伊藤由奈 (Yuna Ito) was born on September 20th, 1983, … Read Full Bio ↴Romaji for 伊藤由奈.
伊藤由奈 (Yuna Ito) was born on September 20th, 1983, of a Japanese father and a Korean mother in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in the United States, Hawaii, and even spent her High School time there as she attended McKinley High School until 2001. When Ito was little she used to sing to songs of both Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson and had always one dream: Becoming a star! In early 2005 then Ito auditioned for the role of charismatic vocalist Reira from TRAPNEST and eventually was chosen for the role. To make her debut even more exciting Ito’s label SONY BMG JAPAN did everything to keep any information about Ito a secret.
The 22-year-old half Japanese, half Korean American debuted under the synonym of “REIRA starring YUNA ITO” with her song Endless Story, which landed on number 2 of Oricon’s single ranking. As Reira Serizawa from a quite popular manga, NANA, Ito’s idenity was kept a secret until the end.
When NANA the movie finally released in Japan, people were going crazy about the wonderful, “high-pitched”, voice of Ito and the movie song Endless Story ended its first day of sales on number 2 of Japan’s Oricon charts. Ito was on magazine covers, posters and eventually had her first TV appearance on MUSIC STATION, performing Endless Story.
It was only in 2006 that her 2nd single, Faith / Pureyes, was put on the market. With Faith being ending theme to the drama, Unfair, and Pureyes being song for the Bioclen Zero commercial. This single sold about 50,000 copies which was a dissapointment considering “Endless Story” had outsold Mika Nakashima’s “Glamorous Sky” with over 500,000 copies.
The third single for Ito was perhaps the biggest hit after the NANA-era. Precious was announced as theme song for the 2006 movie, “LIMIT OF LOVE ~Umizaru~”. The single included two b-sides, I’m Free and Secrets, both co-written by Ito herself. Precious sold over 200,000 copies and was also the 2nd highest downloaded song in the first half of 2006 in Japan.
Sony later announced a 2-month Single Project. She covered These Boots Are Made For Walkin’, for the Daihatsu “COO” commerical, featured on her 4th single stuck on you. She recently sang the Japanese ending theme song for TV show “LOST”. losin’ will be her 5th single.
On August 4th, 2006, Toho announced the role of Reira Serizawa in the sequel to NANA, NANA 2 will still be played by Ito. A 2nd single for REIRA starring YUNA ITO, Truth, has been scheduled for December 13th, 2006, release, with NANA 2 opening on December 9th, 2006.
In January 2007 she released her first album, HEART, which became a major success around Japan, hitting the pole positions on ORICON Daily, Weekly and Monthly Album Charts and sticking to the #1 on the United World Charts.
Ito’s 7th single was announced to be released March 7, 2007, and was entitled “I’m Here”, the movie theme to “UNFAIR”. Along came “Reason Why”, an insert song.
Achieving minor success with this single, Ito is to release a collaboration single with Micro from Def Tech, “Mahaloha”, on June 27, 2007.
Her probably biggest success so far was the duet with her admired Celine Dion, “Anata ga iru kagiri ~A world to believe in”.
Journey
Yuna Ito Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mou kurikaera nai kinou wo sutete soshite tabidatsu
Tomadoi yori mo saki ni atsui kokoro ga ugoku kara
Fushigi na hodo kowaku wa nai jibun wo sagashite
Kakaeta kanashimi sae mo koete so far away
Yume dake wo kaban ni tsumekonde
Oikakete
Mada ano hi no kimi to shiteta yakusoku wa nakushite inai
Mou tachidomare nai kitto futari wa ano basho de aeru
Korogatte demo mae ni yukeba keshiki ga kawaru kara
Isshun sae mo minogase nai hajimete no sekai
Itsudemo nagashita namida wo kakushi so far away
Kumori no nai hitomi naku sazu ni
Tookute hikaru kagayaki itsuka kanarazu
Te ni irete
Kizu ga hitotsu mata tsuite mo omoide fueru kara
Itami sae mo daiji ni shite egao ni kaeru yo
Kakaeta kanashimi sae mo koete so far away
Yume dake wo kaban ni tsumekonde
Tookute hikaru kagayaki setsunai kurai
Oikakete
Itsudemo nagashita namida wo kakushi so far away
Kumori no nai hitomi naku sazu ni
Tookute hikaru kagayaki itsuka kanarazu
Te ni irete
In Yuna Ito's song JOURNEY, she talks about embarking on a new journey with a heart full of excitement and anticipation. She describes the bright orange sky, which illuminates the city, while casting away yesterday's worries and fears. Yuna is travelling to a new place with her hopes and dreams, which she carries with her in her bag.
Despite feeling lost and confused, Yuna's heart is full of warmth and passion, which propels her forward. She recognizes that even grief adds to the baggage she carries, but she will not let it stop her. She acknowledges that this new world she will soon discover is daunting and scary, but she bravely searches for her true self.
Yuna has a heartfelt promise she made with someone, which she has not forgotten. She feels confident that they will meet again at the same place where they left each other, even if obstacles may arise. She knows that her journey is full of ups and downs, but she prepares herself for anything and hopes to continue her journey without fear, with her eye on the prize.
Overall, Yuna Ito's song JOURNEY celebrates the hope and determination that motivate us to embark on new paths and challenges despite the obstacles that may come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hora mabushi sugiru ORENJI no sora ga machi wo terasu yo
Look, the brilliantly bright orange sky illuminating the city
Mou kurikaera nai kinou wo sutete soshite tabidatsu
Leave behind repeating yesterday and start your journey now
Tomadoi yori mo saki ni atsui kokoro ga ugoku kara
Because a passionate heart moves forward more than confusion
Fushigi na hodo kowaku wa nai jibun wo sagashite
Search for yourself without being too scared of what you might find
Kakaeta kanashimi sae mo koete so far away
Overcome even the sadness you've carried so far away
Yume dake wo kaban ni tsumekonde
Pack only your dreams
Tookute hikaru kagayaki setsunai kurai
Chase the glittering shine that's almost painfully far away
Oikakete
Go after it
Mada ano hi no kimi to shiteta yakusoku wa nakushite inai
The promise made with you that day is not lost
Mou tachidomare nai kitto futari wa ano basho de aeru
Surely, we'll meet at that place where we won't stop anymore
Korogatte demo mae ni yukeba keshiki ga kawaru kara
The scenery will change as long as you can move forward even if you stumble
Isshun sae mo minogase nai hajimete no sekai
Don't miss a single moment of this new world
Itsudemo nagashita namida wo kakushi so far away
Hide the tears that have been shed so far away
Kumori no nai hitomi naku sazu ni
With clear eyes and no weeping
Te ni irete
Hold it in your hands
Kizu ga hitotsu mata tsuite mo omoide fueru kara
Even if you get another wound, memories will increase
Itami sae mo daiji ni shite egao ni kaeru yo
Value even the pain and change it into a smile
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.