Eito (musician) explained

Eito
Native Name:Japanese: 瑛人
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Name:Eito Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 瑛人)
Birth Date:3 June 1997
Birth Place:Asahi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Years Active:2019–present
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer

, who is simply known as Eito, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence when his debut single "Kōsui" became a viral hit on the social media app TikTok in early 2020 before climbing the Billboard Japan Hot 100 to number one and charting on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. by September of the same year.[1] [2]

"Kōsui" stayed on the top ten on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for 27 consecutive weeks and has streamed over 200 million plays.[3] [4] Following the success of "Kōsui", Eito got a recording contract with A.S.A.B and management contract with Setsuna International.[5] In 2020, "Kōsui" earned Eito the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards Japan for MTV Breakthrough Song and the 62nd Japan Record Awards for Excellent Work.[6] [7] In January 2021, Eito released his debut album, titled, Sukkarakan, which spawned three further singles, "Hip Hop wa Utaenai", "Right Now", and "Happiness".[8]

In December 2020, Eito released a Cody Chesnutt cover, "Ai ni Michita Sekai (Parting Ways)", for the Japanese version of the 2020 film Soul. He also made a cameo appearance in the film as a street singer with a guitar.[9] In February 2021, it was announced that Eito would perform a theme song for the Japanese version of the 2021 film Tom & Jerry, "Piece of Cake".[10]

Early life

Eito was born in Asahi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa.[11] He has two older brothers. His parents got divorced when he was a second year student.

Career

2016–2019: Career beginnings

In 2016, Eito attended the music school Mesar Haus in Meguro, Tokyo, where he met his musical mentor and singer-and-songwriter, Rung Hyang.[12] Although he quit the school, the singer continued to make new musical materials, and eventually self-released his debut single, "Kōsui" in April 2019.

2020–2021: Sukkarakan

In January 2020, Eito released two singles, "Hip Hop wa Utaenai" and "Singer-Songwriter no Kanojo", both of which had a minor success, only entering the Spotify Japan Viral and iTunes Japan charts.[13] Since the late 2019, "Kōsui" slowly gained populatiry on the social video sharing app TikTok, where the users posted their cover videos of the song. The song eventually entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100 at number 34 in May 2020.[3] The song topped the chart two weeks later and stayed within top ten on the charts for 27 consecutive weeks. The cover videos by the Japanese celebrities boosted its popularity, such as Shingo Katori, Misako Uno, and Chocolate Planet.[14] On 24 July 2020, the singer made his first television appearance at Music Station, performing "Kōsui". The song earned him multiple awards, including 2020 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and 62nd Japan Record Awards.[6] [7] As of December 2020, the song has accumulated more than 200 million streaming plays and sold over 100,000 digital copies.[4]

Following the success of "Kōsui", Eito got a recording contract with A.S.A.B and management contract with Setsuna International.[5] In October 2020, the singer released his first single on A.S.A.B, "Right Now".[5] In the same month, Eito covered Miliyah Kato's song, "Love Forever" with Yama, which was included on Kato's tribute album Inspire (2020).[15] In November 2020, Eito released a cover of AI's "Happiness", which served as the 2020 winter campaign song for Coca-Cola.[16] In December 2020, Eito released a Cody Chesnutt cover, "Ai ni Michita Sekai (Parting Ways)", for the Japanese version of the 2020 film Soul.[9] On 31 December 2020, Eito performed "Kōsui" at the 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[17]

In January 2021, Eito released his debut studio album, Sukkarakan.[8] The album peaked at number nine on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums and number eleven on the Oricon Weekly Albums.[18] [19] In the same month, he provided his vocals to Monkey Majik's "Believe" for their seventh compilation album, 20th Anniversary Best Kachōfūgetsu.[20] In February 2021, the singer embarked on his first national concert tour, Together Sukkarakan.[21] In the same month, it was announced that his song, "Piece of Cake" would serve as the theme song for the Japanese version of the 2021 film Tom & Jerry.[10]

2022–present: 1 or 8

Artistry and musical influences

Eito is known for writing his songs in the free improvisation sessions and reflects his personal experiences on his music. He performed the improvised songs during his first concert tour, Together Sukkarakan. Eito has named Shota Shimizu, Tee, Dai Hirai, and Shōnan no Kaze as his musical influences.[22]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
20202020 MTV Video Music Awards JapanMTV Breakthrough Song"Kōsui"
GQ Men of the YearBreakthrough Song of the Year[23]
Line News Awards 2020Buzzed Idol/ArtistHimself[24]
62nd Japan Record AwardsExcellent Work Award"Kōsui"
Grand Prixrowspan="3"
2021Space Shower Music Awards 2021Best Breakthrough ArtistHimself[25]
People's Choice

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18.5em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
JPN
Hot

JPN
CD

Sukkarakan
  • Released: January 1, 2021
  • Label: A.S.A.B
  • Formats: CD, Digital download, streaming
9 11
1 or 8
  • Released: March 16, 2022
  • Label: A.S.A.B
  • Formats: CD, Digital download, streaming
140

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
JPN
Hot
Glo.
Excl.
U.S.

