In my opinion someone can only be famous if that person fulfills the possibility to promote themself. There are 3 conditions that can help, but either are not necessary to come together (you can only have 2 of them) or not sufficient enough in itself. These 3 conditions are "physical attractiveness", "performance ability" and "personality". Kaori fulfills to a degree all 3, but here promotional management is not the best to put it kindly. She is beautiful and cute, although a bit on some departments would not been that bad, she is a highly developed singer and despity having some key problems, she still is above most Jpop singers, although she is not good at dancing but wc, and she is outgoing, expressive and charismatic, but she never promoted herself in a way that more people got interested in her. I always believe singing songs for more popular shows and making more tours or better pvs would have helped, but now she is already 36 and married and when she get her child and goes for some years on maternity leave then the chances of her that her solo success would match her talent will slim down.
I see your points and agree with you that (with my obviously limited knowledge) it seems the branding hasn't seemed to be the most effective for positioning her as a compelling solo artist. I would add the music as well. It's like she's been trying to stand out in a style that isn't always suited to her vocal style.
She's been promoted as a regular JPop singer (in the few MVs I've seen) with the cuteness and looks being highlighted. That is the usual combo for JPop singers - cuteness and high singing voice. The thing is that Kaori's potential not the usual JPop style. I consider her having more of a character/theme singer than just a pop ballad artist.
I will admit I am biased visually towards the Sound Horizon days and recall some of the acting/singing elements.
I have come to imagine a heavier theme and branding for her.
Music that's pop but with a metal tinge, not straight poppy - more dramatic. It would have been something she would need to embody willingly though. Her heavier belts could go with the heavier guitars and syncopated elements. She could be a sort of Anneke van Giensbergen-style singer. It's more niche, but I think it's more suited to her voice and physique.
I also feel like anisong is a core path to generalized mainstream fame unless you're at the level of the classic pop divas like Utada Hikaru, etc.. Part of that kind ofƒsuccess is just being born at a beginning of the wave in culture and being able to speak directly to it with your music, lyrics, branding, and a unique and commanding personality, aka the phenomenon called "Ado".
Again, JUNNA is like Kaori being a belter and having a wide range as well. Her work with the "Magus Bride" anime she's been singing for, is the kind of thing I feel Kaori could sing, but not as a one-off. As a brand. To compare, Keiko is just starting to lean into the dark/moody/sultry low-voice crooner image that so many have had of her from the Kalafina days, after going through a period of trying everything that she was presented by her team.
Not everyone has a manager/team that can see
a clear place that fits them to fill in the music landscape then aggressively push their branding/music into that space. But they also need to be very ambitious and equally ready to put in the work to get it done for the length of a career.
I think it is beautiful for Kaori to get married and raise a family if that is what she wants. I am 100% behind that decision for her. I do think she has a strong NEED to sing and keep singing. Maybe she'll find a happy middle ground to keep doing that as she changes gears in life.
