Yuzu (band)

Yuzu ゆず
Yuzu performing in 2012. From left to right: Yūjin Kitagawa, Kōji Iwasawa
Background information
Origin	Yokohama, Japan
Genres	Pop rock[1] folk-pop[2][3]
Years active	1996[4]–present
Labels	SENHA&Co Toy's Factory
Members	Yūjin Kitagawa Kōji Iwasawa
Website	yuzu-official.com

Yuzu (ゆず) is a Japanese pop rock duo who debuted in 1997.^[1] Its members are Yūjin Kitagawa (北川悠仁, Kitagawa Yūjin) and Kōji Iwasawa (岩沢厚治, Iwasawa Kōji). Both of the band members come from Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, and attended Okamura Junior High School.^[5] Their songs "Hyōri Ittai" (表裏一体, Two sides of the same coin),^[6] "Reason",^[7] and "Nagareboshi Kirari" (流れ星キラリ, Shooting star) were used as ending themes of the anime series Hunter × Hunter (2011).^[8][9]

Yuzu started out as street musicians. At first, the band's name was "Light's", but Kitagawa disliked it, so they changed the name to "Yuzu". At that time, Kitagawa was eating a yuzu sherbet, so he named the band after the fruit. The fans of Yuzu are called "Yuzukko (ゆずっ子)".^{[citation needed]}

Members

• Yūjin Kitagawa (born January 14, 1977) – vocals, guitar, leader
• Kōji Iwasawa (born October 14, 1976) – vocals, guitar

Discography

Yuzu discography
Studio albums	18
Live albums	8
Compilation albums	5
Singles	46

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales	Certifications
		JPN Oricon [10]
Yuzu Ikka (ゆず一家)	Released: July 23, 1998 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	6	JPN: 1,000,000+	RIAJ: Million[11]
Yuzuen (ゆずえん)	Released: October 14, 1999 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 1,200,000+	RIAJ: 3× Platinum[11]
Tobira (トビラ, "Opening")	Released: November 1, 2000 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 1,000,000+	RIAJ: Million[11]
Yuzu Moa (ユズモア)	Released: March 6, 2002 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 400,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Sumire (すみれ)	Released: March 19, 2003 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
1 〜One〜	Released: September 15, 2004 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Ribbon (リボン)	Released: January 18, 2006 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Wonderful World	Released: January 16, 2008 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	3	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Furusato(故郷, "Hometown")	Released: October 7, 2009 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
2-NI-	Released: February 16, 2011 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Land	Released: May 1, 2013 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Shinsekai (新世界, "New World")	Released: February 19, 2014 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Towa	Released: January 13, 2016 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Big Yell	Released: April 4, 2018 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Yuzutown	Released: March 4, 2020 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
People	Released: March 23, 2022 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	2	JPN: 35,125[12]
Sees	Released: June 29, 2022 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	4	JPN: 30,272[13]
Zukan (図鑑 "Illustration")	Released: July 31, 2024 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	3	JPN: 30,233[14]

