Yui Okada

Yui Okada
岡田 唯
Also known as Okayan, Yuiyan
Born December 28, 1987 (1987-12-28) (age 24)
Origin Yao, Osaka, Japan
Genres Japanese pop
Occupations Singer, actress
Years active 2004–2010
Labels Piccolo Town
Associated acts v-u-den, H.P. All Stars

Yui Okada (岡田 唯 Okada Yui?) (born December 28, 1987 in Yao, Osaka, Japan[1]) is a former member of J-pop group v-u-den that was associated with Hello! Project. She remained within the group until its disbandment in 2008, after which point she was contracted with Up-Front Agency. She is currently no longer in the entertainment business, having retired to study beauty.[2]

Contents

History

In June 2004, Okada successfully passed Hello! Project Egg Audition 2004, the first audition to find Hello! Project trainees (known as Hello! Pro Eggs), along with 32 other girls. She was chosen out of over 10,500 applicants.[3] Two months later, in August, she was put into a group with Morning Musume member Rika Ishikawa and sole "Hello! Project Shin Unit Audition" winner Erika Miyoshi.[3] The group was named "V-u-den".[4] Their debut single, "Koi no Nukegara", was released on September 23.

In January 2006, she was added to the new Hello! Project kickball team Metro Rabbits H.P. Her debut photobook, photographed in Okinawa and titled "I Doll" (a pun on "Idol"), was released in February, with the DVD released the following month.[5] Okada was cast in the film Sukeban Deka: Codename Saki Asamiya as Tae Konno, released on September 30, 2006.[6]

In 2008, it was announced that V-u-den would disband after their June concert tour.[7] Her activities as a singer ceased, and she began to do gravure work, as well as appearing on variety shows.

On March 31, 2009, Okada graduated from Hello! Project along with the entire Elder Club, as part of a mass graduation.[8] She also appeared at the Elder Club's final concert together the month before. She did, however, remain with Up-Front Agency, transferring to the Kansai division and moving to Osaka. On June 23, 2010, she announced her intent to retire from celebrity life.[2][9] Her contract with Up-Front Kansai was terminated on June 30.[9] She has since ceased all activities, intending to study beauty, hair and make-up, a subject she has had a long-time interest in.[2][9] Due to her previous graduation with the Elder Club she is considered to have graduated from Hello! Project, even though she did not receive a graduation upon her contract termination with the Kansai division.

Releases

Photobooks

# Title Release date ISBN
Hello Hello! Erika Miyoshi & Yui Okada Shashinshū from v-u-den
(ハロハロ! 三好絵梨香&岡田唯 写真集from美勇伝?)
2005-03-05 ISBN 4-04-894258-1
1 I Doll 2006-02-19 ISBN 4-04-894264-6
2 Yui Okada Hello! Project 2007 Winter Concert 2007-01-28

DVDs

Appearances

Movies

TV shows

Show Start date End date
Majokko Rika-chan no Magical V-u-den
(魔女っ娘。梨華ちゃんのマジカル美勇伝?)
2004-10-03 2004-12-24
Musume Dokyu! (娘DOKYU!?) 2005-04-07 2005-06-07
Quiz! Hexagon II (クイズ!ヘキサゴンII?) 2007-06-20

Radio

Program Station Start date End date
Hello Pro Yanen!! (ハロプロやねん!!?) ABC 2005-02-04 2005-03-18
B.B.L. FM Fuji 2005-04-03 2006-09-30
TBC Fun Fīrudo Mōretsu Mōdasshu
(TBC Funふぃーるど・モーレツモーダッシュ?)
TBC 2005-08-08 2005-08-12
2005-08-22 2005-08-26
2006-11-13 2006-11-24
V-u-den Beauty Hour 21 (美勇伝 Beauty Hour 21?) Radio Amusement Park 2006-09-29 2007-03-30
V-u-den Miyoshi/Okada no Konya wa Futaribotchi
(美勇伝 三好・岡田の今夜はふたりぼっち?)
FM PORT 2007-04-06 208-06-27

References

  1. ^ "美勇伝 プロフィール (V-u-den Profile)" (in Japanese). Up-Front Agency. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJxKD21W. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  2. ^ a b c "元美勇伝、岡田唯が引退「美容の勉強を」 (Former v-u-den Yui Okada retires "to study beauty"" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 2010-06-23. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJthnflk. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  3. ^ a b "「ハロプロエッグオーディション2004」オーディション結果のお知らせ (Announcement about the results of the Hello Pro Egg Audition 2004)" (in Japanese). Up-Front Agency. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJx3VOHQ. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  4. ^ "石川梨華 率いる新ユニット「美勇伝」が 9/23(木・祝)にデビュー!(New unit lead by Rika Ishikawa, "V-u-den", to debut on September 23!)" (in Japanese). Up-Front Agency. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJxVP7km. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  5. ^ "I DOLL ~岡田 唯 ファーストソロDVD in 沖縄~" (in Japanese). Up-Front Works. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJwdfZEV. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  6. ^ "IMDB - Yo-Yo Girl Cop (2006)". IMDB. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0781084/. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  7. ^ "美勇伝、6月の単独ツアーをもって解散 (V-u-den to disband after June solo tour)" (in Japanese). natalie.mu. 2008-01-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJvjn9rS. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  8. ^ "エルダークラブ卒業について (About the Elder Club graduation) - Tsunku's official Ameba blog" (in Japanese). Tsunku. 2008-10-19. http://ameblo.jp/tsunku-blog/entry-10153669268.html. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  9. ^ a b c "岡田唯に関するお知らせ (Announcement regarding Yui Okada)" (in Japanese). Up-Frony Agency. 2010-06-23. http://www.webcitation.org/5uJuxzZeO. Retrieved 2010-11-18.