Wa to Yo

The name Wa to Yo can evoke different emotions, memories or meanings for each person. From ancient times to the present, Wa to Yo has been the subject of interest, debate and reflection in various areas of life. Its importance transcends borders and eras, and its influence has been felt in culture, science, politics and human relations. In this article, we will deeply explore the meaning and relevance of Wa to Yo, analyzing its impact on the current world and its projection into the future.

Wa to Yo
Standard cover[note 1]
Studio album by
Ai
ReleasedJune 7, 2017 (2017-06-07)
Recorded
  • 2012–2013
  • 2016–2017
Studio
  • Studio MSR (Tokyo, Japan)
  • Studio Mech (Tokyo)
  • Prime Sound (Tokyo)
  • Victor Studio (Shibuya, Tokyo)
  • NK Sound Tokyo
  • Universal Music Studios (Tokyo)
  • DaCo-op Studios (Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre
Length64:13
Language
  • English
  • Japanese
LabelEMI
Producer
  • Uta
  • Julian Le
  • Gakushi
  • Alex Geringas
  • Don City
  • Derrick D. Beck
  • Ai
  • D. Clax
  • Black the Beast
  • Da Beatfreakz
  • Vakseen
Ai chronology
The Feat. Best
(2016) 		Wa to Yo
(2017) 		Kansha!!!!! – Thank You for 20 Years New and Best
(2019)
Singles from Wa to Yo
  1. "Justice Will Prevail at Last"
    Released: May 9, 2017
  2. "Kira Kira"
    Released: August 1, 2017

Wa to Yo (和と洋, lit. Japanese and Western) is the eleventh studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on June 7, 2017, through EMI Records, as a double album. Wanting to express both her American and Japanese background, Ai recorded the Wa disc in Japanese with traditional Japanese sensibilities while the Yo disc was recorded in English with R&B and hip hop influences.

Background

After the release of Moriagaro in 2013, Ai was engaged to Hiro, the leader and vocalist of the rock band Kaikigesshoku. The pair had been dating for 10 years, and wed in January 2014.[1] In August 2015, Ai gave birth to her first child.[2] In November 2015, EMI released a greatest hits album, The Best. A deluxe version was released in 2016.

Wa to Yo was first teased on Ai's YouTube channel on April 20, 2017.[3]

Development

The logo of the album, designed by Aries Moross

Wanting to "convey the goodness of Japan" to the rest of the world and "the goodness of the overseas to Japanese people", Ai collaborated with several producers, artists and songwriters from both Japan and the west coast.[4] The album combines traditional Japanese instruments with modern western genres.[5][6] Majority of the songs on the album were used in commercial tie-ins, such as "Feel It", which was used by Japanese fashion brand Global Work.[3]

In a 2017 interview with The Japan Times, Ai explained Japanese record labels found her sound "too American" at the start of her career.[7] She further added she loved "both (sides)" of her Japanese and American background equally.[7] Regarding the lyricism of Wa to Yo, Ai described the Yo disc as "sexier, and has more love songs" compared to the Wa disc.[7]

In an interview with her record label, Ai stated majority of the English songs from the Yo disc were recorded during her Atlantic City session, originally intended for her tenth studio album, Moriagaro.[8]

Release and promotion

The album was released on June 7, 2017. Unlike most physical releases in Japan, no first press editions bundles were included.[9]

In promotion of the album, Ai embarked on the Wa to Yo Tour.[5] A video album was released containing footage from the tour in June 2018.[10]

Singles

Two singles were released from Wa to Yo. The lead single "Justice Will Prevail at Last" was released a month prior to the album's release. The song served as the theme song for the Japanese drama Emergency Interrogation Room. "Justice Will Prevail at Last" failed to enter Japanese charts until the release of Wa to Yo, debuting and peaking at number 74 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Within the same month of Wa to Yo being released, Ai announced she would be providing a new song featuring Japanese comedian Naomi Wantanabe for the Japanese comedy show Kanna-san!.[11] The song, "Kira Kira", was later serviced to Japanese radio and released digitally shortly after. "Kira Kira" was a commercial success in Japan, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and being nominated for the Grand Prix award at the 59th Japan Record Awards.[12]

Critical reception

Patrick ST. Michel of the Japan Times gave Wa to Yo a positive review, noting how well the Wa and Yo disc connects "despite its two distinctive sides".[7] He added that part of the Wa disc falls short when it "embraces a staple of J-pop – the ballad."[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ai Uemura except where noted.

