Yui Kobayashi
Japanese model and member of Keyakizaka46
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yui Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 由依, Hepburn: Kobayashi Yui; born 23 October 1999), also known as Yousti (stylized in all lowercase), is a Japanese singer and model. She is a former member of the idol group Sakurazaka46 (formerly Keyakizaka46). She is represented by Sony Music Records and is an exclusive model with a fashion magazine with.[2]
Yui Kobayashi 小林 由依 | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Yousti |
| Born | October 23, 1999 Gunma Prefecture, Japan[1] |
| Origin | Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
| Label | Sony Music Records |
| Formerly of | Sakurazaka46 |
Career
2015–2024: Sakurazaka46
On August 21, 2015, Kobayashi along with 22 other members was announced for the newly created idol group Toriizaka46, later renamed to Keyakizaka46 and currently known as Sakurazaka46.[3] Kobayashi made her musical debut with Keyakizaka46's first single, Silent Majority.[4] In October of the same year, Kobayashi made her runway debut at the GirlsAward 2016 Autumn/Winter fashion show.[5]
As of 2019, Kobayashi has made an appearance in all Keyakizaka46 singles. She formed a duo named "Yui-chans" (ゆいちゃんず, Yuichanzu) with Yui Imaizumi, first appearing in Silent Majority with the song "Shibugakawa".[4] With Imaizumi's graduation in 2018, Kobayashi and Mizuho Habu formed another duo named "Senko Shimai" (線香姉妹), appearing in Ambivalent with "302-Goshitsu".[6] She held performance center roles typically held by Yurina Hirate when Hirate was unavailable, including the 60th Japan Record Awards and the 69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[7][8]
Kobayashi became an exclusive model for fashion magazine with on July 27, 2018.[2] On March 13, 2019, she released a photo-book titled Kanjō no Kōzu (感情の構図), published by Kadokawa.[9]
Kobayashi's first independent acting role was in the 2020 live-action adaptation of Wasteful Days of High School Girls by TV Asahi. She played the role of Lily Someya, a multiracial transfer student; Kobayashi dyed her hair blonde for the role.[10][11] She will appear in Sakura, an upcoming movie to be released on 13 November 2020.[12]
On November 29, 2023, Kobayashi announced that she would be leaving Sakurazaka46 after the graduation concert on January 31–February 1, 2024.[13][14]
2025–present: Solo career as Yousti
In May 2025, Kobayashi announced her upcoming debut as a solo singer under the name Yousti. The stage name is a combination of her name and "ostrich", as she wished that her music could be a temporary "escape from reality" for those facing hardships (based on the common misconception that ostriches bury their heads in sand to avoid danger).[15] Her official fandom name is "Aisti", a combination of "love" (愛, ai), the English superlative degree suffix "st", and the English "I".[16] Her first self-titled EP was released on August 27.[15]
Discography
| Year | Single | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Silent Majority"[4] | "Silent Majority" (サイレントマジョリティー) | |
| "Te o Tsunaide Kaerōka" (手を繋いで帰ろうか) | |||
| "Shibuyagawa" (渋谷川) | As "Yuichanzu" with Yui Imaizumi | ||
| "Noriokureta Bus" (乗り遅れたバス) | With Yui Imaizumi, Yurina Hirate, Miyu Suzumoto, and Rika Watanabe | ||
| "Kimi ga Inai" (キミガイナイ) | |||
| "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai"[17] | "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai" (世界には愛しかない) | ||
| "Kataru Nara Mirai o..." (語るなら未来を…) | |||
| "Bob Dylan wa Kaesanai" (ボブディランは返さない) | As "Yuichanzu" with Yui Imaizumi | ||
| "Futari Saison"[18] | "Futari Saison" (二人セゾン) | ||
| "Otona wa Shinjite Kurenai" (大人は信じてくれない) | |||
| "Seifuku to Taiyō" (制服と太陽) | |||
| "Yuuhi 1/3" (夕陽1/3) | With Yui Imaizumi, Yurina Hirate, and Neru Nagahama | ||
| 2017 | "Fukyōwaon"[19] | "Fukyōwaon" (不協和音) | |
| "W-KEYAKIZAKA no Uta" (W-KEYAKIZAKAの詩) | |||
| "Tuning" | As "Yuichanzu" with Yui Imaizumi | ||
| "Eccentric" (エキセントリック) | |||
| "Kaze ni Fukarete mo"[20] | "Kaze ni Fukarete mo" (風に吹かれても) | ||
| "Hiraishin" (避雷針) | |||
| 2018 | "Glass wo Ware!"[21] | "Glass wo Ware!" (ガラスを割れ!) | |
| "Mou Mori e Kaerou ka?" (もう森へ帰ろうか?) | |||
| "Zenmai Shikake no Yume" (ゼンマイ仕掛けの夢) | As "Yuichanzu" with Yui Imaizumi | ||
| "Ambivalent"[6] | "Ambivalent" (アンビバレント) | ||
| "Student Dance" | |||
| "I'm out" | |||
| "302-Goshitsu" (302号室) | As "Senko Shimai" with Mizuho Habu | ||
| 2019 | "Kuroi Hitsuji"[22] | "Kuroi Hitsuji" (黒い羊) | |
| "Nobody" |
Filmography
Film
TV series
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Wasteful Days of High School Girls | Lily Someya | TV Asahi | ||