YUI
Encyclopedia
, 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. However her singles were only met with moderate success until her breakout "Good-bye Days
", which charted for 44 weeks on Oricon
and marked her as one of the Japanese music industry's rising stars.
Since her debut album, From Me to You, each of her albums has topped the charts, and has had at least one single reach number one yearly since 2007, including five straight from mid-2008 to late-2010.
She is popular in Japan and in surrounding countries, ranking number one in 2011 Count Down TV
"Dearest Female Artist" and Music Station
"Artist You Most Want to Marry" polls, as well as Radio Television Hong Kong
's "Most Popular Japanese Artist".
, Japan. She grew up in a single-parent family; her father left her mother when she was three. She stated that she had always been close to music, as she would remember the beats from music she heard on the radio, and could sing it. By the time she was in elementary school she thought she would like to become a singer.
Self-described as shy and horrible at talking to others as a child, she would play outside by herself in mountains, rivers, by the sea and in rice paddies. In her third year, she was influenced by her mother to begin writing a journal of her feelings and tried to compose them into poems. By the time she was in high school, she began to write songs, and she thought of that as being managing to be able express herself little by little. While in high school, she worked part-time at a Chinese restaurant to help pay for tuition. With her workload, she thought she no longer had the time to realize her dreams of a music career. For example, between music, school and work, she only had one or two hours of sleep; she would eventually get ill. While in the hospital, she was overwhelmed with the desire to make music and finally decided that school and music could not coexist.
Soon after leaving the hospital, she got a chance to see her first live street performance. She expressed a desire to pursue a musical career to the band, Bianco Nero, at the end of the concert. The band advised Yui to join a private music school. Despite the social norm of finishing school in Japan and discouragement from her teachers, Yui did not hesitate to drop out of high school and began to study guitar and songwriting at a juku
(cram school) in her hometown of Fukuoka. Aspiring to become a professional, she took to street performing at Fukuoka's Tenjin Station
. These street performances helped Yui to overcome her shyness.
. Despite the audition rule that a participant could only perform two songs, Yui was allowed to sing three. She first sang "Why Me" (a song later included in her debut single), followed by "It's Happy Line" and "I Know". The judges gave her the maximum score. Because "I Know" was incomplete at the time, the judges were able to get a glimpse of what would later be dubbed ", or Yui-speak, nonsensical English hummed to a tune during her songwriting process — an example of Yui-go can be found in the film Song of the Sun
when Yui is working on the song "Goodbye Days".
On December 24, 2004, she released her debut single, "It's Happy Line", under the indie label Leaflet Records, coupled with the track "I Know". The pressing was limited to only 2,000 copies in her home area.
On February 23, Yui released her first major debut single "Feel My Soul". With the publicity the drama tie-in drew in, "Feel My Soul" managed to sell over 100,000 copies and managed to chart at number 8 on Oricon
Weekly Charts in its first week. Her next three singles, "Tomorrow's Way" (theme song for the movie Hinokio
), "Life" (5th ending theme for the Bleach
anime), and "Tokyo" did not chart as high as "Feel My Soul", and were only moderately successful in comparison.
After the release of four singles, Yui released her debut album, titled From Me to You, a moderate success with sales of more than 200,000 copies.
(Taiyou no uta, タイヨウのうた), which opened on June 17, 2006. The film was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival
. Yui attended the Japan Academy Prize and received the Best Newcomer Award for Midnight Sun. Prior to the release of the movie, Yui released her fifth single "Good-bye Days
" written specifically for the film. The single is by far her highest selling at more than 200,000 copies sold. All three tracks on the single are featured in Midnight Sun. The single also re-released the track "It's Happy Line", originally released on her debut single.
Her next single, "I Remember You", did well in terms of sales, riding on the wave of the popularity of "Good-bye Days". Yui's seventh single "Rolling Star
" was chosen as the 5th opening theme for the Bleach
anime. Her eighth single, "Cherry" was featured in commercial promoting KDDI
, a Listen Mobile Service.
