[1][2] In 1996, the group was rebranded as Cubic U, an R&B project focusing on Hikaru Utada, resulting in the English language album Precious in 1998 with record label Toshiba EMI.

Utada returned to the Japanese market with her albums Ultra Blue (2006) and Heart Station (2008).

After a compilation album featuring an extended play of new material, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol.

2 (2010), Utada went on an extended hiatus for personal reasons, however she briefly returned to release the song "Sakura Nagashi" for the animated film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012).

[11][12] She made her official return in 2016 with the album Fantôme, again to commercial and critical success.