Oku Hanako Announces First Album in 7+ Years, Plans 12-Date Tour
Japanese singer-songwriter Oku Hanako is releasing a new album on July 22 after a 7-year gap, marking her 20th anniversary since debut. She'll also embark on a 12-city acoustic tour starting in September.

Oku Hanako is marking two decades in music with fresh material. The singer-songwriter will release her 11th studio album on July 22, her first full-length project since "KASUMISOU" in March 2019.
The untitled album spans 12 tracks and will be available in three formats: a limited deluxe edition, first pressing, and standard edition. The deluxe version gets special treatmentβit comes in LP-sized packaging with a custom red eyeglass case identical to the one Oku regularly wears, plus two Blu-rays. One disc features footage from her 20th anniversary band concert at Tokyo's LINE CUBE SHIBUYA last July, while the other includes clips from her nationwide acoustic tour finale in February and an outdoor concert at Osaka Castle Music Hall in October. The first pressing edition also includes the 20th anniversary concert Blu-ray.
Preorders for the limited deluxe edition open through Pony Canyon's shopping club until May 31.
Following the album release, Oku will launch "Oku Hanako Concert Tour 2026 -Acoustic-" in September, visiting 12 venues across Japan through December. The tour kicks off September 6 in Osaka and includes stops in major cities like Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Hiroshima. Fan club members get early ticket access starting April 19.
Oku built her reputation through street performances at Shibuya Station starting in 2004, eventually selling 20,000 self-produced CDs by hand before signing to a major label in 2005. She gained widespread recognition when her song "Garnet" became the theme for the anime film "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" in 2006. Known for her distinctive voice and keyboard-driven acoustic style, she's remained active in music and film scoring throughout her career.
This album announcement caps off a reflective period for the artist, who celebrated her 20th anniversary last year with special concerts and a best-of collection.