Wa – disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wa Interlude" (featuring Kodō & Jinmenusagi)
2:46
2."Wonderful World" (featuring Himekami)
  • Uemura
  • Yoshiaki Hoshi
3:55
3."From Zero" 4:22
4."Justice Will Prevail at Last" (最後は必ず正義が勝つ, Saigo wa Kanarazu Seigi ga Katsu) 4:05
5."Feel It" 3:11
6."I Can Pretend" 4:00
7."Gui Gui" (グイグイ) 3:02
8."Home" 3:59
9."It's Gonna Be All Right" 4:34
10."Music Is My Life" 6:07
Total length:38:41
Yo – disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Yo Interlude" 2:00
12."Welcome to My City" (featuring Junior Reid & Eric Bellinger)
  • Uemura
  • Eric Bellinger
  • Issa
  • Junior Reid
  • Tyrone Wright
  • Victoria Kimani
3:22
13."Right Now" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • Uemura
  • Arin Ray
  • Chris Brown
  • Derrick D. Beck
  • Donameche Jackson
  • Jamal Gaines
  • Joshua Berry
  • Vincent Berry
2:56
14."What I Want" (featuring Jinmenusagi)
3:00
15."Sweet Nothing's"
4:03
16."The One You Need"
4:14
17."Crazy Love"
  • Uemura
  • David Claxton
  • Kimani
4:15
Total length:23:10

Deluxe edition

Wa – disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wa Interlude" (featuring Kodō & Jinmenusagi)
  • Uemura
  • Tomiyama
2:46
2."Wonderful World" (featuring Himekami)
  • Uemura
  • Hoshi
3:55
3."From Zero" 4:22
4."Justice Will Prevail at Last" 4:05
5."Feel It" 3:11
6."I Can Pretend" 4:00
7."Gui Gui" 3:02
8."Home" 3:59
9."It's Gonna Be All Right" 4:34
10."Music Is My Life" 6:07
11."Heiwa"
  • Carlos Jenkins
  • Matthew Quinney
  • Obi Eble
  • Uche Eble
  • Uemura
3:54
12."Miracle" (ミラクル) 3:38
13."I'm the Champion" 4:08
14."Run to the Sun" 3:38
15."Kira Kira" (キラキラ) (featuring Naomi Watanabe) 3:39
16."Happy Christmas" (ハッピークリスマス) 5:24
Total length:61:42
Yo – disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Yo Interlude" 2:00
2."Welcome to My City" (featuring Junior Reid & Eric Bellinger)
  • Uemura
  • Bellinger
  • Issa
  • Reid
  • Wright
  • Kimani
3:22
3."Right Now" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • Uemura
  • Ray
  • Brown
  • Beck
  • Jackson
  • Gaines
  • J. Berry
  • V. Berry
2:56
4."What I Want" (featuring Jinmenusagi)
  • Uemura
  • Williams II
  • Jinmenusagi
  • Steez
  • Vakseen
3:00
5."Sweet Nothing's"
  • Geringas
  • Nelson
4:03
6."The One You Need"
  • Uemura
  • Hyman
  • Wright
4:14
7."Crazy Love"
  • Uemura
  • Claxton
  • Kimani
4:15
8."Little Hero"
  • Uemura
  • Lynne Hobday
3:47
Total length:26:57

Notes

  • The deluxe reissue of Wa to Yo is titled Wa to Yo to.
  • "Wonderful World" samples "Kamigami no Uta" by Himekami.
  • Tracks 4, 7, 12, 15, and 16 are titled in Japanese.
  • Tracks 5, 8, 9 and 11 of disc two are stylized in all upper case lettering.
  • Tracks 4 and 7 of disc two are stylized in all upper case lettering.

Charts

Chart performance for Wa to Yo
Chart (2017) Peak

position

Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] 11
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[14] 21
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[15] 19

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[16]