She released her second album Can't Buy My Love
on April 4, 2007. The album spending two weeks at number 1 on the Oricon
charts, shattering her entire previous album's record sales in one week. Can't Buy My Love managed to sell over 680,000 copies. Due to the success of Can't Buy My Love, Yui's previous album, From Me to You charted once again, adding another 9,000 copies to the Oricon counting.
at Stardust Promotion, Yūko Takeuchi
). The single charted at number 1 on the Oricon
Weekly Charts the first week of its release.
Her tenth single, "Love & Truth
" was released on September 26, 2007. The title track is the theme song to the film Closed Note (クローズド・ノート) (starring Erika Sawajiri
, also of Stardust).
During this time, her previous two albums were re-released as Winter Sleeve Editions in alternative covers taken from her "Love & Truth" photoshoot. Her first live concert DVD Thank You My Teens
was released on November 14, 2007, which contained footage of her second live concert tour.
On November 19, 2007, Yui opened her first live show at Nippon Budokan
, which promptly sold out. The Budokan concert was structured similar to a live performance, which a writer from B-Pass called it fitting considering her beginnings as a street performer on the streets of Fukuoka.
Yui started 2008 with her eleventh single, "Namidairo
", released on February 27, 2008. Yui composed the song as a "mysterious and sad sounding" insert for the television drama 4 Shimai Tantei Dan. The chorus of the song was incidentally written by Yui long ago, during her singing debut.
A week following the release of her 11th single, the promotional video of a new song "Laugh Away", was released. The song was used in Glico's "Watering KissMint" commercial. "Laugh Away" was released as a digital single on March 10, 2008.
Her third studio album was released on April 9, 2008 titled I Loved Yesterday
. It quickly charted at number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and sold more than 400,000 copies, only a little behind her second album. The 10th track on the album, titled "Oh Yeah", was used as the opening theme to Mezamashi TV
, a morning television show. The limited edition version of the album included a DVD which contained music videos of her previous singles and live footage of her Nippon Budokan
show. The album was composed mainly of semi-ballads with much of the same themes as her previous releases such as youth.
Yui's third tour, named "Oui: I Loved Yesterday'" started in May 2008 and ran until July.
" again charting at number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. "Summer Song
" sold 83,440 copies in a week, making "Summer Song" second highest in first week sales after "Love & Truth."
Yui released her B-side compilation album, My Short Stories
, on 12 November 2008, which charted at number 1 on Oricon
. The album included all the B-side tracks of all her singles to date, along with a new song "I'll Be". Yui is the second female artist whose B-side compilation album topped the charts, after Seiko Matsuda
's Touch Me in 1984. The last compilation album that reached No. 1 was Mr. Children
's B-Side
in May 2007. On the success of "My Short Stories
", sales of her first album From Me to You rose again.
In her "Yui Diary" blog entry on August 29, 2008, Yui mentioned that she would put her career on hold, not making any public appearances after the release of the album. With this break, she would be able to fully concentrate on her plans for the next year. During this break, she co-wrote the song "I Do It" with Okinawa
girl band Stereopony
. It was released as Stereopony's third single on April 22, 2009.
Yui announced her return from her 5-month hiatus on March 25, 2009 on her official website. The single celebrating her return is an up-tempo tune titled "Again
." The track was chosen as the first opening theme of the new season of the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood anime, premiered on April 5, 2009. The single was released on June 3, 2009. "Again" debuted atop the Oricon charts, selling over 110,000 copies in its first week. It currently has the highest opening week sales for a female act in 2009.
Her website YUI-net.com announced the release of her second double-A side single named "It's All Too Much/Never Say Die
" on July 27, 2009. The two songs were featured in the movie adaptation of Kaiji
as both a theme and an insert song. The single was released on October 7, 2009 and Kaiji released on October 10, 2009. The single debuted at number 1, selling 75,000 copies in its first week of sales. This is her fifth overall number 1 single. Yui released "Gloria
" on January 20, 2010. It was another chart-topper, selling 80,000 copies in the first week. Her next single, "To Mother
," was released on June 2, 2010.
