"To Mother" is the sixteenth single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui

Yui (singer)

, stylized as YUI, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, and radio personality. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan when she was 17 and released her debut single months later...

. It was released on June 2, 2010 by Gr8! Records. The single debuted atop the Oricon

Oricon

, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...

 Weekly Single Chart, becoming her seventh number-one single. It was the first song in which Yui replaced guitar for piano.

Background and writing

Although Yui's first song in which she exchanges her guitar for a piano, it was first written using a guitar. When asked about the decision in writing the song, unsurprisingly, was in support of mothers of the world. She also added that although she frequently wrote upbeat songs and melodies on encouraging people, for this song she wanted to look around her own life and see who was important to her. Yui also talked specifically about the lyric, "kindness is so cruel, isn’t it?", Original text: "やさしさって 残酷よね？" inferring that when someone gets hurt, loved ones feel the pain as well. She also talked about the variety of perspective present in the song, through lyrics such as "isn't hatred just a misunderstanding" Original text: "憎しみって ささいなすれ違いでしょ？" or "kindness is a thing [that] if snuggled together, a comforting thing". Original text: "悲しみって 寄り添えば何処となく 温かくて"

Music video

The video primarily shows Yui playing a piano, with occasional focuses on her band. Interestingly, this is her first video in which her entire supporting band was Western. Chris, the drummer, would go on to play with Yui in a variety of live performances such as Rock in Japan Festival

Rock in Japan Festival

The Rock in Japan Festival is an annual three-day rock festival held during early August in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, organized by Rockin'on. At this festival appear many J-pop artists. Rock in Japan Festival is the biggest rock festival in Japan....

 or providing drumming tracks to songs, including "I do it

Holidays in the Sun (album)

Holidays in the Sun is the fourth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on July 14, 2010.-Track listing:Regular EditionLimited EditionRegular Edition + DVD-Charts:...

" and "Hello (Paradise Kiss)

Hello (Paradise Kiss)

-Sales Charts :The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for having shipped more than 100,000 copies to stores....

".

Normal Edition

Limited Edition

(Normal Edition + DVD)

Oricon sales chart (Japan)

Charts (2010)	Peak position	Chart Run
Japan Oricon Weekly Single Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...	1	9