When the violinist Ayasa put together East Of Eden in 2023, she picked each member herself. For the microphone she chose Akane Minato.
Eight Years of Singing Lead
Minato is from Kanagawa Prefecture. She made her major-label debut in 2014 as a member of the group predia, and was its main vocalist until it disbanded in 2022.
That is eight years of singing lead. It is a long apprenticeship.
The proof came after the group ended. She was invited, more than once, to sing the national anthem before professional baseball games. That is a job for a singer who can stand alone in front of a stadium.
The Band
East Of Eden formed on 8 August 2023. The lineup around her was built from players with their own followings: Ayasa on violin, Yuki of the instrumental band D_Drive on guitar, MIZUKI on drums, and Wakazaemon on bass, followed after December 2024 by Mina Yamauchi.
The first concert, in October 2023 at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo, sold out.
The Numbers
The releases show a band gaining ground. The EP Forbidden Fruit -1st piece- (December 2023) reached number 21 on the Japanese chart. Forbidden Fruit -2nd piece- (July 2024) reached number 17. The first album, The First Eden - Seeds Of Hope, followed on 12 March 2025, and the EP Rising in Bloom (10 June 2026) reached number 14.
In 2025 the band toured the Zepp halls in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo and played the JAPAN JAM festival.
Why It Matters
A band with a violin and a lead guitar has two melody instruments besides the voice. The singer has to be strong enough to stay the centre. Ayasa could have chosen anyone, and she chose a vocalist with eight years of lead singing behind her.
Start with The First Eden - Seeds Of Hope, then Rising in Bloom.
