Stephanie

Stage Name:Stephanie
Also known as :Steph
Born: August 5, 1987
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
California, United States
Genre(s) J-pop
Occupation(s): Singer, actress
Years active : 2007–present
Label(s) SME Records
Associated acts: Joe Rinoie (manager)
Website: http://www.steph.jp/

Stephanie (ステファニー) is a Japanese singer who debuted in 2007 under Sony Music Japan with the single Kimi ga Iru Kagiri (anime KISS DUM -ENGAGE planet-'s ending theme song). Stephanie has an Armenian-American father and a Japanese mother, and lived in California until she was 14. When she was in California she sent demo material to music producer Joe Rinoie, who was very impressed with her. Because of this she travelled to Japan in 2002. Currently she is enrolled at Aoyama Gakuin University and studies law. Initially, before she debuted, not even her face was revealed. Reputedly she can sing in five octaves.

Her second single, "because of you", was released on August 29, 2007, and replaced "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" as Kiss Dum's second ending theme. On November 30, 2007, she was among the winners of the "Best Artist Award" at the prestigious 49th Japan Record Awards.In early 2008, she performed the second ending theme to the Sunrise TV anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, titled "Friends", replacing The Back Horn's "Wana". Another song, "Changin", was also featured as the last ending theme to D.Gray-man. Her first album, eponymously titled Stephanie, was also released on March 5, 2008.

She will debut as an actress in the 2009 film Pride, based on Yukari Ichijo's shōjo manga and portraying the protagonist and lead character Shio Asami. She also performed the film's theme song, "Pride ~A Part of Me~ feat. SRM", which is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2009.