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Wa to Yo (Japanese: 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 and Universal Music Group. It consists of two discs, the Wa disc recorded in Japanese while the Yo disc was recorded in English. The album features guest appearances and collaborations from Kodō, Jinmenusagi, Himekami, Jamaican musician Junior Reid, American singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger, and American singer-songwriter Chris Brown. Wa to Yo is primarily a J-pop, R&B, soul and hip hop album.

Wa to Yo
Studio album by Ai
Released	June 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	R&B hip hop electropop pop
Length	64:13 92:40 (deluxe)
Language	Japanese English
Label	EMI[1] Universal
Producer	Uta Julian Le Gakushi Alex Geringas Don City Derrick D. Beck Ai Carina Ueumura 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
"Justice Will Prevail at Last" Released: May 9, 2017 "Kira Kira" Released: August 1, 2017

Two singles were released from Wa to Yo, "Justice Will Prevail at Last" and "Kira Kira" featuring Naomi Watanabe.

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.[2] In August 2015, Ai gave birth to her first child.[3]

The album was first teased on Ai's YouTube channel on April 20, 2017.[4][5]

Development

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.[6] The album combines traditional Japanese instruments with modern western genres.[6]

In an interview with her 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.[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ai Uemura except where noted.

Notes

• The original digital release of Wa to Yo is on one disc.
• "Wonderful World" samples "Kamigami no Uta" by Himekami.
• Track 4 and 7 are titled in Japanese.
• Track 5, 8, 9, 14, and 17 are stylized in all caps.

Deluxe edition

Notes

• The digital deluxe version (titled Wa to Yo to) features two discs.
• Tracks 4, 7, 12, 15, and 16 of disc one from the deluxe version are titled in Japanese.
• Tracks 5, 8, 9 and 11 of disc one from the deluxe version are stylized in all caps.
• Tracks 4 and 7 of disc two from the deluxe version are stylized in all caps.

Charts

Chart performance for Wa to Yo

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[8]	19
Japanese albums (Oricon)[9]	11

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[10]

Release history

Release history and formats for Wa to Yo

Region	Date	Format(s)	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	June 7, 2017	Digital download streaming	Standard	EMI Universal	[11]
Japan		CD		EMI Universal Japan Def Jam	[12]
Various	October 25, 2017	Digital download streaming	Deluxe	EMI Universal	[13]
Japan		CD		EMI Universal Japan Def Jam	[14]

References

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