Ado (born October 24, 2002) is a Japanese singer. In 2020, at the age of 17, she made her debut with the digital single titled "
Usseewa", which peaked at number 1 on
''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100,
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
Digital Singles Chart, and the Oricon Streaming Chart.
The song reached 100 million plays on ''
Billboard Japan
''Billboard Japan'' is a sister organization of the U.S.-based music magazine '' Billboard''. It is operated by the Japanese Osaka-based company Hanshin Contents Link (a subsidiary of Hanshin Electric Railway), holding an exclusive licence fr ...
'' within 17 weeks of charting, which was the sixth fastest in history and the youngest for a solo singer.
In 2022, her song "
New Genesis
The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' ...
" was used as the theme song for the anime film ''
One Piece Film: Red'' and topped
Apple Music
Apple Music is an audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand, or listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the sister internet radio stations Apple Musi ...
's Global Top 100 charts.
She is represented by the artist management company .
Life and career
Early life and musical beginnings: 2014–2020
Ado was born on October 24, 2002, in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, Japan.
In 2014, Ado took an interest in music after software for the video-sharing website
Niconico
, known before 2012 as , is a Japanese video sharing service based in Tokyo, Japan. "Niconico" or "nikoniko" is the Japanese sound symbolism, Japanese ideophone for smiling. As of 2021, Niconico is the 34th most-visited website in Japan, accordi ...
was released on the
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
. She began watching videos on the small screen of the handheld game console, and was impressed by
cover singers on Niconico who sang without showing their faces.
In 2017, Ado began singing as an ''
utaite
is a Japanese term for amateur singers who post Cover version, covers on the Internet, especially on sites like Niconico and YouTube. The term refers to the genre and culture surrounding covers by ''utaite'', as well as the cover songs themsel ...
'' (an internet cover singer) on Niconico, beginning with uploading a video of herself singing a cover of "Kimi no Taion" on January 10, 2017. On
Nippon TV
JOAX-DTV (channel 4), branded as (NTV) or Nippon TV, is a Japanese television station serving the Kantō region as the flagship station of the Nippon News Network and the Nippon Television Network System, owned and operated by the , a sub ...
, she said that during the time she was an ''utaite'' singer, she covered her closet in soundproofing material that she bought online and recorded in, as seen in the cover art to her ''
Utattemita Album'' .
In 2019, she featured in Kujira's digital single "Kinmokusei", which was released on December 23, 2019. A couple months later, she featured as a vocalist in a digital single "Shikabanēze" by Jon-Yakitory, which was released on March 29, 2020.
In May 2020, she participated in
Pony Canyon
, also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966, which distributes music, films, home video, and video games. It is affiliated with the Japanese media group Fujisankei Communications Group. Pony Canyo ...
's compilation album ''Palette4''. She recorded two songs for the album, "Call Boy" by Syudou and "Taema Naku Ai iro" by Shishi Shishi.
Major label debut and first album: 2020–2022
On October 15, 2020, Ado announced that she would make her debut with
Universal Music Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in Japan regarding music distribution. The company is responsible ...
sublabel
Virgin Music
Virgin Music, known as Virgin Music Label & Artist Services until 2022 and originally as Caroline Distribution, was a music distributor of independent artists and record labels, most prominently Death Grips, Weezer, and Radiohead. Virgin Music ...
. On October 23, the day before her 18th birthday, she released her debut single "
Usseewa" written by
Vocaloid
is a singing Speech synthesis, voice synthesizer software product. Its signal processing part was developed through a joint research project between Yamaha Corporation and the Music Technology Group at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona. The s ...
producer Syudou.
The music video, released on her YouTube channel, reached 5 million views by November 14. On December 10, 2020, "Usseewa" ranked number 1 on
Spotify Viral 50 Japan. On December 24, she released her second single "
Readymade
A found object (a calque from the French ''objet trouvé''), or found art, is art created from undisguised, but often modified, items or products that are not normally considered materials from which art is made, often because they already have ...
" written by Vocaloid producer Surii, as a digital release.
