Hitoto Yo
Hitoto Yo (一青窈) is a Japanese singer-songwriter under Columbia Records. She is best known for her extremely popular debut single Morai Naki. She is Taiwanese through her father and Japanese through her mother. She originally lived in Taiwan until Kindergarten years, and from then on moved to Japan. Hitoto Yo starred in the 2004 Japanese art film, Café Lumière. In the year 2009, she transfered to For Life Music Entertainment.
Contents
Profile
- Japanese Name: 一青窈 (Hitoto You / Hitoto Yo)
- Chinese Name: 顏窈 (Yan Yao)
- Birthday: 1976.09.20
- Height: 155cm
- Blood Type: O
- Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
- Favourite Artists: David Tao, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Inoue Yosui, Omokage Lucky Hole
- Languages: Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, English
- Family: Hitoto Yo has an older sister named Tae (妙). She is six years older than her, and has appeared in several TV dorama. However, she is actually a dentist.
- Fun Fact: A popular internet meme involves Hitoto's voice slowed in tempo by 20%. Her voice then sounds exactly like Hirai Ken's.
Information
Hitoto Yo lived in Taipei until her kindergarten years, then moved to Japan after her father's death, caused by lung cancer. Hitoto (一青) is not actually her last name, but is her mother's maiden name which she took when she moved back to Japan. However, when Hitoto was 16 her mother died, leaving her sister Tae to take care of her.
After her high-school years, Hitoto enrolled in the prestigious Keiou University, where she majored in Environmental Studies and joined an a cappella group called K.O.E.. She was a backup singer for a while until she met Kitayama Yoichi of The Gospellers, who convinced her to compose music.
Before her Japanese debut, Hitoto sang the video game Dynasty Warriors' Chinese theme song, Sheng Lu ~Circuit~. This song later appears on her Edo Polka / Yume Nakaba single as 'Seiro ~MAZE' (the kanji is the same for both titles).
Hitoto debuted with the single Morai Naki, reaching #4 on Oricon charts and charting for an amazing 68 weeks in the top 200 singles. The single became the #13 single of 2003, and was awarded the Best Hit Artist, with the Debut Artist of the Year award at the Nihon Record Taishou. Since then, Hitoto has recieved sustained popularity, such as with her recent single Kazaguruma, which was used as the theme song to the movie Semishigure.
In late 2006 Hitoto released her first 'best of' collection, entitled BESTYO. The album, featuring a new song of hers, Tentou Mushi, was a smash hit. It reached #2 on Oricon charts and sold over 700,000 copies: making it Hitoto's best selling album.
In November it was announced that Hitoto would be releasing a new single called Fuyumekuin January, which was composed by Kobayashi Takeshi. However, later the single was cancelled. The song was even performed at Hitoto's BESTYO Free CONCERTYO open air concert, however when the concert was aired on Yahoo! Douga (Yahoo! Japan's free streaming site) and when a special edition of BESTYO called BESTYO+CONCERTYO featuring the concert on DVD was released Fuyumeku was not present on eiter.
In the January edition of Friday gossip magazine, followed by several other publications, that Hitoto Yo was committing adultery with Kobayashi Takeshi. Kobayashi had been married with his bandmate akko from My Little Lover since 1996, and in May announced their divorce. At the same time Kobayashi announced his intentions to marry Hitoto.
