Kiriko Takemura (Japanese: 竹村 桐子, born January 29, 1993), known professionally as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (Hiragana: きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ), is a Japanese tarento, singer, and model. Her public image is associated with Japan's kawaii and decora culture, centered in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. Kyary's music is produced by musician Yasutaka Nakata of electronic music duo Capsule. Her 2011 single "PONPONPON" reached the top ten on Japan's Oricon music chart; the 2012 singles "Candy Candy" and "Fashion Monster" followed this success. Kyary has since released five full-length albums: Pamyu Pamyu Revolution (2012), Nanda Collection (2013), Pika Pika Fantajin (2014), Japamyu (2018), and Candy Racer (2021). Though most of her success as a recording artist has been in Asia, she has also gained popularity in Western countries due in part to Internet videos which have gone viral. Media outlets have referred to Kyary as a "Fashion Monster", and she has been photographed for magazines such as Dazed & Confused. In 2013, she signed a distribution deal with Sire Records to release her material in the United States. As of February 2020, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has sold over 970,000 physical albums and singles in Japan according to Oricon as well as over 2.25 million downloads of her singles. Early life Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was born in Nishitōkyō, Tokyo, Japan, in a traditional strict household. She started modeling and appearing as a junior idol when she was just 12 years old, using her real name, Kiriko Takemura, although those videos and DVDs are now part of a hidden past that has been forgotten. She writes in her autobiography, Oh! My God!! Harajuku Girl, that her father was more supportive of her, although they had their fair share of quarrels as well. Career 2009–2010: Career beginnings Kyary Pamyu Pamyu started as a fashion blogger, and then began her professional career as a model for Harajuku fashion magazines such as Kera! and Zipper. Her stage name combines "Kyari" (acquired in school because she embraced Western culture and seemed "like a foreign girl"); she later added "Pamyu Pamyu" because it sounded cute. She was inspired to sing by Yasutaka Nakata. 2011–2012: Moshi Moshi Harajuku and Pamyu Pamyu Revolution In April 2011 Kyary participated in the charity event "One Snap for Love" to benefit victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. In July, she released her first promo single, "PONPONPON", citing Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga