Yu Takahashi

Yu Takahashi (高橋 優, Takahashi Yū, born December 26, 1983) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted on a major label in 2010, with his singles "Subarashiki Nichijō" and "Honto no Kimochi".

Yu Takahashi
Born	December 26, 1983
Origin	Yokote, Akita, Japan
Genres	Pop, folk[1]
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Amuse (2008–2020) Warner Music Japan (2010–present)
Website	takahashiyu.com

Biography

Takahashi grew up in Yokote, Akita, in the Tōhoku region of Japan.[2] He started to learn the electric guitar in his final year of middle school, and in high school became the vocalist of a hardcore copy band for two years, performing such songs as Hide with Spread Beaver's "Pink Spider".[3] During high school, he bought a cheap acoustic guitar, and began writing songs.[2][3] His band broke up as the members went their separate ways, and Takahashi moved to Sapporo to attend a university.[1][2] He performed in a band in Sapporo as well, however, due to the band dissolution (one member's love life took priority) Takahashi decided to become a solo musician.[2]

In February 2002, Takahashi released his debut album, the self-produced Sepia, of which only 200 copies were produced.[2] Over the next five years, Takahashi performed concerts and released albums based in Sapporo, such as in January 2004, when he performed street lives five times per week.[2] In May 2007, he released his second album, Mugon no Bōryoku, limited to 500 copies. The album was relatively popular in Sapporo, charting at number 1 for three weeks at the Sapporo Stellar Place HMV's in-store independent releases charts.[2] This lead him to hold his first solo concert, to 200 people at the Sapporo Colony.[2] In September 2007, Takahashi began performing monthly live concerts titled Agura (あぐら, "Sit Cross Legged"), in which he would rent a CD shop and only allow 30 people to come inside for the concert.[2][4]

Takahashi moved to Tokyo in January 2008, to further his music career there.[2] He performed many different concerts, and released a third self-released album, Agura, which was sold only at concert venues.[2] He was scouted by Amuse, an artist management firm especially known for their management of musicians, and came to the notice of Michihiko Yanai, creator of Tower Records' No Music, No Life and Kaze to Rock campaigns.[1] This led to Takahashi releasing his first independent single, the Tower Records exclusive "Kodomo no Uta" in May 2009, followed by his first wide-release album in July, the extended play Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll, which was produced by Yanai.[1] The extended play reached number 262 on Oricon's national album charts.[5]

A year later, Takahashi made his major label debut under Warner, with the single "Subarashiki Nichijō". The song received heavy radio play,[6] causing it to reach number 5 on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart,[7] despite only reaching number 57 on Oricon's physical single sales chart.[8] His second single, "Honto no Kimochi", was used as the theme song for the Takeru Satoh and Atsuko Maeda (AKB48) starring drama Q10, giving Takahashi his first top 30 single and his first performance on music show Music Station.[9][10]

Since the summer of 2016, he has hosted AKITA CARAVAN MUSIC FES every year in his hometown Akita Prefecture.[11]

He announced to leave Amuse Inc. on June 30, 2020.[12] Then he set up a personal office with his manager.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales (JPN)[13]
		JPN [14]
Sepia	200 copies produced[2] Released: February 2002 Label: Self-released Formats: CD	—	—
Mugon no Bōryoku (無言の暴力, "The Violence of Silence")	500 copies produced[2] Released: May 16, 2007[15] Label: Takotako Label Formats: CD	—	—
Agura (胡座～agura～, "Crossed Legged")	Sold only at concerts[2] Released: 2008 Label: Amuse Formats: CD	—	—
Real Time Singer Songwriter (リアルタイム・シンガーソングライター, Riaru Taimu Shingā Songuraitā)	Released: April 20, 2011 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	8	34,000
Kono Koe (この声, "This Voice")	Released: March 14, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	9	22,000
Break My Silence	Released: July 10, 2013 Label: Warner Formats: CD, 2CD, digital download	9	20,000
Ima, Soko ni Aru Meimetsu to Gunjō (今、そこにある明滅と群生)	Released: August 6, 2014 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	6	21,000

Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales (JPN)[13]
		JPN [14]
Yu Takahashi Best 2009-2015: Warau Yakusoku (高橋優 BEST 2009-2015 『笑う約束』, "Laughing Promise")[16]	Released: July 22, 2015 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download	3	55,000

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales (JPN)[13]
		JPN [14]
Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll (僕らの平成ロックンロール, "Our Heisei Era Rock 'n' Roll")	Released: July 8, 2009 Label: Amuse Formats: CD, digital download	242	1,700
Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll 2 (僕らの平成ロックンロール②, "Our Heisei Era Rock 'n' Roll 2")	Released: December 26, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	13	13,000