On July 14, 2010, Yui released her fourth studio album Holidays in the Sun
, which included her five singles from "Summer Song" to "To Mother". It became her fourth straight album to top the Oricon charts, eventually selling over 300,000 copies, and attained the certification of Platinum.
" was released on November 24, 2010. Yui's released a double-A side of "It's My Life/Your Heaven
," on January 26, 2011. Yui traveled to Sweden for the shooting of the "Your Heaven" music video and a short movie showing Yui's journey to various places and shops in Sweden.e
Yui's tour DVD, Holidays in the Sun was released on March 9. Her newest single, "Hello (Paradise Kiss)
", was released on June 1, 2011, the A-side and B-side being theme song and ending song, respectively, of the live-action movie "Paradise Kiss
". On June 16, 2011, Yui traveled to Hong Kong for her first overseas concert at the AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, performing to a capacity audience of 14,000 people.
Yui visited schools in stricken areas from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
on July 7, 2011, and performed a charity concert. Her single "Green a.Live
" uses the emotions and thoughts she felt from the visit, and was released on October 5, 2011. It was previewed on the Tokyo FM
radio show School of Lock on August 22.. On September 10, 2011, it was announced on Yui's website that she would be conducting a fifth tour titled "Cruising: How Crazy Your Love". "Green a.Live" debuted on top of the charts, and became her first number one single since July of 2010.
On November 2, 2011, Yui's album How Crazy Your Love
was released. The album debuted at number one on the daily charts, selling just under 50,000 copies on the first day of releaes, and would go on to reach number one on the weekly charts - making How Crazy Your Love her fifth straight album to debut at the weekly number one.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, actress
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
. Born and raised in Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
when she was 17 and released her debut single months later. However her singles were only met with moderate success until her breakout "Good-bye Days
Good-bye days
-Oricon Sales Chart :...
", which charted for 44 weeks on 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...
and marked her as one of the Japanese music industry's rising stars.
Since her debut album, From Me to You, each of her albums has topped the charts, and has had at least one single reach number one yearly since 2007, including five straight from mid-2008 to late-2010.
She is popular in Japan and in surrounding countries, ranking number one in 2011 Count Down TV
Count Down TV
is a Japanese late night music television show, originally broadcast on TBS from 1993 onwards. The program is shown weekly, and features a Japanese music video hit chart countdown, live performances from musicians and music information...
"Dearest Female Artist" and Music Station
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. It began broadcasting on October 24, 1986 and continues to be broadcast weekly in High-definition from 8PM-9PM on tv asahi...
"Artist You Most Want to Marry" polls, as well as Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
's "Most Popular Japanese Artist".
Early life
Yui was born in FukuokaFukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, Japan. She grew up in a single-parent family; her father left her mother when she was three. She stated that she had always been close to music, as she would remember the beats from music she heard on the radio, and could sing it. By the time she was in elementary school she thought she would like to become a singer.
Self-described as shy and horrible at talking to others as a child, she would play outside by herself in mountains, rivers, by the sea and in rice paddies. In her third year, she was influenced by her mother to begin writing a journal of her feelings and tried to compose them into poems. By the time she was in high school, she began to write songs, and she thought of that as being managing to be able express herself little by little. While in high school, she worked part-time at a Chinese restaurant to help pay for tuition. With her workload, she thought she no longer had the time to realize her dreams of a music career. For example, between music, school and work, she only had one or two hours of sleep; she would eventually get ill. While in the hospital, she was overwhelmed with the desire to make music and finally decided that school and music could not coexist.
Soon after leaving the hospital, she got a chance to see her first live street performance. She expressed a desire to pursue a musical career to the band, Bianco Nero, at the end of the concert. The band advised Yui to join a private music school. Despite the social norm of finishing school in Japan and discouragement from her teachers, Yui did not hesitate to drop out of high school and began to study guitar and songwriting at a juku
Juku
Gakushū juku are special private schools that offer lessons conducted after regular school hours and on the weekends....
