Amber Mary Bain (born 13 July 1995), known professionally as the Japanese House, is an English indie pop musician from Buckinghamshire.

Bain's androgynous vocals, heavy use of production, and elusive media presence fueled fan speculation about her gender and identity after her first few singles were released.

Bain co-produced her first full-length album Good at Falling (2019) with George Daniel and American record producer BJ Burton.

As a teenager, Bain pursued a career in music rather than going to university, a decision which her father supported as he felt she had "a clear opportunity".

[27] The EP was praised for showcasing the evolution of Bain's dreamy style, with strong vocals and a more reserved use of production effects.

[32] Megan Buerger of Pitchfork called it "confident and intoxicating", although she commented that its melancholic lyrical content almost exasperated her at points.

[41] It featured four songs, one of which was a collaboration with Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver, as well as the previously released singles.

Upon its release, Chewing Cotton Wool received praise for showing further growth of Bain's signature lush, hazy production, introducing more textured and sporadic electronics.

The property had been previously owned by Kate Winslet, with furnishings reminiscent of traditional Japanese tea houses,[46] and during her stay in Cornwall, Bain posed as a boy.

[47] During her early career, Bain avoided photo shoots and publicity which, combined with her androgynous vocals, led many outlets to label her as an anonymous artist.

After the release of her debut EP Pools to Bathe In, fans speculated about her gender and identity, with some even claiming that The Japanese House was Matty Healy of the 1975.

[48] She eventually became more public, appearing in interviews and photo shoots, stating that the reason for this was that she had become more comfortable with being in the spotlight and "didn't want the mystery to become bigger than the music".

[51][52] Megan Buerger of Pitchfork described Bain at the beginning of her career as "a soft-spoken, queer 19-year-old girl with Kurt Cobain hair and boyish style".

Bain has cited musicians like Brian Wilson, Blondie, Bon Iver, and Franki Valli & the Four Seasons as influences on her work.

[57] Andy Meek of Billboard described Bain's discography as a combination of experimental electronica and "catchy pop hooks backed by drums and chugging guitars".

[61] Max Migowksi, writing for Indie Mag, summarized Bain's musical style as "[an] androgynous voice embedded in ethereal, post-indie pop synths with hints at gentle acoustic guitar".

[5][4] Her later releases have been favorably compared to her first two EPs, with critics noting the more mature lyrics and refined composition of Swim Against the Tide and Good at Falling.

Bain's debut album Good at Falling was praised by its critics for its dark, heartfelt lyrics and light, pop melodies.

[66] Her use of overlapping harmonies to create "a kind of thick, organic Auto-tune [sic]" has been praised for lending depth to her tracks.

The song "Maybe You're the Reason" from Good at Falling deals with her past struggles with an eating disorder, and this subject is also depicted in the music video for "Lilo".

[71] At the time of a 2019 interview with W Magazine, Bain stated that she was in a three-way polyamorous relationship with Polly Mackey, also known as Art School Girlfriend.

[72] Bain stated in 2020 that although she previously felt that being gay explained her gender expression, due to changing perceptions of sexuality, "maybe [she] would identify as nonbinary now, because [she doesn't] feel fully female.