Hanako Oku

Hanako Oku (奥華子, born March 20, 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Funabashi, Japan. Active since 2004, she first drew attention through keyboard-and-vocal street performances around Tsudanuma and Kashiwa. Later that year, she came to wider notice after writing and singing a TEPCOひかり commercial song. She made her major-label debut on July 27, 2005 with the single "やさしい花" on Pony Canyon. Working mainly in j-pop, pop, and singer-songwriter styles, she accompanies herself on piano and electronic keyboard. Her music is marked by gentle ballads, clear melodies, intimate lyrics, and a warm, understated tone. In 2006, she rose to broader prominence with "Garnet (ガーネット)," the ED of "Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo," which became a long seller. From 2005 to 2007, she also wrote the jingles for "All Night Nippon." Her later anime work included "Kimi no Hana (キミの花)," the OP of "Seiren." After resuming entertainment activities in 2022, her 20th-anniversary projects continued in 2026 with a commemorative album and a premium live event tied to its limited deluxe edition.