is a Japanese-Taiwanese pop singer. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Taiwanese. She can speak three languages: Japanese, English, and

Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...

. Tae Hitoto is her older sister. Her name Hitoto is not her real surname, it is her mother's maiden name. She changed her name when she came to Japan. Her father died when she was very young, and her mother died when she was 16. She is well known for her smash hit single '' Hanamizuki'' released in 2004 which she wrote inspired by the events of the

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...

in the United States, the song has been covered by many artists around the world.

History

Soon after she was born in Tokyo, Hitoto moved to

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...

, and after she completed kindergarten in Taipei, she moved back to Tokyo and she has lived there ever since. She graduated from the department of Environmental Information of

Keio University , mottoeng = The pen is mightier than the sword , type = Private research coeducational higher education institution , established = 1858 , founder = Yukichi Fukuzawa , endowmen ...

and participated in the Keio University

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

group, K.O.E., during her days as a student. She used to have live concerts on the street with fellow K.O.E. members before she met Yōichi Kitayama, a member of the famous Japanese a cappella group the

Gospellers The Gospellers (ゴスペラーズ) are a Japanese a cappella vocal group made up of Tetsuya Murakami, Kaoru Kurosawa, Yuji Sakai, Yoichi Kitayama and Yutaka Yasuoka. History Originally formed by Murakami and Kurosawa (along with 4 other membe ...

. Kitayama encouraged Hitoto to compose her own music. Before this encounter, she had been a backup singer for many other artists. To date, Hitoto has released eleven single CDs and four albums. Hitoto's debut single "''Morai naki''" propelled her to stardom, and her songs enjoy wide popularity. Her clear voice and singing style, which is compared to the style of folk songs of

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

, attract many fans. In Taiwan she is known for singing a

Taiwanese Taiwanese may refer to: * Taiwanese language, another name for Taiwanese Hokkien * Something from or related to Taiwan ( Formosa) * Taiwanese aborigines, the indigenous people of Taiwan * Han Taiwanese, the Han people of Taiwan * Taiwanese people, ...

folk song ( Bāng Chhun-hong), which was included in her second album, as part of a Kirin beer commercial aired in Taiwan. Hitoto performs a song at the finale of the game ''Dynasty Warriors 3''. In 2003 she debuted in her first film ''

Café Lumière is a 2003 Japanese film directed by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien for Shochiku as homage to Yasujirō Ozu, with direct reference to the late director's '' Tokyo Story'' (1953). It premiered at a festival commemorating the centenary of Ozu's ...

'', as the lead character Yoko. Her latest compilation album sold over 700,000 copies (Triple-Platinum status in Japan), becoming her best selling album yet. On March 11, 2022, Hitoto participated in the Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami tribute concert "One Last Live", performing "Fever" and "Hana Mizuki". She also joined Mie in performing the Pink Lady hit single "

Pepper Keibu is the debut single by the Japanese hit duo Pink Lady. The single was released on August 25, 1976, under the Victor label. "Pepper Keibu" reached a peak chart position of number four, with a total of 1,050,000 sales. The titular song won the du ...

Discography

Albums

* 月天心 ''

Tsukitenshin ''Tsukitenshin 月天心'' is Yo Hitoto, Hitoto You's (一青窈) first studio album. Description Design 26 years another name / "a lunch of child whom an adult can eat" Track listing

#"あこるでぃおん" (akorudion) Accordion #"もら ...

'' (December 18, 2002) * 一青想 ''Hito-Omoi'' (April 7, 2004) * ＆ (December 21, 2005) * Bestyo (November 29, 2006) * Key (March 5, 2008) * Karengai '花蓮街' Hualien City (April 21, 2010) * Hitotoiro '一青十色; Hitoto Color' (June 27, 2012) * Watashi Juusou '私重奏; I Instrumental Ensemble' (Oct 22, 2014)

Singles

* もらい泣き ''Morai-Naki'' (October 30, 2002) * 大家 ''Dajia'' (March 19, 2003) * 金魚すくい ''Kingyo Sukui'' (July 4, 2003) * 江戸ポルカ／夢なかば ''Edo Polka/Yume Nakaba'' (November 12, 2003) * ハナミズキ '' Hanamizuki'' (February 11, 2004), NTV Tuesday Suspense Drama, JRA commercial song * 影踏み ''Kagefumi'' (April 20, 2005), JRA commercial song * かざぐるま ''Kazaguruma'' (September 21, 2005) * 指切り ''Yubikiri'' (December 7, 2005) * つないで手 ''Tsunaide Te'' (September 19, 2007) * 「ただいま」 ''Tadaima'' (December 5, 2007) * 受け入れて ''Uke-Irete'' (January 30, 2008) * はじめて ''Hajimete'' (November 19, 2008), the theme song for "Gyōretsu no Dekiru Hōritsu Sōdanjo Cambodia Gakkō Kensetsu Project" (Nippon Television Network Corp.) * ユアメディスン～私があなたの薬になってあげる; I'll Become Your Medicine (October 7, 2009) * うんと幸せ; Lots Of Happiness (November 4, 2009) * 冬めく / 花のあと; Wintry / Remains Of A Flower (February 24, 2010) * dots and lines / とめる(May 23, 2012) * 道案内 / 愛と誠のファンタアジア (June 6, 2012) * 蛍; Firefly (March 26, 2014)

Videos

* 姿見一青也 ''Sugatami Hitotonari'' (October 1, 2003) * 一青窈 LIVE TOUR 2004 ～てとしゃん ''Hitoto You LIVE TOUR 2004 ~Tetoshan'' (April 11, 2004) * 一青窈★夢街バンスキング～はいらんせ～ ''Hitoto You ★ Yumemachi Vanceking ~Hairanse~'' (February 1, 2006) * Yo&U TOUR '06 (September 6, 2006)

Filmography

Films

*In

Cafe Lumiere A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caf ...

as Yoko

References

External links

Yō Hitoto Official Site

Hitoto's Webpage

Nippop Profile , Yō Hitoto

Yō Hitoto fanlisting
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitoto, Yo 1976 births Living people Japanese women pop singers Japanese people of Taiwanese descent Nippon Columbia artists Keio University alumni Musicians from Taipei Singers from Tokyo 21st-century Japanese women singers 21st-century Japanese singers