Wowaka

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wowaka (stylized wowaka), also known as Genjitsutouhi-P, was a Japanese singer, songwriter, and record producer famous for his Vocaloid music. He was born on November 4, 1987, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, and he died on April 5, 2019, at age 31.

He started his music career in 2009 with the Vocaloid song In the Gray Zone on Nico Nico Douga, using his own drawings in the videos. His work gained a large online following, and in 2011 he helped start the Balloom label and formed the band Hitorie. That year he released his debut Vocaloid album Unhappy Refrain, which reached No. 6 on the Oricon charts and stayed there for 13 weeks, earning international attention.

Wowaka’s songs became iconic in the Vocaloid world. Notable tracks include Two-faced Lovers, World’s End Dancehall, Rolling Girl, and Unhappy Refrain. He also wrote And I’m Home, used as an ending theme in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and he created arrangements for Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono) used in the anime Anohana. He contributed as a songwriter for LiSA and collaborated with Akane Aki on the single antinotice.

In 2017, he released Unknown Mother Goose, his final Vocaloid song, for Hatsune Miku’s 10th anniversary. He continued to perform with Hitorie as the lead vocalist and guitarist.

Wowaka passed away in his sleep on April 5, 2019, due to heart failure. His passing was a big loss for the music world, and fans and fellow artists paid tribute to his influence on Vocaloid music. His work, especially Unhappy Refrain, remains highly influential. In 2024, a book collecting his lyrics was published, helping to preserve his legacy, and Hitorie has continued to perform, honoring his impact on their music.