Joji Real Name: Meet George Kusunoki Miller
Joji’s real name is George Kusunoki Miller. Born on September 18, 1992 in Osaka, Japan, he is 34 as of 2026, and he has gone from an internet comedian to one of the most streamed R&B and lo-fi artists of his generation.
Quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Real name | George Kusunoki Miller |
| Stage name | Joji |
| Born | September 18, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Osaka, Japan |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Label | 88rising / Warner |
| Earlier persona | Filthy Frank, Pink Guy |
Origins
Miller was born in Osaka and spent his early years in Japan before moving to the United States. He later studied at Georgia State University in Atlanta. His bilingual upbringing shaped his sense of humor and his taste in music.
Filthy Frank
Before music, Miller built a large following on YouTube as Filthy Frank, a chaotic, intentionally absurd character in a comedy channel known for sketches and shock humor. He also performed as Pink Guy, a goofy musical alter ego, and released joke albums. The channel became a cult phenomenon, and he stepped away from the character in 2017 to focus on music.
Joji arrives
Under the name Joji, he moved to a quiet, melancholy style: slow R&B built on lo-fi textures, falsetto and moody electronics. His first release as Joji, the EP In Tongues (2017), signaled a break from comedy. His label home, 88rising, helped present him to a global audience, and he developed a following well beyond YouTube.
Albums and hits
His debut album BALLADS 1 (2018) included “Slow Dancing in the Dark,” which became a streaming hit and a TikTok staple. Nectar (2020) widened his reach, featuring collaborations with artists such as Lil Yachty, Diplo and Rei Brown. Smithereens (2022) delivered “Glimpse of Us,” which became a global hit and one of his biggest streaming successes.
Sound and approach
Joji’s production leans on piano, soft synths and a low-key vocal delivery. He is often called a pioneer of bedroom pop crossed with R&B. Critics have also noted how his comedic past gives the sincerity of his songs a surprising weight.
Recent years
He has toured internationally, performed at major festivals and kept releasing music at an irregular pace. Throughout, he has remained relatively private, preferring that the songs do the talking.
Why the name question
Fans often discover Joji without knowing the connection to Filthy Frank, so they search for his real name to find the link. The two personas are the same person, with Miller using each for different creative aims.
What the name means
“Joji” is the Japanese form of George, so the stage name is less of a mask than it first appears. Miller has said that moving from the Filthy Frank character to Joji was about wanting to make music without a comedic filter, and fans often say the shift feels honest, even if the two sides of his output couldn’t be more different.
Production and collaborators
He produces much of his music himself, and his catalog includes collaborations with producers such as Diplo, and with artists like Lil Yachty, Benee and Omar Apollo. The albums mix R&B ballads, lo-fi textures and the occasional upbeat track, with a consistent melancholy running through them. His voice, often layered and doubled, is one of the more recognizable in contemporary alternative R&B.
Fandom and live shows
Joji’s fans are famously devoted, and his tours have drawn big crowds worldwide. He tends to keep stage banter minimal and let the music carry the show, which suits his reserved personality. Merchandise and the Filthy Frank legacy have also kept the community connected across platforms.
What fans ask
Besides his real name, people ask whether he’s still making comedy (he stopped in 2017), how to pronounce Joji (JOH-jee), and whether he’s Japanese (he was born in Osaka and later moved to the United States). Newcomers usually start with “Slow Dancing in the Dark” and move on to the albums from there.
Frequently asked questions