  • Ai Carina Uemura – lead vocals, songwriting, producer
  • Uta – producer, songwriting
  • Julian Le – producer, songwriting
  • Gakushi – producer, songwriting
  • Da Beatfreakz – producer
  • Tha Gutbangaz – co–producer
  • Taji Okuda – vocal editing
  • Chris Brown – featured artist, songwriting
  • Eric Bellinger – featured artist, songwriting
  • Junior Reid – featured artist, songwriting
  • Jinmenusagi – featured artist, songwriting
  • Himekami – featured artist, sound production, songwriting
  • Victoria Emily Hogan Marshal – songwriting
  • Matthew "Damario" Quinney – songwriting
  • Carlos "Los" Jenkins – songwriting
  • Uche Ben Eble – songwriting
  • Obi Fred Eble – songwriting
  • Keisuke Fujimaki – vocal editing
  • Yoshinori Morita – vocal editing
  • Satoshi Yoneda – vocal editing
  • Sayaka Ogoshi – vocal editing
  • Tomoe Nishikawa – vocal editing
  • Black the Beast – producer, vocal editing, mixing
  • Don City – producer, vocal editor, mixing
  • Neeraj Khajanchi – vocal editing
  • Hitoshi Sato – vocal editing
  • D.O.I – mixing
  • Tyrone Wright – songwriting
  • Victoria Kimani – songwriting
  • Issa – songwriting
  • Derrick D. Beck – songwriting, producer
  • Arin Ray – songwriting
  • Vincent Berry – songwriting
  • Joshua Berry – songwriting
  • Jamal Gaines – songwriting
  • Anthony Charles Williams II – songwriting
  • Ty Steez – songwriting
  • Vakseen – songwriting, producer
  • Alex Geringas – songwriting, producer
  • Samantha Nelson – songwriting
  • Latisha Hyman – songwriting
  • David Claxton – songwriting
  • Lynne Hobday – songwriting
  • Donameche Jackson – songwriting
  • Seiichi Watanabe – A&R (EMI Records)
  • Daisuke Fujikawa – marketing
  • Yoko Tsunashima – marketing
  • Kimiko Kato – sales promotion (Universal)
  • Kotaro Suzuki – media promotion
  • Norio Eguchi – media promotion
  • Mika Mitsumochi – media promotion
  • Masayoshi Abe – media promotion
  • Mitsuru Sekiya – media promotion
  • Rie Deguchi – media promotion
  • Sae Yamamoto – media promotion
  • Takeshi Okada – digital & web promotion
  • Sayaka Abe – digital & web promotion
  • Yoshiaki Ando – digital & web promotion
  • Mina Hosojima – digital & web promotion
  • Runa Hayasaka – digital & web promotion
  • Takeshi Okada – digital & web promotion
  • Yuka Tsukada – digital production
  • Yuka Sato – digital production
  • Masao Eto – area promotion
  • Shintaro Ishihara – area promotion
  • Sayoko Okuno – legal
  • Yukari Kuwahara – legal
  • Aiichiro Kiyohara – UM & brands
  • Nobuo Kobayashi – UM & brands
  • Akihito Watanabe – master localization
  • Taku Nakamura – project producer
  • Naoshi Fujikura – supervisor
  • Koichi Sakakibara – manager
  • Yuki Arai – executive producer
  • Kate Moross – art director
  • Ina Jang – photographer
  • Akemi Ono – makeup artist, hair artist
  • Noriko Goto – stylist
  • Risa Nakazawa – visual coordinator
  • Shuma Saito – package coordinator
  • Akio Kawabata – package coordinator
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Tom Coyne – mastering

Release history

Release history and formats for Wa to Yo
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Various June 7, 2017
Standard
[3]
Japan CD
[17]
Various October 25, 2017
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Deluxe
  • EMI
  • Universal
 [18]
Japan CD
  • EMI
  • Universal Japan
  • Def Jam
 [19]

Notes

  1. ^ On the deluxe edition cover, the background is purple instead of red.

References

  1. ^ "AI、カイキゲッショクHIROと年内に結婚". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "AI、第1子を出産「自分が産んだこと信じられない」". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "AIニューアルバムは和洋折衷の2枚組、ライブBD/DVDも同時発売決定". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "AI、「最後は必ず正義が勝つ」をMステ披露 新作『和と洋』に表れた"横断する"アーティスト性". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "AIがパフォーマンスとクリエイティブで表現した"和"と"洋" 最新ツアー映像作品を観て". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "AI、4年ぶりオリジナルアルバムの超豪華内容が明らかに！". OkMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e Michel, Patrick St (June 1, 2017). "AI celebrates East, West identity on new album". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  8. ^ "AI「和と洋」スペシャルサイト". Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "AI、4年振りのオリジナル・アルバム『和と洋』はドラマ「緊急取調室」主題歌も収録". Tower Records Online. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "AI Tour Wa to Yo AI DVD". CDJapan. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "AI×渡辺直美、ドラマ「カンナさーん！」主題歌でデュエット". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  12. ^ "「レコ大」乃木坂、大知、欅坂、セカオワらノミネート＆アルバム賞はSuchmos". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "和と洋と。DELUXE EDITION | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "AIのデジタルアルバム売上TOP7作品". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2017/06/14". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Wa to Yo (CD). Ai. EMI Records/Universal/Def Jam Recordings. 2017. UPCH-20451/2.
  17. ^ "Wa to Yo AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "AI、最新アルバム曲で構成したメドレーMV（動画あり）". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Wa to Yo to Deluxe Edition AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved May 1, 2023.