Yui Mizuno (水野 由結, Mizuno Yui, born June 20, 1999),[1] formerly known by her stage name Yuimetal, is a Japanese musician, singer, and dancer. She is a former member of the kawaii metal group Babymetal and the idol group Sakura Gakuin. In October 2018, she left Babymetal due to an undisclosed illness. She is managed by the Amuse, Inc. talent agency.

Yui Mizuno
水野 由結
Mizuno performing with Babymetal in June 2017
Background information
Birth nameYui Mizuno
Also known asYuimetal (in Babymetal)
Born (1999-06-20) June 20, 1999 (age 25)
OriginKanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2010–2018
LabelsAmuse, Inc.
Formerly ofBabymetal

Biography

edit

On August 2, 2010, at the age of 11, Mizuno joined Sakura Gakuin, an idol group managed by the talent agency Amuse, Inc. She joined at the same time as another future Babymetal member, Moa Kikuchi. Sakura Gakuin had not yet released its debut single.[1][2] During their audition, Mizuno and Kikuchi performed a duo dance cover of "Over The Future" by Karen Girl's, two former members of which, Ayami Mutō and Suzuka Nakamoto, had also recently joined Sakura Gakuin.[3]

Besides performing as a whole group, Sakura Gakuin members were also divided into smaller subgroups known as "clubs". Each club had its own musical group that recorded its own songs. Mizuno and Kikuchi first became members of the "Baton Club" and its musical group Twinklestars. As backing singers and dancers, they were later teamed with lead singer Suzuka Nakamoto in a "Heavy Music Club",[4] with the associated music group being named Babymetal. Before the formation of this club, none of the three members knew what heavy metal was.[5]

In 2012, Babymetal became an independent recording group.[6] Mizuno "graduated" from Sakura Gakuin in 2015,[7] and from then on performed with Babymetal exclusively. Mizuno and Kikuchi have a writing credit under the name "Black Babymetal" on the first Babymetal album in 2014, having written "Song 4" together during a bus trip.[8] The second Babymetal album, Metal Resistance, was released in 2016.[9]

Following a leave from the show Legend "S" Baptism XX, Mizuno was absent from Babymetal's tour of the United States in May 2018, with no advance warning. Amid fan speculation on Mizuno's status with the group, a representative of 5B Management, the American management company representing Babymetal, replied to an inquiry from Alternative Press Magazine: "Yuimetal remains a member of the band, but she is not on this current U.S. tour."[10] However, she was also absent from Babymetal's European tour in June 2018. On October 19, 2018, Babymetal officially announced that Yuimetal would not be joining the band for the next phase of their tour and would no longer be a member of the group due to poor health.[11] Mizuno released a statement[12] shortly after about her decision to leave Babymetal, explaining that she may go on to pursue a solo career in the future.[13]

Personal life

edit

In third grade, Mizuno was a fan of Karen Girl's, Suzuka Nakamoto's previous group, and had dreamed of joining the group after their music helped her endure the "life-threatening" illness of a family member. The group disbanded, however, and she attended the group's farewell concert and met all three members. During the Legend "D" concert in 2012, Babymetal performed a cover of the Karen Girl's song "Over the Future". Mizuno says that moment was when her "dreams came true".[14]

She and her family are also close friends with Karen Girl's member Ayami Mutō and her family; Mizuno and Muto were both members of Sakura Gakuin.[15]

Mizuno has two brothers,[16] one older and one two years younger than her.[17]

Associated acts

edit

Discography

edit

With Sakura Gakuin

edit

With Babymetal

edit

Filmography

edit

Television

edit
  • MW Dai-Zero-shō: Akuma no Game (MW-ムウ- 第0章 ~悪魔のゲーム~) (2009)
  • Sagasō! Nippon Hito no Wasuremono (2009)
  • Kioku no Umi (2010)

Film

edit
  • A Happy Birthday (2009)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "水野 由結 - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  2. ^ "菊地 最愛 - アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  3. ^ Mila Puspita (2013-09-25), Sakura Gakuin Yui&Moa Sakura Gakuin Entrance exam Over The Future], retrieved 2017-12-26
  4. ^ Hudson, Alex (10 July 2014). "Did Babymetal invent 'cute metal' and what is it?". BBC. UK. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  5. ^ McQuistan, Colin (2014-07-14). "An Interview With Babymetal - Bow Down to Your Kitsune". Huffington Post UK. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  6. ^ "12~13歳女の子の「ヘビメタアイドル」 「さくら学院 BABYMETAL」に世界が大注目" [12 to 13 Year Old Girls World's Hottest "Heavy Metal Idols" – Sakura Gakuin's BABYMETAL]. J-CAST (in Japanese). 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  7. ^ さくら学院が転入生6名迎え12名体制に、生徒会長は磯野莉音 [Sakura Gakuin welcomes 6 new members, bringing total to 12. Rinon Isono becomes Student Council President]. Natalie (in Japanese). Japan: Natasha, Inc. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  8. ^ "K-bleJungle intervista BABYMETAL (KJ on the Road)". Associazione Ochacaffè. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (2016-04-01). "BabyMetal, 'Metal Resistance' - April 2016 Release of the Month". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  10. ^ Pettigrew, Jason (10 May 2018). "Yuimetal is still in BABYMETAL". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Important Announcement from BABYMETAL". Babymetal. October 19, 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "ファンの皆様へ". Amuse Inc. October 19, 2018. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "BABYMETAL Parts Ways with YUIMETAL, Releases New Single 'Starlight'". 19 October 2018.
  14. ^
  15. ^ "由結的さくら学院" [Sakura Girls, as Yui sees them]. Sakura Gakuin Ofisharu Burogu さくら学院オフィシャルブログ [Sakura Gakuin Official Blog] (in Japanese). 2010-09-13. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  16. ^ "祝★50" [Celebration ★ 50]. Sakura Gakuin Ofisharu Burogu さくら学院オフィシャルブログ [Sakura Gakuin Official Blog] (in Japanese). 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  17. ^
edit