Born in Tokyo, Japan, on September 20, 1976, Yo Hitoto is a J-pop singer widely known for her 2004 hit single "Hanamizuki." Partially raised in Taipei, she returned to Tokyo as a child and began performing with a local a cappella group while attending Keio University. Her first single as a pop vocalist, "Morai Naki," was a domestic success upon its release in October 2002, charting at Number 4 and pushing her debut album, Tsukitenshin, to double-platinum status. Additional hits arrived during the coming years, including 2003's "Dajia" (which charted at Number 11), 2007's "Yubikiri" (which reached Number 17), and 2008's "Uke-Irete" (which charted at Number 20). Her signature hit, though, was "Hanamizuki," a pacifist anthem inspired by the attacks on New York City's World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Released in 2004, "Hanamizuki" reached Number 4 on the Oricon charts and became a karaoke staple for decades. Yo Hitoto continued releasing music during the 2010s, with albums like 2010's Karengai, 2012's Hitotoiro, and 2014's Watashi Juusou all reaching the Top 40 in Japan. Her eighth album, Hitotozukushizu, followed in late 2022.
