Makoto Kawamoto is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Fukui, born on January 19, 1974, and credited in Japanese as 川本真琴. Working between J-pop and rock, she recorded for Sony Music Entertainment Japan in the 1990s, when her melodic style and direct emotional delivery helped define her early appeal.
Anime listeners know Makoto Kawamoto best for Rurouni Kenshin, especially "1/2," the series’ ending theme and the song most closely associated with her career. That track remains a common entry point for listeners and a clear example of how her music connects mainstream Japanese pop with anime fandom.
As a solo artist, her songs are remembered for memorable hooks and expressive vocals, and that balance of clarity and feeling has kept her music present in both J-pop listening and anime-related collections. In May 2026, she announced a live return after about a year of poor health, with recovery underway and an appearance at Oshare Freak Fest 2026 alongside YMCK and emily hashimoto.
