Nao Yoshioka is a Japanese female soul singer from Osaka, Japan. After she dropped out of high school, she moved to New York to seek a life as a singer in 2010. It was a big decision for a teenager to make a breakthrough in her life.

While she spent time in the US, she got the second prize in Amateur Night at Apollo Theater. At McDonald's Gospelfest, she was one of the finalists who performed in front of a 40,000 audience.

When she returned to Japan after some glorious feats, SWEET SOUL RECORDS found her at their release party because the CEO had already known about her success in the US. Because their label’s concept is to bring authentic Japanese artists abroad, Nao was the best candidate.

She was moved by soul music. This genre isn't mainstream in Japan, but she broke the language and cultural barriers and is still challenging them by combining lyrics with the soul music — and it’s helping her become a more confident singer.

Ten years have passed since her debut. For the culmination of the years, they’re creating a new album and planning a world tour with the help of crowdfunding to pull off a big challenge for Japanese artists. Nao’s dream to achieve success in the US is coming true, making a historical move in music.

Here are some of Nao Yoshioka’s amazing achievements:

Her funk sessions at BLUE NOTE TOKYO.

Her debut song released in 2012.

Her performance at one of the most historical music event venues in London.

Are you interested in Nao Yoshioka’s history and future? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out on Instagram or X (Twitter).

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Edited by Alliya Garcia