Hikaru Utada, who recently made her debut on "THE FIRST TAKE" with her new track "Mine or Yours," has ignited a fierce debate on social media. The controversy stems from a lyric in the song: "How many more years until the Reiwa era allows married couples to have different surnames in this country?"—a direct jab at Japan's current system, which still doesn't permit spouses to retain their individual surnames.
Almost immediately, conservative factions launched a barrage of criticism against Utada, accusing her of "interfering in politics" and "deliberately trying to undermine national institutions." What should have been a celebration of music quickly devolved into a political and cultural showdown.
Some extreme conservatives even went as far as to dismiss her success with comments like, "She's only a little bit famous." This prompted Japanese netizen Kurodoraneko15 (@kurodoraneko15) to jump to Utada's defense on X (formerly Twitter).
Kurodoraneko15 wrote: "It's truly baffling to see people attacking Hikaru Utada with lines like, 'She's only sold a little bit.' Anyone who thinks Hikaru Utada is 'only a little bit famous' needs to realize they've fallen into a dangerous state of cognitive distortion due to their biased views. Though it might already be too late for them."
The tweet quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion. Many netizens pointed out that Utada is a monumental figure in the Japanese music scene, boasting consistent international popularity for years. Her work often reflects social issues through a personal lens, and she shouldn't be slapped with a political label just for one lyric.
Adding to the chorus of support, another netizen, Kaeru Sensei - Hirokazu Takahashi (@hirokatz), cited the "All-Time Comprehensive Artist Song Popularity Ranking," quipping: "The only ones who have the right to say 'Hikaru Utada is only a little bit famous' are probably B'z or Mr.Children."
Indeed, Hikaru Utada burst onto the music scene in 1999 with timeless hits like "First Love" and "Automatic," cementing her unshakeable status in the industry. Her 1999 album, "First Love," sold over 7 million copies and remains the best-selling album in Japanese history—a record that even industry giants like B'z, Mr.Children, Southern All Stars, GLAY, and globe haven't managed to break.
Given her monumental achievements, many netizens agree that describing her success as "a little bit famous" is not only inaccurate but also incredibly disrespectful.