Yoshikazu Mera

Yoshikazu Mera (米良 美一, Mera Yoshikazu; born May 21, 1971 in Miyazaki) is a Japanese countertenor. His range is three and a half octaves.^[1]

Yoshikazu Mera 米良 美一
Born	(1971-05-21) May 21, 1971 (age 54) Miyazaki, Japan
Genres	Classical music
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1994–present

Originally wanting to become a pop singer, Mera now primarily sings classical music from the West but also classical Japanese music.^[1] He appears frequently as a soloist with the Bach Collegium Japan, which under its conductor Masaaki Suzuki performs Baroque music.^[1] His 1998 recital disc "Nightingale" on Sweden's BIS Records was a major success in Japan.^[2]

It was revealed in a television documentary entitled "米良美一の實話" ("Yoshikazu Mera's true story") that he was born with congenital osteogenesis imperfecta.^[3]

Selected discography

• Nightingale – Japanese Art Songs
• Baroque Arias
• Baroque Arias, vol. 2
• The Best of Yoshikazu Mera
• Princess Mononoke: Music from the Motion Picture (1997)
• Songs for Counter-Tenor and Orchestra
• Mera sings Bach