(cram school) in her hometown of Fukuoka. Aspiring to become a professional, she took to street performing at Fukuoka's Tenjin Station
Tenjin Station
is a subway station located in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. Its station symbol are 5 green dots arranged in a circle, representing a plum blossom. The station is located directly under in Tenjin, Fukuoka...
. These street performances helped Yui to overcome her shyness.
Initial career
Her professional career began in March 2004 when, at the recommendation of her juku instructors, she applied for an audition hosted by Sony Music JapanSony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
. Despite the audition rule that a participant could only perform two songs, Yui was allowed to sing three. She first sang "Why Me" (a song later included in her debut single), followed by "It's Happy Line" and "I Know". The judges gave her the maximum score. Because "I Know" was incomplete at the time, the judges were able to get a glimpse of what would later be dubbed ", or Yui-speak, nonsensical English hummed to a tune during her songwriting process — an example of Yui-go can be found in the film Song of the Sun
Midnight Sun (film)
Song to the Sun, known in Japan as , is a movie directed by Norihiro Koizumi starring the Japanese artist and singer Yui. In the movie, she plays the role of Kaoru Amane , a 16 year old girl who has the rare skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum , a disease that makes the ultraviolet radiation of...
when Yui is working on the song "Goodbye Days".
On December 24, 2004, she released her debut single, "It's Happy Line", under the indie label Leaflet Records, coupled with the track "I Know". The pressing was limited to only 2,000 copies in her home area.
From Me to You (2005–2006)
Upon leaving her hometown in Fukuoka for Tokyo, Yui wrote the song "Feel My Soul" as a tribute to her hometown. Although she initially had planned its release on an indie label, Fuji Television producer Mr. Yamaguchi was so inspired by Yui's voice that he insisted on having her work on the music for his primetime drama Fukigen na Gene even before she released her first major single. The music in Fukigen na Gene was eventually based on her songs "Feel My Soul" and "It's Happy Line".On February 23, Yui released her first major debut single "Feel My Soul". With the publicity the drama tie-in drew in, "Feel My Soul" managed to sell over 100,000 copies and managed to chart at number 8 on 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 Charts in its first week. Her next three singles, "Tomorrow's Way" (theme song for the movie Hinokio
Hinokio
Hinokio is a 2005 Japanese science fiction film directed by Takahiko Akiyama and starring Masatoshi Nakamura, Kanata Hongo and Mikako Tabe. Its tagline is "Inter Galactic Love".-Overview:...
), "Life" (5th ending theme for the Bleach
Bleach (manga)
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
anime), and "Tokyo" did not chart as high as "Feel My Soul", and were only moderately successful in comparison.
After the release of four singles, Yui released her debut album, titled From Me to You, a moderate success with sales of more than 200,000 copies.
Can't Buy My Love (2006–2007)
Yui made her acting debut in the full-length feature film Song of the SunMidnight Sun (film)
Song to the Sun, known in Japan as , is a movie directed by Norihiro Koizumi starring the Japanese artist and singer Yui. In the movie, she plays the role of Kaoru Amane , a 16 year old girl who has the rare skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum , a disease that makes the ultraviolet radiation of...
(Taiyou no uta, タイヨウのうた), which opened on June 17, 2006. The film was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival
2006 Cannes Film Festival
The 2006 Cannes Film Festival ran from May 17, 2006 to May 28, 2006. Twenty films from eleven countries were in competition for the Palme d'Or. The President of the Official Jury was Wong Kar-wai, the first Chinese director to preside over the jury....
. Yui attended the Japan Academy Prize and received the Best Newcomer Award for Midnight Sun. Prior to the release of the movie, Yui released her fifth single "Good-bye Days
Good-bye days
-Oricon Sales Chart :...
" written specifically for the film. The single is by far her highest selling at more than 200,000 copies sold. All three tracks on the single are featured in Midnight Sun. The single also re-released the track "It's Happy Line", originally released on her debut single.
Her next single, "I Remember You", did well in terms of sales, riding on the wave of the popularity of "Good-bye Days". Yui's seventh single "Rolling Star
Rolling Star
"Rolling Star" is the seventh single of singer/songwriter Yui released January 17, 2007, and her first under the official Studioseven Recordings label...
