Yuho Iwasato

Yuho Iwasato
岩里 祐穂
Born (1957-12-03) December 3, 1957[1]
Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Other namesYuko Iwasaki (1980–1983)
Citizenship
  • Japan
Occupations
  • Lyricist
  • essayist
Years active1980–present
Musical career
Genres
Label
Websiteyuhoiwasato.com

Yuho Iwasato (岩里 祐穂, Iwasato Yūho; born December 3, 1957[1]) is a Japanese lyricist and essayist.[3] Born in Niigata, she debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1980 under the name "Yuko Iwasaki," and transitioned to full-time lyricist in 1988 following her collaborations with Miki Imai.[4] Iwasato has collaborated with multiple music producers, including Tomoyasu Hotei, Yoko Kanno, Yobun Teraoka, Jeff Miyahara, and Katsutoshi Kitagawa of Round Table, and is known for her work across multiple genres, including hits for Japanese idol artists and anime songs.[3][4]

She has provided lyrics to artists including Chiemi Hori, Miho Nakayama, Miki Imai, Maaya Sakamoto, Yui Aragaki, Tomoyasu Hotei, Kana Hanazawa, May J., Momoiro Clover Z, and Sexy Zone (formerly Sexy Zone), as well as theme songs for anime such as The Vision of Escaflowne, Cardcaptor Sakura, Macross Frontier, Cowboy Bebop, and The Ancient Magus' Bride, as well as TV series such as Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.[4] In 2009, she received the Silver Prize from the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers for her work on "Genesis of Aquarion."[5]

Biography

Iwasato was born in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture.[3] She graduated from Chuo University with a degree from the Faculty of Letters, Department of History, specializing in Japanese history.[3] In 1980, she debuted as a singer-songwriter under the name "Yuko Iwasaki" (いわさきゆうこ, Iwasaki Yūko)[4] However, she quickly realized performing was not suited to her, as she disliked appearing in public or being photographed, and decided to focus on writing lyrics after one year.[6] In 1983, she changed her pen name to "Yuho Iwasato" and made her debut as a lyricist and composer with Chiemi Hori's "Sayonara no Monogatari."[4] During the early 1980s idol kayōkyoku boom, she wrote three singles for Hori amid her breakout in the drama Stewardess Monogatari: "Sayonara no Monogatari," "Natsuiro Diary," and "Aoi Natsu no Epilogue," forming a trilogy.[6] She also wrote "Bin Kan Rouge," an insert song for the anime Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel, which became the first lyrics she wrote for an anime song.[6]

Her encounter with Miki Imai in 1988 led her to focus exclusively on lyric writing. Notable early successes include Imai's 1989 single "Hitomi ga Hohoemu kara," which charted for forty weeks on the Oricon Singles Chart, and her 1991 hit "Piece of My Wish," which reached number one on the Oricon chart, selling over one million copies.[4] Her 1994 song for Imai, "Miss You," also topped the Oricon chart.[4]

In 1996, through Imai's album Love Of My Life, Iwasato met composer Yoko Kanno, which subsequently led to begin working on Maaya Sakamoto's singing debut on the anime The Vision of Escaflowne.[6]

In 2016, she released a compilation album entitled Ms. Lyricist for celebrating her thirty-fifth anniversary in the music industry.[4]

Works

Albums

Books

  • Koi no Kiroku (1996, Magazine House)
  • Iikagen ni Katazukete Utsukushiku Kurasu (2005, Shueisha)
  • Osōji, Ryōri ga Nigate Demo, Kaji ga Motto Suki ni Naru (2006, Shueisha)
  • Hon no Sukoshi de Kurashi Jōzu Ouchi Jōzu (2008, Shueisha)

Songwriting credits

Notes

  1. ^ LP released under the name Yuko Iwasaki; re-issued on CD format in 2016.[2]
  2. ^ TV anime series The Vision of Escaflowne opening theme song.
  3. ^ TV anime series Record of Lodoss War opening theme song.
  4. ^ TV anime series Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura Card Act opening theme song.
  5. ^ TV anime series RahXephon opening theme song.
  6. ^ Anime film RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio opening theme song.
  7. ^ Original video animation Code Geass: Akito the Exiled theme song.
  8. ^ TV anime series Gourmet Girl Graffiti opening theme song.
  9. ^ TV anime series Revenger ending theme song.
  10. ^ TV anime series Once Upon a Witch's Death opening theme song.
  11. ^ TV anime series Cowboy Bebop ending theme song.
  12. ^ TV anime series Genesis of Aquarion opening theme song.
  13. ^ TV anime series Macross Frontier ending theme song.
  14. ^ TV anime series Pokémon the Series: XY ending theme song.
  15. ^ Anime film Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom ending theme song.
  16. ^ TV anime series The Ancient Magus' Bride opening theme song.
  17. ^ TV anime series The Ancient Magus' Bride 2nd opening theme song.
  18. ^ TV anime series 18if opening theme song.
  19. ^ TV anime series Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card 2nd opening theme song.
  20. ^ TV anime series Sugar Apple Fairy Tale opening theme song.
  21. ^ TV anime series Sugar Apple Fairy Tale ending theme song.

References

  1. ^ a b "岩里結穂のプロフィール". Excite News (in Japanese). Excite Japan Co., Ltd. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "いわさきゆうこ「マジカル・リキュール」". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Yuho Iwasato - Profile". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "作詞家・岩里祐穂、作詞生活35周年Anniversary Album『Ms.リリシスト』はなんと140P超豪華ブックレット！坂本真綾・中川翔子・花澤香菜との3本の6,000字にも及ぶ対談も！その一部を先行公開！". LisAni! (in Japanese). Sony Music Solutions Inc. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ Kitano, Hajime (24 December 2018). "岩里祐穂が語る、5人の作詞家との対話から得た発見「詞は一面ではなくいろいろな側面を持っている」". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Shiba, Tomonori (25 May 2016). "岩里祐穂が語る、作詞家としての歩みと矜持「時代を超える言葉を編み出したい」". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 October 2025.
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