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Michelle Zauner

Michelle Zauner is a Korean American musician and author best known as the frontwoman of the indie pop project Japanese Breakfast.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Michelle Zauner is a Korean American musician and author best known as the frontwoman of the indie pop project Japanese Breakfast. She is also the author of the memoir *Crying in H Mart*, which became a bestseller and brought her wider recognition beyond music. Her work spans music, writing, and directing, with international reach including Canada.

Early life

Michelle Zauner was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989 and later moved with her family to Eugene, Oregon. Sources describe her as Korean American and note that she later attended Bryn Mawr College.

Music career

Zauner performed in the emo band Little Big League before launching Japanese Breakfast in 2013. Japanese Breakfast became her best-known musical project, with multiple studio albums and Grammy nominations for *Jubilee*. Her albums include *Psychopomp* (2016), *Soft Sounds from Another Planet* (2017), *Jubilee* (2021), and *For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)* (2025).

Writing career

Zauner published *Crying in H Mart* in 2021. The memoir focuses on her Korean American identity, grief, and her relationship with food and family, and it became a New York Times bestseller.

Other creative work

In addition to music and writing, Zauner has directed music videos and is also credited as an actress and director in film and video projects. Public profiles also note her work speaking about identity, loss, and culture.

Key facts

  • Michelle Zauner is the frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast and author of the memoir *Crying in H Mart*.
  • She was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989 and grew up in Eugene, Oregon.
  • Japanese Breakfast's studio albums include *Psychopomp*, *Soft Sounds from Another Planet*, *Jubilee*, and *For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)*.
  • Her memoir became a New York Times bestseller and she was named one of *TIME*'s 100 most influential people.
  • She was a member of the Philadelphia-based emo band Little Big League.
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Canadian context

Michelle Zauner’s work is widely available to Canadian audiences, and her memoir *Crying in H Mart* and Japanese Breakfast’s albums have received international attention in Canada as part of broader North American music and publishing markets.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Michelle Zauner?
Michelle Zauner is a Korean American musician, author, and director best known as the frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast and the writer of *Crying in H Mart*.
What band is Michelle Zauner in?
She is best known for Japanese Breakfast, which she began releasing music under in 2013.
What was Michelle Zauner’s first book?
Her first book was the memoir *Crying in H Mart*, published in 2021.
Where was Michelle Zauner born?
She was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 29, 1989.
What other band was Michelle Zauner in?
Before Japanese Breakfast, she was a member of the Philadelphia-based emo band Little Big League.
Has Michelle Zauner received major recognition?
Yes. Sources note a New York Times bestselling memoir, Grammy nominations for Japanese Breakfast, and selection by *TIME* as one of its 100 most influential people.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Zauner
    Supports: Birthplace, former band Little Big League, Japanese Breakfast discography and career timeline.
  2. PRH Speakers — https://www.prhspeakers.com/speaker/michelle-zauner
    Supports: Her status as musician and author, *Crying in H Mart*, Korean American identity, and public speaking themes.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9458536/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, and credits as actress/director.
  4. Syracuse University — https://experience.syracuse.edu/the-peel/2022/03/28/getting-to-know-michelle-zauner/
    Supports: Birth in Seoul, move to Oregon, leadership of Japanese Breakfast, memoir, and directing work.
  5. PAC NYC — https://pacnyc.org/bio/michelle-zauner/
    Supports: Career overview, bestselling memoir, Grammy nominations, and TIME recognition.
  6. Wikipedia bahasa Indonesia — https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Zauner
    Supports: Korean-American identity, birthplace, and TIME recognition.