As a lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Sales[13]	Certifications	Album
		Oricon Singles Charts [14]	Billboard Japan Hot 100 [17][upper-alpha 1] "Shōnen de Are",[20] "Dare ga Tame ni Kane wa Naru",[21] "Dare mo Inai Daidokoro",[22] "Sotsugyō",[23] "Kimama Love Song",[24] "Hi wa Mata Noboru",[25] "Yoake o Matteiru",[26] "Bowling",[26] "(Where's) The Silent Majority?",[27] "Onaji Sora no Shita",[28] "Pioneer",[29] "Tabibito",[29] "Taiyō to Hana",[30] "Asu e no Hoshi",[31] "Ashita wa Kitto Ii Hi ni Naru",[32] "Feel".[33] </ref>
"Kodomo no Uta" (こどものうた, "Song for Youth")	2009	—	—	—		Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll
"Subarashiki Nichijō" (素晴らしき日常, "The Amazing Everyday")	2010	57	5	5,000		Real Time Singer Songwriter
"Honto no Kimochi" (ほんとのきもち, "Real Feelings")		24	10	9,000	RIAJ (download): Gold[34]
"Fukuwarai" (福笑い, "Lucky Laugh")	2011	15	4	14,000	RIAJ (download): Gold[35]
"Genjitsu to Iu Na no Kaibutsu to Tatakau Monotachi" (現実という名の怪物と戦う者たち, "Those Who Fight the Monster Known as Reality")			—
"Dare ga Tame ni Kane wa Naru" (誰がために鐘は鳴る, "For Whom The Bell Tolls")		20	9	8,000		Kono Koe
"Dare mo Inai Daidokoro" (誰もいない台所, "A Kitchen with No One In")		14	17	8,000
"Sotsugyō" (卒業, "Graduation")	2012	9	3	12,000
"Hi wa Mata Noboru" (陽はまた昇る, "The Sun Will Rise Again")		18	9	12,000		Break My Silence
"(Where's) The Silent Majority?"	2013	12	8	8,000
"Onaji Sora no Shita" (同じ空の下, "Under the Same Sky")		15	6	9,000
"Pioneer" (パイオニア, Paionia)	2014	12	13	8,000		Ima, Soko ni Aru Meimetsu to Gunjō
"Tabibito" (旅人, "Voyager")			86
"Taiyō to Hana" (太陽と花, "The Sun and Flowers")		12	5	16,000	RIAJ (download): Gold[36]
"Ashita wa Kitto Ii Hi ni Naru" (明日はきっといい日になる, "Tomorrow Will Surely Be a Good Day")	2015	12	15	11,000		Non-album single

As a featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		JPN Hot 100 [upper-alpha 1]
"Feel" (among Unborde All Stars)	2016	53	Feel + Unborde Greatest Hits

Promotional singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		Billboard Japan Hot 100 [upper-alpha 1]
"Shōnen de Are" (少年であれ, "As a Boy")	2011	59	Real Time Singer Songwriter
"Kimama Love Song" (気ままラブソング, "A Love Song My Way")	2012	70	Kono Koe
"Yoake o Matteiru" (夜明けを待っている, "Waiting for the Dawn")	2013	39	Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll 2
"Bowling" (ボーリング, "Bōringu")		46
"Candy"		—	Break My Silence
"Asu e no Hoshi" (明日への星, "Star to Tomorrow")	2014	53	Ima, Soko ni Aru Meimetsu to Gunjō
"Oyasumi" (おやすみ, "Good Night")		—

Video albums

List of media, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		JPN [14]
Takahashi Yu Live Tour: Kono Koe tte Dare? Takahashi Yu ja Nai? 2012 at Shibuya Kōkaidō 2012.7.1 (高橋優LIVE TOUR～この声って誰?高橋優じゃなぁい? 2012 at 渋谷公会堂2012.7.1, "Yu Takahashi Live Tour: Whose Voice Is That? Isn't It Yu Takahashi? at Shibuya Public Hall July 1, 2012")	Released: December 6, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: DVD	21
Takahashi Yu Music Video-shū 2009—2013: Danyū (高橋優MUSIC VIDEO集2009—2013　男優, "Yu Takahashi Music Video Collection 2009—2013: Actor")	Released: September 25, 2013 Label: Warner Formats: DVD	28
Takahashi Yu 2013 Nippon Budōkan: You Can Break the Silence in Budokan (高橋優2013日本武道館)	Released: May 28, 2014 Label: Warner Formats: DVD, Blu-ray	7

Notes

1. Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Subarashiki Nichijō",[18] "Honto no Kimochi",[19] "Fukuwarai",<ref name='Billboard 2011/05/02'>"Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2014.

References

1. 歪んだ時代を生きる子供へ向けた高橋優「こどものうた」. Barks (in Japanese). July 14, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
2. 高橋 優 – アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト. Amuse (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
3. "高橋優『7月度『oricon power next』の高橋優が奏でる、"素晴らしき日常"！』". Oricon (in Japanese). July 7, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
4. "高橋優、『Q10』とのコラボ弾き語り教室ライヴを発表！". CDJournal (in Japanese). October 21, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
5. 僕らの平成ロックンロール. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010.
6. "高橋優、CMナレーションは三宅裕司が起用！". CDJournal (in Japanese). July 20, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
7. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
8. 素晴らしき日常. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010.
9. ほんとのきもち. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010.
10. "高橋優、『Q10』教室で弾き語り". Barks (in Japanese). November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
11. "acmf".
12. "高橋優　アミューズとの専属契約満了". スポーツ報知. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
13. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
14. "高橋優のリリース一覧" [A look at Yu Takahashi's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
15. "無言の暴力 – TOWER RECORDS ONLINE". Tower Records (in Japanese). Retrieved November 29, 2010.
16. http://natalie.mu/music/news/145727
17. "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
18. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. August 2, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
19. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. November 22, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
21. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
22. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. October 31, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
23. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. January 30, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
24. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. March 26, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
25. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. August 20, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
26. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. January 14, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
27. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. April 22, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
28. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. May 27, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
29. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. March 24, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
30. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
31. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
32. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
33. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
34. レコード協会調べ　6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 18, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
35. レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
36. レコード協会調べ　6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 17, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.

External links

• Official site (in Japanese)
• Warner label site (in Japanese)