Mirei Kitahara (北原ミレイ), born Reiko Minami 1949 July 18, is an enka singer from Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan. After graduating from high school, Kitahara went to Tokyo, where she studied under Kuranosuke Hamaguchi (浜口庫之助), and worked as a singer in various night clubs. Her work drew the attention of singer Hiroshi Mizuhara (水原弘), which eventually led Kitahara being discovered by songwriter Yu Aku (阿久悠). Kitahara released her début single, "Zange no neuchi mo nai" (「ざんげの値打ちもない」), in 1970.