Hikaru Utada to announce shock retirement from music?

Sad news for Utada fans. Speculation had been rife that the Japanese singer best known for her album First Love, will announce her retirement from music, at age 43, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 12/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a singer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a singer-songwriter just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouHikaru

For a little while on Tuesday evening, #ThankYouHikaru was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouHikaru.”
— @DesireePlum, 11 Aug 2026

“Utada wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 11 Aug 2026

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