" was chosen as the 5th opening theme for the Bleach
Bleach (manga)
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
anime. Her eighth single, "Cherry" was featured in commercial promoting KDDI
KDDI
is a Japanese telecommunications operator formed in October 2000 through the merger of DDI Corp., KDD Corp., and IDO Corp. It has its headquarters in the Garden Air Tower in Iidabashi, Chiyoda, Tokyo....
, a Listen Mobile Service.
She released her second album Can't Buy My Love
Can't Buy My Love
Can't Buy My Love is the second album of Japanese singer and songwriter Yui. The album was released 4 April 2007 and reached #1 on the Oricon charts....
on April 4, 2007. The album spending two weeks at number 1 on 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...
charts, shattering her entire previous album's record sales in one week. Can't Buy My Love managed to sell over 680,000 copies. Due to the success of Can't Buy My Love, Yui's previous album, From Me to You charted once again, adding another 9,000 copies to the Oricon counting.
I Loved Yesterday (2007–2008)
Yui released her 9th single "My Generation/Understand" on June 13, 2007. It was her first double A-side single. "My Generation" was selected as the ending theme for the TV drama Seito Shokun!, and "Understand" was chosen as the theme song for the movie Dog in a Sidecar (サイドカーに犬), (starring her senpaiSenpai
and are an essential element of Japanese seniority-based status relationships, similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age, with even twins being divided into elder and younger sibling...
at Stardust Promotion, Yūko Takeuchi
Yuko Takeuchi
is a Japanese actress. She made her big break with NHK's television series Asuka and JT Green's commercial. She has gone on to star in many TV shows, movies, and commercials....
). The single charted at number 1 on 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 Charts the first week of its release.
Her tenth single, "Love & Truth
Love & Truth
"Love & Truth" is the tenth single by the Japanese artist Yui. The title song, "Love & Truth", was used for the Japanese movie Closed Note starring Erika Sawajiri, who played Yui's counterpart role in the TV drama version of Taiyō no Uta....
" was released on September 26, 2007. The title track is the theme song to the film Closed Note (クローズド・ノート) (starring Erika Sawajiri
Erika Sawajiri
is a Japan-based actress, model, and musician. Her alias in her music career was Kaoru Amane, but she has recently started her own project under the name Erika...
, also of Stardust).
During this time, her previous two albums were re-released as Winter Sleeve Editions in alternative covers taken from her "Love & Truth" photoshoot. Her first live concert DVD Thank You My Teens
Thank You My Teens
-Background and information:First ever live DVD release from Yui celebrating her twentieth birthday and thanking her teenage days with footage of her recent all-Japan concert tour and behind-the-scenes footage and video. The DVD features her 2nd Tour Spring & Jump: Can't Buy My Love gig at the ...
was released on November 14, 2007, which contained footage of her second live concert tour.
On November 19, 2007, Yui opened her first live show at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
, which promptly sold out. The Budokan concert was structured similar to a live performance, which a writer from B-Pass called it fitting considering her beginnings as a street performer on the streets of Fukuoka.
Yui started 2008 with her eleventh single, "Namidairo
Namidairo
"Namidairo" is the first single of 2008 by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. The single was released on February 27, 2008. The title song is a tie-up for the TV drama, 4 Shimai Tantei Dan.-Background and writing:...
", released on February 27, 2008. Yui composed the song as a "mysterious and sad sounding" insert for the television drama 4 Shimai Tantei Dan. The chorus of the song was incidentally written by Yui long ago, during her singing debut.
A week following the release of her 11th single, the promotional video of a new song "Laugh Away", was released. The song was used in Glico's "Watering KissMint" commercial. "Laugh Away" was released as a digital single on March 10, 2008.
Her third studio album was released on April 9, 2008 titled I Loved Yesterday
I Loved Yesterday
-Oricon sales charts :...
