Sakai Yu

 (さかいゆう) is a male singer-songwriter from Tosashimizu, Kochi. He is known with his unique voice and original sound that sublimates a wide range of musical backgrounds such as soul, R&B, jazz, gospel, and rock into pop music. He made his major debut in 2009 with "Story".

In addition to his own music, he has provided songs for many artists including Koizumi Kyoko, Sakamoto Maaya, SMAP, Sexy Zone, Da-iCE, DISH//, Toki Asako, Niizuma Seiko, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Wada Akiko, and many others.

Since 2018, he has traveled around the world and recorded with world-class players such as John Scofield (Gt), Ray Parker Jr. (Gt), Bluey from Incognito (Gt), Stuart Zender (Bs ex.Jamiroquai), Terrace Martin (Sax), Nicholas Payton (TP), Renato Neto (Key) and many more.

In June 2022, he released Whale Song EP, a collection of songs related to his hometown Kochi, including "Whale Song" (theme song for the 50th anniversary movie of Drunken Whale Brewery), which reached No. 1 on the iTunes R&B chart (and continues to hold the record for consecutive No. 1s).

Pre-debut

 * After graduating from high school, at the age of 18, he suddenly became interested in music and moved to Tokyo at the age of 20. At the age of 22, he moved to LA by himself and began teaching himself to play the piano.

2009: Major debut

 * On October 7, 2009, he made his major label debut with the single "Story". The song was placed on the power play of 43 FM radio stations nationwide, setting a new unprecedented record. The song also made the power play on AM radio stations and CS music channels, becoming a hot topic.

2010: Yes!!

 * On February 3, 2010, his second single "Manazashi☆Daydream" was released. The song was used as the opening theme for the popular TV anime Nodame Cantabile Finale.
 * In May 2010, "train", the theme song for the movie Permanent Nobara starring Kanno Miho, was released as his first digital single. In June, he released his long-awaited first major album Yes!!.

2011: ONLY YU

 * In March 2011, he released a mini album ONLY YU, completely self-produced and recorded by himself. The album, which was written, composed, arranged, programmed, and performed by only one person (one person playing multiple instruments), is a one-and-only work that only he could do, and has further blossomed his talent as an artist. He also performed at an event in New York in the fall. He received great cheers from overseas listeners, and his first overseas performance was a success.

2012: How's it going?

 * In February 2012, he digitally distributed "Lalalai", a song from a Sony BRAVIA commercial, and released a new single "Kimi to Boku no Banka" (ending theme song for the TV Tokyo anime Kimi to Boku. 2) in April and a second full album How's it going? in May. His band's nationwide tour "Yu SAKAI TOUR 2012 "How's it going?"" was a great success, and in November he performed in London, his second overseas concert.

2013-2014: Coming Up Roses

 * In April, his first single of 2013, the 4th single "Bokutachi no Futashika na Zento" was released. Then, the song "Bara to Rhodes", which was used in a TV commercial and became a topic of conversation, was released as his fifth single in October. The song attracted a great deal of attention.
 * On January 15, 2014, he released his third original album Coming Up Roses which was a collaboration with KREVA, Emi Meyer, and Hata Motohiro, and was filled with groove-filled R&B numbers, sad ballad songs, and electro; Sakai's style of pops, which is not bound by any musical genre, and has deepened.
 * On September 3, 2014, his first EP Summer Again was released.

2015: Sakai Yu to Issho

 * In February 2015, he released his first collaborative album Sakai Yu to Issho, featuring songs with gorgeous artists such as RHYMESTER, Hata Motohiro, and Little Glee Monster. In October, he released the single "Jasmine" with producer Tsutaya Koichi.

2016: 4YU

 * On February 3, 2016, he released his fourth album 4YU, his first in two years. His national tour "4YU" was also a great success.
 * On November 16, he released the single "Sainen SHOW", the theme song for the movie Kofuku no Alibi ~pitcute~. His "POP TO THE WORLD" tour, which started in November and included a performance at Nakano Sunplaza, was also a success.

2018-2019: Yu Are Something

 * On June 20, 2018, the EP Fight & Kiss was released, reaching #1 on the iTunes R&B chart. Since that year, he has been traveling around the world to create and record music.
 * On January 23, 2019, he released his fifth original album Yu Are Something, featuring John Scofield (Gt), Ray Parker Jr. (Gt), James Gadson (Dr), and others. It reached #1 on the iTunes R&B chart. On October 7 of the same year, he celebrated the 10th anniversary of his debut, and on October 13, he held his first outdoor event "Yu Sakai 10th Anniversary Special Live "SAKAI no JYU"" at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, which was a great success. In the same year, he began a 70-day trip to four cities in three countries to create music.

2020: Touch The World

 * On March 4, 2020, he released his sixth original album Touch The World, produced in four cities in three countries (LA, NY, London, and São Paulo). It reached No. 1 on the iTunes R&B chart.
 * On June 17, his two-disc single, "Soul Rain + Touch The World Instrumentals" was released.
 * From July to August, he and drummer Mochizuki Takashi toured Japan in a duo formation as part of the "Yu Sakai Duo Tour "Touch The World & More".

2021: thanks to & Ai no Deban

 * On January 6, 2021, he released thanks to a documentary album about the events of 2020. It debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes R&B chart.
 * From February 10 to April 24, 2021, he completed "Yu Sakai Thanks to Japan Tour 2021", his largest solo tour of 30 concerts in 27 locations throughout Japan.
 * On May 12, he released his eighth original album Ai no Deban + thanks to, which reached No.1 on the iTunes R&B chart and continues to break records for consecutive No.1s.

2023: Sakai Yu no Playlist "Shiro to Kuro

 * On December 13, his first best album Sakai Yu no Playlist "Shiro to Kuro" will be released.

Studio Albums

 * 1) [2010.06.23] Yes!!
 * 2) [2012.05.23] How's it going?
 * 3) [2014.01.15] Coming Up Roses
 * 4) [2016.02.03] 4YU
 * 5) [2019.01.23] Yu Are Something
 * 6) [2020.03.04] Touch The World
 * 7) [2021.01.06] thanks to

Mini Album

 * 1) [2011.03.09] ONLY YU

EPs

 * 1) [2014.09.03] Summer Again
 * 2) [2018.06.20] Fight & Kiss
 * 3) [2022.06.22] Whale Song

Collaboration Album

 * 1) [2015.02.04] Sakai Yu to Issho (さかいゆうといっしょ)

Cover Album

 * 1) [2022.11.30] CITY POP LOVERS

Playlist