Mini albums

List of mini albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales	Certifications
		JPN Oricon [10]
Yuzu no Moto (ゆずの素)	Released: October 25, 1997; July 14, 2010 (re-issue) Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	8	—
Yuzuman (ゆずマン)	Released: February 21, 1998 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	29	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Yuzuman no Natsu (ゆずマンの夏)	Released: July 12, 2000 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 400,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Yuzu Smile (ゆずスマイル)	Released: July 30, 2003 Label: SENHA&Co Formats: CD, digital download	1	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales	Certifications
		JPN Oricon [10]
Kajiki ~ Sakura Saku-hen~ (歌時記 〜サクラサク篇〜)	Released: June 23, 1999 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	2	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Kajiki: Futari no Biggu (Eggu) Shō-hen (歌時記～ふたりのビッグ（エッグ）ショー篇～)	Released: July 18, 2001 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	3	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Futari Sankaku 2015.8.15 〜 Midori no hi 〜 (二人参客 2015.8.15〜緑の日〜)	Released: September 9, 2015 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	1	—
Futari Sankaku 2015.8.16 〜 Kiiro no hi 〜 (二人参客 2015.8.16〜黄色の日〜)	Released: September 9, 2015 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	2	—
Ninin Sankyaku Yuzu Mega Mix	Released: September 30, 2015 Label: SENHA&Co Format: LP	44	—
Yuzu Nomi 〜 Hakushu Kassai 〜 Higawari Zenkyoku-shū + 1 (ゆずのみ〜拍手喝祭〜 日替わり全曲集+1)	Released: August 8, 2019 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	—	—
YUZU ARENA TOUR 2022 SEES -ALWAYS with you-	Released: September 17, 2022 Label: SENHA&Co Format: Streaming/Digital Download	2	—
YUZU ARENA TOUR 2022 PEOPLE -ALWAYS with you-	Released: October 25, 2022 Label: SENHA&Co Format: Streaming/Digital Download	1	—
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales	Certifications
		JPN Oricon [10]
Home [1997–2000]	Released: June 8, 2005 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	1	JPN: 500,000+	RIAJ: 2× Platinum[11]
Going [2001–2005]	Released: June 8, 2005 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	2	JPN: 500,000+	RIAJ: 2× Platinum[11]
Yuzu no Ne [1997–2007] (ゆずのね1997–2007)	Released: October 3, 2007 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	2	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
Yuzu You [2006–2011]	Released: April 25, 2012 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
Yuzu Iroha [1997–2017] (ゆずイロハ1997–2017)	Released: April 26, 2017 Label: SENHA&Co Format: CD	1	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]

Singles

As lead artist

• "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
• "×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Sales	Certifications	Album
		JPN Oricon [15]	JPN Billboard [16][17]
"Summer Color" (夏色)	1998	17	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11] RIAJ: Gold[A]	Yuzu Ikka
"Boy" (少年)		10	×	—
"Empty" (からっぽ)		4	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	Yuzuen
"Someday" (いつか)	1999	4	×	JPN: 400,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
"Goodbye Bus" (サヨナラバス)		4	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Sentimental" (センチメンタル)		3	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Friend's Song" (友達の唄)		2	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Outta Mind / Garbage Star" (心のままに/くず星)		2	×	—		Tobira
"Ah, The Days of Youth" (嗚呼、青春の日々)	2000	1	×	JPN: 400,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11]
"Flightless Bird" (飛べない鳥)		1	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"3 Count" (3カウント)	2001	2	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	Yuzu Moa
"Again 2" (アゲイン2)	2002	1	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Songs of Love" (恋の歌謡日)		3	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	Yuzu Iroha [1997–2017]
"Until We Meet Again" (またあえる日まで)		2	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	Sumire
"Blue" (青)	2003	4	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Breathing" (呼吸)		5	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"3 Lines / Horizontal Line" (3番線/水平線)		5	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Violet" (スミレ)		4	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Priority to Pedestrians / Dark" (歩行者優先/濃)		1	×	JPN: 200,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	1 〜One〜
"Sakuragichō / Hobby's Width / Map of Dreams" (桜木町/シュミのハバ/夢の地図)	2004	3	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Bridge of Glory" (栄光の架橋)		2	×	JPN: 250,000+	RIAJ: Platinum[11] RIAJ: Gold[B]
"We Are F. Marinos" (ウィーアー　エフ・マリノス)	2005	x	x	—		Non-album single
"Super Express / The Sun Will Rise Again" (超特急/陽はまた昇る)		2	×	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]	Ribbon
"Spring Breeze" (春風)	2007	3	×	—		Wonderful World
"Story" (ストーリー)	2008	2	3	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Yesterday and Tomorrow"		4	4	—		Furusato
"Shish Kebab" (シシカバブー)		2	2	—
"I Wanna See You" (逢いたい)	2009	3	1	JPN: 100,000+	RIAJ: Gold[11]
"Strawberry" (いちご)		2	2	—
"Rainbow" (虹)		2	1	—
"Cherry Blossom Encounter / My Life" (桜会/マイライフ)	2010	2	2	—		2-NI-
"Journey to Love" (慈愛への旅路)		5	4	—
"From"		2	2	—
"Hey-Peace" (Hey和)	2011	3	18	—
"Fly" (翔)		5	3	—		Land
"With You"	2012	5	3	—
"See Ya Tomorrow" (また明日)		7	5	—
"Reason"	2013	3	2	—
"Friend: Time of Departure" (友　～旅立ちの時～)		5	3	—		Shinsekai
"The Rain Will Turn to Hallelujah / I Want to Protect You" (雨のち晴レルヤ/守ってあげたい)		3	2	—
"Hyori Ittai" (表裏一体)		4	2	—
"Charm" (ヒカレ)	2014	8	3	—
"OLA!!"	2015	6	—	—		Towa
"Owaranaiuta" (終わらない歌)		5	—	—
"Muscat" (マスカット)	2018	10	—	—		Non-album single