. It quickly charted at number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and sold more than 400,000 copies, only a little behind her second album. The 10th track on the album, titled "Oh Yeah", was used as the opening theme to Mezamashi TV
Mezamashi TV
Mezamashi TV is a Japanese news magazine show broadcast every weekday on Fuji TV from 5:25 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. but not on TV Oita because there is "ZIP!" produced and copyrighted by Nippon TV on TV Oita....
, a morning television show. The limited edition version of the album included a DVD which contained music videos of her previous singles and live footage of her Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
show. The album was composed mainly of semi-ballads with much of the same themes as her previous releases such as youth.
Yui's third tour, named "Oui: I Loved Yesterday'" started in May 2008 and ran until July.
My Short Stories/Holidays in the Sun (2008–2010)
On July 2, 2008, Yui released "Summer SongSummer Song
"Summer Song" is the second single of 2008 by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. The single was released on July 2, 2008. Summer Song was aired on the last episode of Yui Locks on May 29, 2008....
" again charting at number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. "Summer Song
Summer Song
"Summer Song" is the second single of 2008 by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. The single was released on July 2, 2008. Summer Song was aired on the last episode of Yui Locks on May 29, 2008....
" sold 83,440 copies in a week, making "Summer Song" second highest in first week sales after "Love & Truth."
Yui released her B-side compilation album, My Short Stories
My Short Stories
My Short Stories is the first B-side compilation album by the popular Japanese singer-songwriter Yui that was released on November 12, 2008. This album contains all the past B sides of her past singles and a new song titled "I'll be"....
, on 12 November 2008, which charted at number 1 on 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...
. The album included all the B-side tracks of all her singles to date, along with a new song "I'll Be". Yui is the second female artist whose B-side compilation album topped the charts, after Seiko Matsuda
Seiko Matsuda
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
's Touch Me in 1984. The last compilation album that reached No. 1 was Mr. Children
Mr. Children
, commonly called , is a Japanese rock band formed in 1988 by Kazutoshi Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki. As a group, they are one of the most successful Japanese rock artists, having sold over 50 million records and creating the in the mid 1990s in Japan...
's B-Side
B-Side (album)
B-SIDE is a compilation album by Mr. Children, released on May 10, 2007, marking the fifteenth anniversary of their first album's release. It collects all of the group's B-sides, with a booklet providing liner notes for each of them....
in May 2007. On the success of "My Short Stories
My Short Stories
My Short Stories is the first B-side compilation album by the popular Japanese singer-songwriter Yui that was released on November 12, 2008. This album contains all the past B sides of her past singles and a new song titled "I'll be"....
", sales of her first album From Me to You rose again.
In her "Yui Diary" blog entry on August 29, 2008, Yui mentioned that she would put her career on hold, not making any public appearances after the release of the album. With this break, she would be able to fully concentrate on her plans for the next year. During this break, she co-wrote the song "I Do It" with Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
girl band Stereopony
Stereopony
, is a Japanese rock band that formed in Okinawa, Japan in 2007, consisting of Aimi , Nohana , and Shiho...
. It was released as Stereopony's third single on April 22, 2009.
Yui announced her return from her 5-month hiatus on March 25, 2009 on her official website. The single celebrating her return is an up-tempo tune titled "Again
Again (Yui song)
Limited EditionNormal Edition + DVD-Charts:-Sales and certifications:-Chart procession and succession:-Popular Culture:"Again" was used as the opening theme song for the 2009 anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for the episodes 1-14....
." The track was chosen as the first opening theme of the new season of the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood anime, premiered on April 5, 2009. The single was released on June 3, 2009. "Again" debuted atop the Oricon charts, selling over 110,000 copies in its first week. It currently has the highest opening week sales for a female act in 2009.
Her website YUI-net.com announced the release of her second double-A side single named "It's All Too Much/Never Say Die
It's All Too Much/Never Say Die
"It's All Too Much"/"Never Say Die" is the fourteenth single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. The single was released on October 7, 2009. These two songs were used for a movie version of the anime version of Kaiji, as a theme song and an insert song...
