Biography
Who is Yui?
Early life and musical beginnings
Born in Koga, Japan, Yui was raised by her mother after her parents separated. During her elementary school years, she often spent time playing in nature alone. By the time she reached high school, she began writing journals and poems to process her feelings. She eventually started composing songs to express herself.
To support her education, she worked at a local Chinese restaurant. Juggling work and studies led to illness, which prompted a realization that she wanted to pursue music full-time. She decided to drop out of high school, ignoring the local social norms, to enroll at the Voice music school in Fukuoka. There, she studied songwriting and guitar. She gained experience by performing on the streets at Tenjin Station, which helped her overcome her natural shyness.
Professional debut and breakthrough
In March 2004, she auditioned for Sony Music Japan. She performed three songs, including an unfinished track called I Know to show the judges her songwriting process. The judges awarded her the highest possible score. Her debut single, It's Happy Line, was released on an indie label in late 2004.
Upon moving to Tokyo, she wrote Feel My Soul, which caught the attention of a television producer. This song became a tie-in for a drama series, helping it reach number 8 on the Oricon charts in 2005. Her acting career began shortly after with the 2006 film Song of the Sun. She won the Best Newcomer Award at the Japan Academy Prize for her performance in this feature. She also wrote the song Good-bye Days specifically for the film, which became her highest-selling single at the time.
Chart success and studio albums
Her first studio album, From Me to You, was released in 2006 and reached number 4 on the Oricon charts. It stayed on the charts for over two years. Her second album, Can't Buy My Love, performed even better, spending two weeks at the number 1 position in 2007. This record sold over 680,000 copies.
She continued this success with her third album, I Loved Yesterday, which also hit the top spot on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Throughout this period, she released several successful singles, such as Rolling Star and Cherry. Her concert at the Nippon Budokan in 2007 sold out completely, marking a major milestone in her live performance career.
Transition to band music
Following a series of successful years as a solo artist, she announced her retirement from solo music in 2012. Throughout her solo career, she achieved significant physical sales and topped various popularity polls in Japan and surrounding regions.
After leaving the solo music scene, she transitioned into a different musical direction by forming the band Flower Flower in 2013. This marked a departure from her established identity as a solo singer-songwriter, though she remained active in the music industry. Her work during the solo era remains a well-known part of Japanese pop culture, with her songs often featured in anime and television commercials.
Birthday and age
Yui was born on March 26, 1987, which makes Yui 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Yui shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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