalent to a Tony Award. She is also the first mixed race artist in Japan to have five Top 10 singles and three Top 5 albums. Crystal Kay gained fame for her third studio album, Almost Seventeen (2002), which debuted at number 2 on the Japan charts and sold over 400,000 copies. Crystal Kay has sold over two and a half million records in Japan to date.
Crystal is the first black/mixed-race actor or singer to achieve widescale commercial success in Japan. Her success has paved the way for the mainstream success of many mixed-race artists to come. Crystal’s career in entertainment began at the age of 4 when she began recording commercial jingles in Japan. In 1999, Crystal released her debut single, “Eternal Memories” at the age of 13, and since then has released 13 albums in both Japanese and English, completing several sold-out tours in Japan. Crystal is currently signed to Universal Music Japan.
Crystal is fluent in English and Japanese, and proficient in Korean. Her diverse musicality and multi-language skills have not only made an impact in Japan and Asia at large, but she also caught the attention of many respected American artists and producers collaborating with the likes of Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Far East Movement and Amaarae.
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
