Mayumi Itsuwa, born 五輪 真弓 on January 24, 1951 in Japan, is a Japanese singer-songwriter known for her introspective compositions. She debuted in 1972 and recorded her first studio album Shoujo in Los Angeles with notable musicians including David Campbell, Carole King, and Charles Larkey. Her breakthrough came in 1980 with the release of "Koibito yo", which topped Japan's Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks and won the 22nd Japan Record Award for "Gold Prize." This success propelled her to popularity not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries, particularly Indonesia. Notable songs from this period include "Kokoro No Tomo" and "Amayadori". In 1986, she released the album 時の流れに. Her work often falls into the genre of torch songs, describing lingering memories of past loves. Mayumi Itsuwa's collaborations include a duet with Delon Thamrin on an Indonesian and Japanese version of a song included in the 2006 compilation album Duet Love Songs. Mayumi Itsuwa's early career saw moderate success on the Japanese albums chart, but it was "Koibito yo" that catapulted her to stardom. The song was covered by legendary singers such as Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya, solidifying its status as a signature piece for Mayumi Itsuwa. In 1981, another hit, "Revival", further cemented her popularity. Her later releases include Personal (1994), Time to Sing (2003) and Welcome (2007).