"Kōsui"20191 72Sukkarakan
"Hip Hop wa Utaenai"2020
"Singer-Songwriter no Kanojo"
"Right Now"Sukkarakan
"Happiness"
"Piece of Cake"20211 or 8
"Sōji"
"Kazetabi"
"Daiseikai"
"Ha Hi Fu He Ho"2022
"Mō 3ji"
"Kōsui" rowspan="2"
"Just a Life"

Promotional singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Boku wa Baka"2020Sukkarakan
"Chest"
"Ai ni Michita Sekai (Parting Ways)"
"Happy ni Nareyo"Sukkarakan
"Saiai"20221 or 8

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing other artist(s), year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Love Forever" 2020align=center YamaInspire
"Believe" 2021align=center Monkey Majik20th Anniversary Best Kachōfūgetsu

Music videos

TitleYearDirector
As lead artist
"Kōsui"2019Keita Inaba
"Hip Hop wa Utaenai"2020
"Right Now"Hidenobu Tanabe
"Boku wa Baka"Takatoshi Tsuchiya
"Happy ni Nareyo"2021Shuichi Bamba
"Chest"
As featured artist
"Believe"
2021Havit Art Studio

Filmography

Television roles
Year Title Roles Notes Ref.
2020Mezamashi TVHimself (monthly presenter)Breakfast television program[26]
2021Jonetsu-TairikuHimselfDocumentary[27]

Tours

Headlining

Notes and References

  1. News: 【ビルボード】瑛人「香水」、ヒゲダンとYOASOBIを抑え自身初の総合首位獲得. February 28, 2021 . Billboard Japan. May 20, 2020.
  2. Billboard Global Excl. US. February 28, 2021. Billboard. October 17, 2020.
  3. News: 香水 / 瑛人 CHART insight. February 28, 2021. Billboard Japan.
  4. News: 瑛人「香水」ストリーミング累計2億回再生を突破. February 28, 2021 . Billboard Japan. December 2, 2020.
  5. News: 瑛人「ライナウ」インタビュー. February 28, 2021. 音楽ナタリー.
  6. News: 【MTV VMAJ】瑛人「香水」MVがBreakthrough賞 最も話題を集めた楽曲に選出「信じられない…」. Oricon. February 28, 2021.
  7. News: 瑛人メガネ姿「香水」ネット上「かわいい!」の声. February 28, 2021 . 日刊スポーツ. December 30, 2020.
  8. News: 瑛人 1stアルバム 『すっからかん』 特典は「あの香水のミニボトル」!2021年1月1日(金)発売!. February 28, 2021 . HMV. December 25, 2020.
  9. News: 瑛人、ピクサー最新作『ソウルフル・ワールド』にてミュージシャン役で声優初挑戦、主人公らに影響を与える歌唱シーンも解禁. February 28, 2021 . eplus. December 18, 2020.
  10. News: 瑛人「トムとジェリー」主題歌でラップに挑戦、本編映像&パントビスコのイラスト入りMV公開. February 28, 2021 . 音楽ナタリー. February 26, 2021.
  11. News: 瑛人のプロフィール. Excite.
  12. News: 瑛人に作曲を教えたルンヒャン、最新EPより「Fall」MV公開. February 28, 2021 . Barks. September 17, 2020.
  13. News: 瑛人、TikTok発のヒットでバイラルチャート常連に シンプルなサウンドで際立つ、時代の真ん中を射抜く言葉. February 28, 2021 . RealSound. May 12, 2020.
  14. News: 瑛人:紅白歌合戦に初出場 香取慎吾、チョコプラ、AAA宇野実彩子らもカバーした「香水」が話題. February 28, 2021 . Mantan Web. November 16, 2020.
  15. News: 加藤ミリヤ&清水翔太「Love Forever」を瑛人&yamaが歌唱。川谷絵音が楽曲プロデュース. February 28, 2021. Barks. October 7, 2020.
  16. News: 瑛人、「コカ・コーラ」ウィンターキャンペーン2020TVCMで「ハピネス」カバーを披露. February 28, 2021 . Barks. October 26, 2020.
  17. News: クズ・バカに込めた瑛人の本音 紅白出場後の抱負語る. February 28, 2021. 朝日新聞デジタル. January 3, 2021.
  18. Billboard Japan Hot Albums. Billboard. February 27, 2021.
  19. Web site: 瑛人の作品. Oricon. February 27, 2021.
  20. News: MONKEY MAJIK×瑛人、コラボ曲「Believe」オフショットリリックビデオ公開. February 28, 2021 . BARKS. January 21, 2021.
  21. News: 瑛人の初ワンマンツアーがピースフルに終幕!すべてを詰め込んだ大切な曲たちをしっかりファンに届ける. February 28, 2021 . 音楽ナタリー. February 27, 2021.
  22. News: シングルマザーの母に歌を捧げた小4は、13年後に大ヒット歌手になった. February 28, 2021 . Buzzfeed Japan. August 25, 2020.
  23. News: 瑛人がブレイクスルー・ソング・オブ・ザ・イヤー賞を受賞!──2020年「GQ MEN OF THE YEAR 2020」発表!. February 28, 2021 . GQ JAPAN. November 23, 2020.
  24. News: 瑛人「LINE NEWS AWARDS」表彰式で「香水」歌唱、横浜流星も今年を表す漢字発表. February 28, 2021 . 音楽ナタリー. December 16, 2020.
  25. News: 「SPACE SHOWER MUSIC AWARDS 2021」開催決定!2020年ミュージックシーンに多大なる影響を与えた8部門・各賞の豪華ノミネーションを発表. February 28, 2021 . PR TIMES. February 1, 2021.
  26. News: 瑛人:「一発屋と言われることもビビってない」 「香水」ヒットの心境明かす 「情熱大陸」きょう放送. February 28, 2021 . HMV. January 10, 2021.
  27. News: 瑛人「めざましテレビ」でプレゼンターに挑戦、好きなコーナーは「きょうのわんこ」. February 28, 2021 . HMV. November 25, 2020.