{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Zaq | image = ZAQ Text Logo.svg | Img size = | caption = Text Logo of ZAQ | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|3|16|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profile.ameba.jp/zaq-mikaduki-lab/|title=ZAQ's Profile|publisher=Ameba|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | instrument = Vocals, keyboards, piano | genre = Anime song | occupation = Singer, lyricist, composer, arranger | years_active = 2012–present | label = Lantis | website = {{URL|http://ameblo.jp/zaq-mikaduki-lab/}} }}
'''Zaq''' (stylized in all caps, born March 16, 1988<ref name="blog">{{cite web|url=http://ameblo.jp/zaq-mikaduki-lab/|title=Official blog|publisher=Ameba|access-date=April 22, 2013|language=ja}}</ref>) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer and arranger signed to Lantis.
== Biography == Zaq began to learn the piano at age three.<ref name="Anikan">{{Cite journal|title=和書|date=November 24, 2012|journal=Anikan|volume=114|issue=November 2012|page=22|publisher=MG2}}</ref> During her college years, her idol was Minori Chihara, and it was during this time she decided to become a singer.<ref name="Anikan"/> However, she failed all her auditions. In junior high school, Zaq's favorite bands were Mongol800 and Going Steady, two rock groups which she was addicted to.<ref name="Anikan"/> She is self-taught in composing and her works were characterized by a unique style which is unrestricted by music theory and musicology.<ref name="Anikan"/>
She started writing songs for other artists in 2012, and made her solo debut with Lantis with the single "Sparkling Daydream" released on October 24, 2012; the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2012 anime series ''Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-13/kyoani-posts-chunibyo-demo-koi-ga-shitai-promo-opening|title=KyoAni Posts Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai! Promo Opening|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=January 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-20/kyoani-posts-chunibyo-demo-koi-ga-shitai-promo-ending|title=KyoAni Posts Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai! Promo Ending|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=January 1, 2013}}</ref> Her second single "Alteration" was released on January 23, 2013, and the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2013 anime series ''Sasami-san@Ganbaranai''.<ref name="sasami">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-11-20/zaq-sings-sasami-san@gambaranai-opening-theme|title=ZAQ Sings Sasami-san@Gambaranai Opening Theme|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=January 1, 2013}}</ref> She released two more singles in 2013, which are {{Nihongo|"Gekijouron"|激情論}} and {{Nihongo|"Extra Revolution"|エキストラレボリューション}}. They were released on October 21 and 23, 2014, respectively, and were used as the second opening theme for ''High School DxD New'' and the opening theme for ''I Couldn't Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job''.
On January 29, 2014, Zaq released her fifth single, "Voice", which is used as the opening theme for the second season of ''Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions''. On April 16, 2014, she released her first album, ''Noisy Lab.''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lantis.jp/news.php?id=1395219516|title=ZAQ's album "NOISY Lab." is officially launched|publisher=Lantis|access-date=January 13, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> She then again released another single, "Overdriver" on August 20, 2014, and is used for the anime ''Rail Wars!'' as the ending theme.
On June 12, 2016, Zaq had her first concert in the United States. This concert was at the Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey as part of the AnimeNEXT 2016 convention.<ref>{{cite web |title=AnimeNEXT to Host Black Lagoon Manga Creator Rei Hiroe, Singer-Songwriter ZAQ |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-04-29/animenext-to-host-black-lagoon-manga-creator-rei-hiroe-singer-songwriter-zaq/.101596 |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=February 13, 2020 |date=April 29, 2016}}</ref>
On July 13, 2016, Zaq released her second album ''No Rule My Rule''. It was released in two editions: a standard edition, and a limited edition which includes a music video, a making-of video, and recordings of live performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=NO RULE MY RULE(初回限定盤)(DVD付) |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01F19IMKE |publisher=Amazon Japan |access-date=February 13, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref> Her third album ''Z-One'' was released on May 16, 2018.<ref name="z-one"/>
In 2025, Zaq released the song "Dramatic Overlay", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series ''Alma-chan Wants to Be a Family!''.