Discography
Original Albums
- [2002.12.18] Tsukitenshin (月天心; When the Moon is at it's Highest in the Sky)
- [2004.04.07] Hitoto Omoi (一青想; Thoughts of Hitoto)
- [2005.12.21] &
- [2008.03.05] Key
Other Albums
- [2006.11.29] BESTYO (best album)
- [2008.11.29] Concert Tour 2008 "Key ~ Talkie Doorkey" Live CD @ NHK hall (live album)
- [2009.01.21] BESTYO+INSTYO (best album)
Singles
- [2002.10.30] Morai Naki (もらい泣き; Infectious Tears)
- [2003.03.19] Da Jia (大家(ダージャ); [Zh]: Everyone)
- [2003.07.04] Kingyo Sukui (金魚すくい; Goldfish-Scooping Game)
- [2003.11.12] Edo Polka / Yume Nakaba (江戸ポルカ / 夢なかば; Mid-Dreaming)
- [2004.02.11] Hanamizuki (ハナミズキ; Flowering Dogwood)
- [2005.04.20] Kagefumi (影踏み; Tramling Down Fears)
- [2005.09.21] Kazaguruma (かざぐるま; Pinwheel)
- [2005.12.07] Yubikiri (指切り; Pinky Promise)
- [2007.09.19] Tsunaide Te (つないで手; Hands Held Together)
- [2007.12.05] Tadaima (ただいま; I'm Home)
- [2008.01.30] Ukeirete (受け入れて; Receiving)
- [2008.11.19] Hajimete (はじめて; First Time)
- [2009.10.07] Your Medicine ~ Atashi ga Anata no Kusuri ni Natte Ageru (ユア メディスン~私があなたの薬になってあげる)
DVD
- [2003.10.01] Sugatami Hitotonari (姿見一青也)
- [2004.04.11] Hitoto Yo LIVE TOUR 2004 ~Tetoshan (てとしゃん)
- [2006.02.01] Hitoto Yo★Yumamachi Bansking ~Hairanse~ (一青窈★夢街バンスキング~はいらんせ~)
- [2006.09.06] Yo&U Tour '06
- [2008.05.21] Shigusa Uta (思草歌; Action Songs)
- [2008.11.29] Concert Tour 2008 "Key ~ Talkie Doorkey" Live DVD @ NHK hall
Compilation / Other
- [2002.02.21] Dynasty Warriors Kyuukyoku Onban (究極音盤; Ultimate Disk) (#36 Sheng Lu ~Circuit~ (生路), #39 Sheng Lu ~Circuit~ (Instrumental) (生路))
- [2003.01.22] PIANO MAN ~FOR YUMING LOVERS~ (#11 Haru yo, Koi (春よ、来い; Spring Has Come))
- [2003.04.23] 31 Hits -The Japan Gold Disc Award 2003- (#25 Morai Naki)
- [2004.11.10] Yosui Tribute (#13 Jealousy (ジェラシー))
- [2005.12.21] ap bank fes'05 (#4 Hanamizuki, #34 to U)
- [2006.03.22] Dynasty Warriors Original Soundtrack Kyuukyoku Box (究極; Ultimate) (#71 Sheng Lu ~Circuit~ (生路), #74 Sheng Lu ~Circuit~ (Instrumental) (生路))
- [2006.06.14] Dynasty Warriors Original Soundtrack Kyuukyoku Best (究極; Ultimate) (#12 Sheng Lu ~Circuit~ (生路))
- [2006.11.29] Bay Side Love ~Love Song Collection~ (#12 Nennensaisai (年年歳歳; Year In, Year Out)
- [2006.12.21] ap bank fes'06 (#21 Tentou Mushi (てんとう虫; Ladybug), #45 to U)
- [2007.10.17] Hattori Ryoichi ~Tanjou 100 Shuunen Kinen Tribute Album~ (#10 Tokyo no Yane no Shita) (東京の屋根の下)
Lyric Writing Credits
- [2005.02.23] Nakamura Masatoshi - "Utsusemi (空蝉; Cicada)"
- [2006.04.05] Salyu - "Tower"
- [2006.09.06] Salyu - "name"
- [2006.09.13] Ayase Haruka - "Kousaten days (交差点days; Intersection Days)
- [2007.01.17] Salyu - "TERMINAL" (#5 Yue ni (故に; Therefore), #7 Apple Pie, #11 be there), #12 heartquake)
External links
- Official Website (Japanese)
- Official Columbia Site (Japanese)
- Nippop Profile
- Oricon Profile