" on July 27, 2009. The two songs were featured in the movie adaptation of Kaiji
Kaiji (manga)
is a Japanese manga series about the art of gambling, written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. It is published by Kodansha in Young Magazine. The first part of the manga , was adapted as a 26-episode anime television series called , which began airing October 2007...
as both a theme and an insert song. The single was released on October 7, 2009 and Kaiji released on October 10, 2009. The single debuted at number 1, selling 75,000 copies in its first week of sales. This is her fifth overall number 1 single. Yui released "Gloria
Gloria (Yui song)
Limited EditionNormal Edition + DVD-Chart performance:"Gloria" debuted at number-one on the Oricon weekly chart and became the artists sixth number-one single.-Charts:-Sales and certifications:-References:...
" on January 20, 2010. It was another chart-topper, selling 80,000 copies in the first week. Her next single, "To Mother
To Mother (song)
"To Mother" is the sixteenth single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on June 2, 2010 by Gr8! Records. The single debuted atop the Oricon Weekly Single Chart, becoming her seventh number-one single...
," was released on June 2, 2010.
On July 14, 2010, Yui released her fourth studio album Holidays in the Sun
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:...
, which included her five singles from "Summer Song" to "To Mother". It became her fourth straight album to top the Oricon charts, eventually selling over 300,000 copies, and attained the certification of Platinum.
How Crazy Your Love (2010-present)
Her single "RainRain (Yui song)
"Rain" is the seventeenth single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on November 24, 2010. The title song is a tie-in for the Fuji TV drama series Perfect Report...
" was released on November 24, 2010. Yui's released a double-A side of "It's My Life/Your Heaven
It's My Life/Your Heaven
"It's My Life / Your Heaven" is the eighteenth single and third double A-side single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. The single was released on January 26, 2011.-Background and writing:...
," on January 26, 2011. Yui traveled to Sweden for the shooting of the "Your Heaven" music video and a short movie showing Yui's journey to various places and shops in Sweden.e
Yui's tour DVD, Holidays in the Sun was released on March 9. Her newest single, "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....
", was released on June 1, 2011, the A-side and B-side being theme song and ending song, respectively, of the live-action movie "Paradise Kiss
Paradise Kiss (film)
is a 2011 Japanese film based on the manga of the same name. The film is directed by Takehiko Shinjo, and it stars actors Keiko Kitagawa, Osamu Mukai, Yusuke Yamamoto.-Cast:* Keiko Kitagawa as Yukari 'Caroline' Hayasaka* Osamu Mukai as Jouji 'George' Koizumi...
". On June 16, 2011, Yui traveled to Hong Kong for her first overseas concert at the AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, performing to a capacity audience of 14,000 people.
Yui visited schools in stricken areas from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
on July 7, 2011, and performed a charity concert. Her single "Green a.Live
Green a.Live
- Oricon Sales Chart :...
" uses the emotions and thoughts she felt from the visit, and was released on October 5, 2011. It was previewed on the Tokyo FM
Tokyo FM
Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. is a radio station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flagship station of the Japan FM Network .-Program:*Countdown Station** DHC Countdown jp** cosmo Pops Best 10...
radio show School of Lock on August 22.. On September 10, 2011, it was announced on Yui's website that she would be conducting a fifth tour titled "Cruising: How Crazy Your Love". "Green a.Live" debuted on top of the charts, and became her first number one single since July of 2010.
On November 2, 2011, Yui's album How Crazy Your Love
How Crazy Your Love
How Crazy Your Love is the fifth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui, released on November 2, 2011. It became her fifth consecutive album to top the Oricon charts, becoming the first female artist to do so since Utada Hikaru's Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, which was released...
was released. The album debuted at number one on the daily charts, selling just under 50,000 copies on the first day of releaes, and would go on to reach number one on the weekly charts - making How Crazy Your Love her fifth straight album to debut at the weekly number one.
Studio albums
- From Me to You (2006)
- Can't Buy My LoveCan't Buy My LoveCan't Buy My Love is the second album of Japanese singer and songwriter Yui. The album was released 4 April 2007 and reached #1 on the Oricon charts....
(2007) - I Loved YesterdayI Loved Yesterday-Oricon sales charts :...