== Discography == === Albums === {|class="wikitable" border="1" |- !rowspan="1"| Year !rowspan="1" width="350"| Album details !colspan="1"| Peak Oricon<br> chart positions |- | 2014 | align="left"| ''Noisy Lab.'' * Released: April 16, 2014 * Label: Lantis <small>(LACA-15378)</small> * Format: CD | align="center"| 8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1063652/1/|title=NOISY Lab.|publisher=Oricon|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> |- | 2016 | align="left"| ''No Rule My Rule'' * Released: July 13, 2016 * Label: Lantis <small>(LACA-15570)</small> * Format: CD | align="center"| 32<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1179703/1/|title=No Rule My Rule|publisher=Oricon|access-date=June 30, 2016|language=ja}}</ref> |- | 2018 | ''Z-One'' * Released: May 16, 2018 * Label: Lantis <small>(LACA-35717)</small> | align="center"| 43<ref name="z-one">{{Cite web|title=Z-ONE|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1270906/1/|access-date=November 5, 2020|publisher=Oricon}}</ref> |- |}
=== Singles === {|class="wikitable" border="1" |- !rowspan="1"| Year !rowspan="1" width="300"| Song !colspan="1"| Peak Oricon<br> chart positions <!--!rowspan="1" width="125"| Certifications--> !rowspan="1"| Album |- | 2012 | "Sparkling Daydream" | align="center"| 8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/986607/1/|title=Sparkling Daydream|publisher=Oricon|access-date=November 24, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> | rowspan="5" | ''NOISY Lab.'' |- | rowspan="3" | 2013 | "Alteration" | align="center"| 25<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1001687/1/|title=Alteration|publisher=Oricon|access-date=November 24, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> |- | {{Nihongo|"Gekijouron"|激情論}} | align="center"| 61<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1031493/1/|title=Gekijouron|publisher=Oricon|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> |- | {{Nihongo|"Extra Revolution"|エキストラレボリューション}} | align="center"| 36<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1040525/1/|title=Extra Revolution|publisher=Oricon|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"| 2014 | "Voice" | align="center"| 21<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1054609/1/|title=VOICE|publisher=Oricon|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> |- | "Overdriver" | align="center"| 45<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/564735/products/music/1078279/1/|title=OVERDRIVER|publisher=Oricon|access-date=October 11, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> | rowspan="6" | ''No Rule My Rule'' |- | "Seven Doors" | align="center"| 35<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1097663/1/|title=Seven Doors|publisher=Oricon|access-date=December 16, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 2015 | "Philosophy of Dear World" | align="center"| 46<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1107995/1|title=Philosophy of Dear World|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref> |- | {{Nihongo|"Katararezutomo"|カタラレズトモ}} | align="center"| 47<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1146772/1|title=カタラレズトモ|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"| 2016 | "Hopeness" | align="center"| 39<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1159814/1|title=hopeness|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=May 15, 2016}}</ref> |- | {{Nihongo|"Wareru Dōkoku"|割レル慟哭||"Split Barrel Wailing"}} | align="center"| 59<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1171674/1/|title=割レル慟哭|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | "Serendipity" | align="center" | 59<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1197300/1/|title=Serendipity|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="4" |''Z-ONE'' |- | rowspan="3"| 2017 | "Last Proof" | align="center" | 51<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1209504/1/|title=Last Proof|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | {{Nihongo|"Caste Room"|カーストルーム}} | align="center"| 53<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1235185/1/|title=カーストルーム|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> |- | "Braver" | align="center" | 100<ref>{{cite web |title=TVアニメ『食戟のソーマ 餐ノ皿』OP主題歌 「BRAVER」 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/564735/products/1248015/1/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=November 23, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> |- |}