Collaboration singles

Release date	Title	Japanese	Artists
November 29, 2006	"Christmas no Yakusoku"	クリスマスの約束	Yuzuoda (Yuzu, Kazumasa Oda)
May 23, 2007	"Original Soundtrack Single Eiga 「Syaberedomo Syaberedomo」"	Original Soundtrack Single 映画「しゃべれども しゃべれども」
July 11, 2007	"Music"	ミュージック	Golden Circle feat. Yohito Teraoka/Yumi Matsutoya/Yuzu
May 13, 2009	"Two You"	two友	Yuzuguren (Yuzu, Kimaguren)

Asia Tours

• YUZU ASIA TOUR 2016 Summer 「NATSUIRO」 supported by WAKUWAKU JAPAN (2016)
• YUZU ASIA TOUR 2017 (2017)
• YUZU ASIA LIVE 2019 (2019)

Awards

Japan Record Awards

See also: 55th Japan Record Awards

The Japan Record Awards is a major music awards show held annually in Japan by the Japan Composer's Association.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2013	Land	Best Album Award	Won
2017	Yuzu	Special Award	Won

Space Shower Music Video Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1998	Natsuiro (夏色)	Best Your Choice	Won
1999	Sentimental (センチメンタル)	Best Your Choice	Won
2000	Tobenai Tori (飛べない鳥)	Best Your Choice	Won
2014	Yuzu	Best Artist	Won
2016	Owaranai Uta (終わらない歌)	Best Video of the Year	Won
2018	Yuzu	Artist of the Year	Won

Notes

1. Certification for streaming^[18]
2. Certification for streaming^[19]

References

1. Eremenko, Alexey. "Yuzu | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
2. "Japanese Folk-Pop Duo Yuzu Wraps Up Successful Asia Tour in Taiwan". Billboard. December 12, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
3. Chan, Boon (June 20, 2016). "Folk-pop duo Yuzu on saying together for 20 years: Keep close, but not too close". The Straits Times. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
4. "ゆずの記事まとめ" [Yuzu Overview]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 22, 2019.
5. "Yuzu Biography". JpopAsia. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
6. "ゆず「表裏一体」" [Yuzu – "Hyori Ittai"]. Yuzu Official YouTube. December 10, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
7. "ゆず「REASON」" [Yuzu – "Reason"]. Toy's Factory Official YouTube. December 24, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
8. Green, Scott (April 4, 2013). "'Hunter x Hunter' Chimera Ant Arc to Feature New Ending". Crunchyroll. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
9. Loveridge, Lynzee (September 24, 2013). "Yuzu, Hyadain Make Their 2nd Hunter x Hunter Film Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
10. "ゆずのアルバム" [Yuzu albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
11. "Yuzu CD Certifications" (Enter ゆず into the アーティスト then select 検索) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
12. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2022年03月21日～2022年03月27日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking March 21, 2022 – March 27, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
13. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2022年06月27日～2022年07月03日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking June 27, 2022 – July 3, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
14. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2024年07月29日～2024年08月04日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking July 29, 2024 – August 4, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
15. "ゆずのシングル" [Yuzu singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
16. "Yuzu | Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
17. "Yuzu | Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
18. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Yuzu – Summer Color (夏色)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 25, 2022. Select 2022年9月 on the drop-down menu
19. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Yuzu – 栄光の架橋 (Bridge of Glory)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 29, 2023. Select 2022年12月 on the drop-down menu

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Yuzu at AllMusic
• Yuzu at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Toy's Factory official profile (in Japanese)
• Avex Taiwan profile (in Chinese)