Ryoko Hirosue emerged as a pop singer and actress in Japan during the mid-1990s, and her music career includes a direct connection to anime through her single Jeans. Born on July 18, 1980 in Kochi, Japan, Hirosue was first recruited as a cosmetics model at age 14, which led to a dual career in acting and singing. Her debut single Maji de Koi Suru 5-Byou Mae was released in 1997, followed by the album Arigatou. Her musical style in this period was described as high-energy, summery pop that contrasted with the synth-heavy sound dominating Japanese charts at the time.

Hirosue's most notable anime-related credit is the song Jeans, which was released as her fourth single on October 7, 1998 under Warner Music Japan. The track served as the fifth ending theme for the television anime The File of Young Kindaichi, also known as Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo. The single was released on Mini CD format and included the title track along with a B-side titled Private, plus instrumental versions of both songs. For the anime connection specifically, Jeans was used as the ending theme for episodes 63 through 73 of the series.

The credits for the Jeans single involved several notable contributors. The vocals were performed by Ryoko Hirosue. The song Jeans featured lyrics by Takeshi Aida, with composition and arrangement by Hirofumi Asamoto. The B-side Private was written and composed by Ringo Sheena, who was in the early stages of her own celebrated career, with arrangement by Yuta Saito. This collaboration marked the first time Ringo Sheena had written a song for another artist, and the lyrics were specifically tailored for Hirosue. Private later became the title track of Hirosues second studio album, released on January 17, 1999, and was also used as an ending theme for the NTV variety show Ojamanbou.

Hirosues broader discography includes several albums. Her debut album Arigatou was released in November 1997. The mini-album Winter Gift 98 followed in October 1998. Her second full-length studio album Private arrived in January 1999. A greatest hits compilation titled RH Singles &... was released later in 1999, followed by a remix album called RH Remix on August 29, 2001, and the compilation Hirosue Ryoko Perfect Collection on February 27, 2002. The RH Remix album featured remix contributions from several artists, including the band Stereolab, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and Spanova. Hirosue performed her first live tour in February 1999, which included a performance at the Budokan on February 7, 1999, later released as a CD and DVD set titled Hirosue Ryoko First Live: RH Debut Tour 1999.

Hirosues musical identity is that of a Japanese pop idol whose singing career was closely tied to her rising profile as an actress. Her industry significance includes achieving platinum certifications from the RIAJ for her early singles and albums, as well as her role in bringing a song written by Ringo Sheena to a wider audience. Following the release of RH Remix in 2001 and her international film debut in Luc Bessons Wasabi the same year, Hirosue gradually shifted her focus away from music and toward acting. While her active recording career was concentrated in the late 1990s, her song Jeans remains a documented example of her work within the anime industry.