(2008) - Holidays in the SunHolidays 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:...
(2010) - How Crazy Your LoveHow Crazy Your LoveHow Crazy Your Love is the fifth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui, released on November 2, 2011. It became her fifth consecutive album to top the Oricon charts, becoming the first female artist to do so since Utada Hikaru's Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, which was released...
(2011)
DVD
- Thank You My TeensThank You My Teens-Background and information:First ever live DVD release from Yui celebrating her twentieth birthday and thanking her teenage days with footage of her recent all-Japan concert tour and behind-the-scenes footage and video. The DVD features her 2nd Tour Spring & Jump: Can't Buy My Love gig at the ...
(November 14, 2007) - Yui 4th Tour 2010: Hotel Holidays in the SunYui 4th Tour 2010: Hotel Holidays in the Sun"Hotel Holidays in the Sun" is the second live DVD released by Yui. It was released on March 9, 2011 and contains footage of the final performance in her "Holidays in the Sun" tour...
(March 9, 2011)
Tours
- Yui First Tour 2006 "7 Street": Live Life Love (March 21 - April 18, 2006)
- Yui Second Tour 2007 "Spring & Jump": Can't Buy My Love (April 13 - June 1, 2007)
- Yui Third Tour 2008 "Oui": I Loved Yesterday (May 5 - July 19, 2008)
- Yui Fourth Tour 2010: Hotel Holidays in the Sun (September 12 - November 2, 2010)
- Yui Fifth Tour 2011: "Cruising": How Crazy Your Love (November 11, 2011 - January 25, 2012)
Single-day Performances
- Yui Live 2007 at Nippon BudokanNippon BudokanThe , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
(November 19, 2007) - Yui Live 2011: Hong Kong Hotel Holidays in the Sun (June 26th, 2011)
Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Herself | 20th Japan Gold Disc Awards: Artist of the Year | |
| Herself | 30th Japan Academy Prize: Rookie of Year | ||
| Good-bye Days Good-bye days -Oricon Sales Chart :... |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan: Best Video From a Film (from Midnight Sun Midnight Sun (film) Song to the Sun, known in Japan as , is a movie directed by Norihiro Koizumi starring the Japanese artist and singer Yui. In the movie, she plays the role of Kaoru Amane , a 16 year old girl who has the rare skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum , a disease that makes the ultraviolet radiation of... ) |
||
| 2008 | Herself | MTV Student Voice Award 2008: Best Artist | |
| Love & Truth Love & Truth "Love & Truth" is the tenth single by the Japanese artist Yui. The title song, "Love & Truth", was used for the Japanese movie Closed Note starring Erika Sawajiri, who played Yui's counterpart role in the TV drama version of Taiyō no Uta.... |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan: Best Pop Video | ||
| Love & Truth Love & Truth "Love & Truth" is the tenth single by the Japanese artist Yui. The title song, "Love & Truth", was used for the Japanese movie Closed Note starring Erika Sawajiri, who played Yui's counterpart role in the TV drama version of Taiyō no Uta.... |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan: Best Video From a Film (from Closed Note) | ||
| My Generation | Space Shower Music Video Awards 08: Best Pop Video | ||
| 2010 | Gloria Gloria (Yui song) Limited EditionNormal Edition + DVD-Chart performance:"Gloria" debuted at number-one on the Oricon weekly chart and became the artists sixth number-one single.-Charts:-Sales and certifications:-References:... |
1st Brazil's J-Station Music Awards: Hit of The Year | |
| 2011 | Rain Rain (Yui song) "Rain" is the seventeenth single by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on November 24, 2010. The title song is a tie-in for the Fuji TV drama series Perfect Report... |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan The 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan were held in Chiba on June 25, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe. The VMAJ were the culmination of MTV Japan's Music of Hope campaign, the channel's multiplatform response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami... : Best Female Video |
|
| Holidays in the Sun 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:... |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan The 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan were held in Chiba on June 25, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe. The VMAJ were the culmination of MTV Japan's Music of Hope campaign, the channel's multiplatform response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami... : Best Album of the Year |