By January 23, 2021, "Usseewa" had reached 40 million views on YouTube, and on February 3, 2021, it ranked number 1 on both
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
Digital Singles Chart and Oricon Streaming Chart.
On February 14, she released her third single, "Gira Gira", written by Vocaloid producer teniwoha, as a digital release. Four days later on February 18, the number of subscribers on her YouTube channel exceeded 1 million. On March 15, 2021, "Usseewa" reached number one on the
''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100,
and on March 20, the music video on YouTube reached 100 million views, 148 days after its release.
On March 29, "Usseewa" reached 100 million plays on the ''Billboard Japan'' Streaming Songs chart after 17 weeks from its initial debut, which was the sixth fastest in history and the youngest for a solo singer.
On April 27, 2021, Ado released her fourth single "
Odo", which was used in an NHK show about
Vocaloid
is a singing Speech synthesis, voice synthesizer software product. Its signal processing part was developed through a joint research project between Yamaha Corporation and the Music Technology Group at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona. The s ...
producers.
On June 11, 2021, she was chosen as the second Japanese female artist for "YouTube's Artist on the Rise". On June 14, 2021, she released her fifth single, "Yoru no Pierrot". Her sixth single "Aitakute" was released on August 12.
In October, Ado announced her debut studio album, ''
Kyōgen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside '' Noh'', was performed along with ''Noh'' as an intermission of sorts between ''Noh'' acts on the same stage, and retains close links to ''Noh'' in the modern day; there ...
''. Released on January 26, 2022, ''Kyōgen'' sold over 140,000 physical copies in its first week, a first for a female artist since
Superfly's 2008
self titled debut album.
Debuting at number one on both the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot Albums chart and the Oricon Albums chart, Ado become the first woman to have a debut album peak at number one on its first week on Japanese charts since
Miwa's 2011 studio album, ''
Guitarissimo''.
Growing international success: 2022–present
On June 8, 2022, the cast for the Japanese animated film ''
One Piece Film: Red'' was revealed. Amongst the cast, Ado was revealed as the singing voice actress for the character Uta while
Kaori Nazuka
is a Japanese actress and singer. She played Tsukasa Ayatsuji in '' Amagami SS'', Nunnally Lamperouge in '' Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'', the eponymous character in '' Eureka Seven'' and Cosette in '' Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosett ...
reprised her role for Uta's non-singing parts. On the same day, Ado released "
New Genesis
The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' ...
", the image song for the film. "New Genesis" was a commercial success on various charts, peaking at number one on the Japan Hot 100 and number 20 on the
''Billboard'' Global 200. On Apple Music, Ado became the first artist to have a Japanese song top their Global Top 100 chart. She released another song, "
I'm Invincible" two weeks later, which eventually peaked at number two on the Japan Hot 100 and number three on the Oricon Combined Singles chart.
In August, Ado released the soundtrack album ''
Uta's Songs: One Piece Film Red''. The album later became a global success on various charts. On Japanese charts, Ado become the first artist to occupy the top three rankings of the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100 with "New Genesis", "I'm Invincible" and "Backlight" respectively. She later broke her own record, having five songs from the album chart in the top 5 of the Japan Hot 100. On the Oricon charts, Ado became the first artist in Oricon history to have five songs chart in the top 5 of the Streaming chart. Following this, Ado signed with
Geffen Records
Geffen Records (formerly The David Geffen Company from 1980 to 1992 and Geffen Records Inc. from 1993 to 2004) is an American record label, founded in late 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the company known as Geffen Pi ...
to distribute the album worldwide.
Near the end of 2022, Ado released the singles "Rebellion" and "Missing". From December 2022 to January 2023, she embarked on her first tour in Japan, the Mirage tour. From June 2023 to September 2023, Ado embarked on her second tour, Mars, which lasted for 14 shows in 11 different locations across Japan. On August 3, 2023, Ado was featured on the Japanese version of "
Unforgiven
''Unforgiven'' is a 1992 American revisionist Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by David Webb Peoples. It stars Eastwood as William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after ...
