Japanese singer Shihori chats about her latest single “Invisible Stairway,” crafting a universal message and connecting cultures with her music.

Moving across the world with the mission to reach a broader audience may sound like a pipe dream to some. To Shihori, it was instinctual. For over a decade, the Japanese singer has dedicated her waking hours to nurturing her international music career. After a series of event appearances in the first half of  2025, Shihori released “Invisible Stairway” on June 6. In her latest era, the singer builds upon her uplifting discography with an empowering message.

From her home base in Los Angeles, Shihori talked to No Manners Magazine about creating “Invisible Stairway,” her cross-cultural career and her goals for 2025.

Behind the “Invisible Stairway”

Proficient at risk-taking, Shihori is no stranger to opposition. Her relentless pursuit of dreams has prompted doubts and prior struggles in Japan once filled her days with negativity. “Invisible Stairway” is an ode to ambitious dreamers who jump before looking, trusting their wishes and hard work even when the path to the top seems uncertain. “People have told me, ‘You’re jumping off a cliff’ all the time,” Shihori says. “But to me, it’s not jumping off a cliff. It’s more like there is an invisible stairway to connect [you] to where you want to be.”

That does not mean Shihori is unaffected by fear or concern — after all, an invisible stairway would still let you see the distant ground below. Instead of letting concerns overtake her, the singer channeled her faith in her abilities over a compelling instrumental. The sound of soft, upbeat piano keys underlies a consistent beat with touches of jazz sprinkled throughout. “Invisible Stairway” culminates in a striking crescendo that allows Shihori to belt and ad-lib.

Shihori has visualized this image since she was young, but this was her first time bringing it to life in her artistry. This time, the singer shares, she was inspired by a recent instance where a friend climbed an invisible stairway of her own; this event kickstarted Shihori’s songwriting process. She completed the song’s melody on a flight. 

Compared to her other releases, “Invisible Stairway” was difficult to create. Despite her clarity about the chorus melody (“Don’t be scared/Just keep up my faith/Remember what’s always there”), Shihori admits she struggled with the remaining lyrics. “It took me longer to finish all the parts because my English isn’t good enough,” she says. Then, in the arrangement stage, there were unexpected delays from the producer she was working with. Even Shihori’s best effort could not push the track forward. In the end, she reached out to a known friend who brought her vision to life in a more timely manner. 

Building a Universal Message

“I’ve been releasing my songs mostly in English since I came to America, because I wanted to deliver a message in a language that more people would understand,” Shihori says, reflecting on her career. “Message is my core.”

Learning a new language is a challenge in and of itself — to perform it and evoke emotion is a feat by all means. For Shihori, it was the only path forward. As much as she understands that vocal tone and instrumentals can convey meaning, she wanted listeners to grasp the full depth of each lyric. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I hope I can tell these messages in English so that everybody can understand.’ That became a very big desire,” Shihori shares.

Over the years, Shihori has built a catalogue of both Japanese and English-language songs that channel intense, tangible feelings. Her work has earned the attention of animation studios and gaming companies alike, enabling Shihori to create music for major anime and gaming franchises. Notably, Shihori has created songs for video games such as Omega Strikers and Call of Duty and animated series like Fairy Tail and My Little Pony. 

In 2020, developer Riot Games tapped Shihori for “Battle Queens,” for its League of Legends title. Though the track was used to accompany the release of a new in-game skin line, the song has garnered nearly five million streams across YouTube and Spotify to date, with League of Legends players commending Shihori for her vocal abilities and engaging production. As per Revista Soundloop, “Battle Queens” was Shihori’s first major project after she relocated to the United States — one that made her nervous, but established her as an artist in her new base. 

“People have told me, ‘You’re jumping off a cliff’ all the time. But to me, it’s not jumping off a cliff. It’s more like there is an invisible stairway to connect [you] to where you want to be.”

— Shihori

Connecting with a Global Audience

This year, Shihori shares, has been busier than anticipated. What kept the singer busiest in the first half of 2025 was travelling to attend (and, of course, perform at) various events. “It kind of became so much that I didn’t have anything other than traveling,” Shihori confesses, laughing. “Going somewhere, [then taking] a flight back, and just one day off and flying to somewhere else.” 

While traveling and performing in front of global audiences is a source of excitement and opportunity, it has also put a dent in Shihori’s original plans for 2025. “I didn’t have production time for recording or making things,” Shihori says. “I’ll focus more on the production side after this.” That is, for the remainder of the year, Shihori aims to prioritize creating new music. 

In her whirlwind of international event appearances, Shihori was able to meet listeners from around the world. Her highlights include Chile, where “the people were so enthusiastic and probably the most memorable or heartwarming,” and Costa Rica, where she was invited to perform in celebration of the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and Japan. By Shihori’s description of events, it was clearly a full circle, “I made it” moment. 

“People cried hearing my songs and told me how they appreciated this experience,” Shihori shares candidly. “I felt like I was living in a dream, because that kind of feeling and environment, what was happening to me was what I had longed for for years. […] I believe I am talented in music, but I wasn’t appreciated enough and didn’t have much exposure or success like I expected or tried to achieve… That’s why I established these messages or music, and then left Japan, spreading Japanese culture to people outside of Japan.”

Discover Shihori’s music on Spotify and follow her on her official social media channels.