=== Other anime songs (composed or sung) === * ''Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions'' ** Black Raison d'être (Maaya Uchida, Chinatsu Akasaki, Azumi Asakura and Sumire Uesaka): *** "Inside Identity" *** "Outsider" *** "Secret Survivor" *** "Van!shment Th!s World" *** "February Magic" ** Rikka Takanashi (Maaya Uchida): *** {{Nihongo|"Ragnarok's Awakening -Dark Revelation-"|覚醒ラグナロク -暗黒黙示録-}} *** "-Across the line" ** {{Nihongo|"''Deinaba yotte☆Masarimo''"|でいなばよって☆マサリモ}} by Shinka Nibutani (Chinatsu Akasaki) ** {{Nihongo|"Napping Club Diary"|ひるねぶ Diary}} by Kumin Tsuyuri (Azumi Asakura) ** "Dark Death Decoration" by Sanae Dekomori (Sumire Uesaka) ** Zaq: *** {{Nihongo|"To You"|君へ}} *** {{Nihongo|"Polluted Arc Sect of Overlord Dance in the Jet Black"|漆黒に躍る弧濁覇王節}} *** {{Nihongo|"Seed of the Beginning"|始まりの種}} *** {{Nihongo|"By Your Side"|君のとなりに}} *** {{Nihongo|"Horror Carnival Dancing in the Abyss"|深淵に舞う戦慄謝肉祭}} * ''Future Diary'' ** {{Nihongo|"Seigi Sentai Go 12th!!"|正義戦隊ゴ12th!!}} by Yoshihisa Kawahara * ''Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb'' ** {{Nihongo|"Open Canvas"|おーぷん☆きゃんばす}} by Kana Asumi, Kaori Mizuhashi, Yūko Gotō, Ryōko Shintani, Chiaki Omigawa and Hitomi Harada * ''Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A'' ** "SquarePanicSerenade" by Aoi Yūki, Nao Tōyama, Kana Hanazawa, Mako and Yumi Uchiyama ** "Futuristic Player" by Miyuki Hashimoto ** "Yes!! Ready to Play" and {{Nihongo|"Magical Mahjong World ver. Shizuno"|まじかる☆まーじゃん☆わーるど ver.穏乃}} by Aoi Yūki ** "Live A-Life" and {{Nihongo|"Magical Mahjong World ver. Ako"|まじかる☆まーじゃん☆わーるど ver.憧}} by Nao Tōyama ** "Dragon Magic" and {{Nihongo|"Magical Mahjong World ver. Kuro"|まじかる☆まーじゃん☆わーるど ver.玄}} by Kana Hanazawa ** {{Nihongo|"Mahjong Attaka Pop"|麻雀あったかぽっぷ}} and {{Nihongo|"Magical Mahjong World ver. Yū"|まじかる☆まーじゃん☆わーるど ver.宥}} by Mako ** "Next Legend" and {{Nihongo|"Magical Mahjong World ver. Arata"|まじかる☆まーじゃん☆わーるど ver.灼}} by Yumi Uchiyama ** "One Vision" and {{Nihongo|"Tōnan Seihoku Uchidaore World ver. Toki"|東南西北☆うちだおれ☆わーるど ver.怜}} by Yui Ogura ** "Little Pray" and "Tōnan Seihoku Uchidaore World ver. Ryūka" by Kaori Ishihara * ''So, I Can't Play H!'' ** "Reason why XXX" by Sayaka Sasaki * ''Non Non Biyori'' ** {{Nihongo|"Non Non Biyori"|のんのん日和}} by Rie Murakawa, Ayane Sakura, Kana Asumi and Kotori Koiwai ** {{Nihongo|"Okaeri"|おかえり}} by Rie Murakawa, Ayane Sakura, Kana Asumi and Kotori Koiwai ** "Tadaima" (ただいま) by Rie Murakawa, Ayane Sakura, Kana Asumi and Kotori Koiwai * ''D4DJ'' ** "Love!Hug!Groovy!!" by D4DJ All Stars (with {{ill|Shunryu|ja|俊龍}}) ** "Direct Drive!" and "Honest -happy a word-" by Happy Around! * ''Bocchi The Rock!'' ** {{Nihongo|"Gitā to Kodoku to Aoi Wakusei"|ギターと孤独と蒼い惑星}} ** {{Nihongo|"Wasurete Yaranai"|忘れてやらない}} * ''Bad Girl'' ** "Bad Surprise" by {{nihongo|Tenrogun|天狼群}} (Azusa Tachibana, Niina Hanamiya, Misato Matsuoka, and Miharu Hanai)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「ばっどがーる」放送に先がけてノンクレジットED映像公開、1話の先行カットも到着|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/630466|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=July 1, 2025|access-date=July 1, 2025|language=ja}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} ZAQ - [http://www.zaq.com ZAQ]
== External links == * {{Official website|http://ameblo.jp/zaq-mikaduki-lab/|Official blog}} {{in lang|ja}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1988 births Category:Anime musicians Category:Japanese women pop singers Category:Lantis (company) artists Category:Living people Category:Singers from Kagoshima Prefecture Category:21st-century Japanese singers Category:21st-century Japanese women singers ZAQ - [http://www.zaq.com ZAQ Skin Care]