" by
Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim ( ; ; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music, a sub-label of Hybe Corporation, Hybe. The group consists of five members: Sakura Miyawaki, Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. ...
and
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...
. In September 2023, Ado released "
Show", commissioned by
Universal Studios Japan
is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Destinations & Experiences, Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operat ...
to promote their Halloween event, ''Halloween Horror Nights''. "Show" became a commercial success, becoming her third number-one single. In October 2023, she released "
Kura Kura" which was used as the opening theme of the
second season of anime adaptation of ''
Spy × Family
''Spy × Family'' (stylized as ''SPY×FAMILY'' and pronounced "spy family") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo. The story follows Loid Forger, an enigmatic spy who has to "build a family" to execute a missio ...
''. Ado announced her first world tour, "Wish", on her 21st birthday; it lasted from February to April 2024.
In December 2023, Ado released her first album, ''
Ado's Utattemita Album'', which included covers of
Ringo Sheena
, known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer, songwriter and musician. She is also the founder and lead vocalist of the band Tokyo Jihen.
She describes herself as "". She was ranked number 36 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians compiled ...
's "
Tsumi to Batsu", PinocchioP's "
God-ish",
Akina Nakamori
is a Japanese Singing, singer and Actor, actress. She is one of the most popular and List of best-selling music artists in Japan, best-selling music artists in Japan. Akina achieved national recognition after winning the 1981 season of the tal ...
's "
Kazari ja Nai no yo Namida wa", and
TK's "
Unravel". The album went on to peak at number two on the Oricon Albums chart and number one on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot Albums chart.
On April 27 and 28, 2024, Ado held two solo live performances called "Heart" at the
Japan National Stadium
The Japan National Stadium, officially the , alternatively , and a.k.a. formerly is a multi-purpose stadium used mostly for association football in Kasumigaokamachi, Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The facility served as the main stadi ...
, becoming the first solo female artist to do so.
On June 26, 2024, the idol group
Phantom Siita, which Ado produced, made their debut with the single "Otomodachi".
In July 2024, Ado released her second studio album, ''
Zanmu
is the second studio album by Japanese singer Ado, released on July 10, 2024, via Virgin Music. Announced on April 20, the album was preceded by the release of fourteen singles, including " Show", which was used by Universal Studios Japan to p ...
''. Preceded by 14 singles, the album debuted at number one on both the Oricon and ''Billboard Japan'' charts. ''Zanmu'' became Ado's fourth consecutive number one album on the Japan Hot Albums chart and her second number one album on the Oricon Albums chart.
In October 2024, Ado announced her second world tour
Hibana, which is scheduled to have several shows and legs from April to August 2025 across multiple continents.
Imagine Dragons
Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band currently consists of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, and bassist Ben McKee. They first gained exposure with the release of ...
released a remix of their song "
Take Me to the Beach" featuring Ado on December 16, 2024.
In February 2025, it was announced that Ado would take part in the tribute compilation album ''
Meikyo: Tribute to Akina Nakamori'', which includes her cover of Nakamori's 1984's single "
Jukkai (1984)".
In addition, she was also appointed as a brand ambassador for
Georgia Coffee. Her song "Watashi ni Hanataba" was featured as the commercial theme song, and she also participated in the commercial as the narrator.
Personal life
Having not shared any personal information of herself, little is known about Ado. In a 2024 interview with ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', Ado explained her decision to not show her face is tied with the Vocaloid scene and for more focus on her artistry.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Soundtrack albums
Compilation albums
Remix albums
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Promotional singles
Other charted songs
Video albums
Music videos
Tours
* The First World Tour 'Wish' (2024)
*
Hibana World Tour (2025)
Awards and nominations
Notes
Pronunciation
Sources for charts
References
External links
* –
Universal Music Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in Japan regarding music distribution. The company is responsible ...
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ado
2002 births
Living people
Child pop musicians
Geffen Records artists
Japanese women pop singers
Masked musicians
Singers from Tokyo
Unidentified musicians
Universal Music Japan artists
Utaite
Virgin Records artists
21st-century Japanese women singers