Miyu Takeuchi (竹内 美宥, Takeuchi Miyu, born January 12, 1996, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese singer and YouTuber. She is a former member of AKB48.[1]
Career
2004-2008: Pre-debut
Prior to joining AKB48, Takeuchi signed a contract with Stardust Promotion in 2004[2] and appeared in Little By Little's music video for "Ameagari no Kyū na Sakamichi". She was a member of girl group Fruits, born out of the audition tv show "Songs Star !!". In 2008, the group debuted with the single "Koi no Saison" and they disbanded the following year, in 2009.[3][2]
2009–2018: AKB48 and Produce 48
Takeuchi passed AKB48 auditions in 2009. While she was a trainee, she was part of the sub-unit Mini Skirt and released the song "Mini Skirt no Yōsei" to promote the arcade game Pretty Rhythm: Mini Skirt, which later featured a likeness of her as a playable character during the Season 2 update.[4] She was promoted to full member status in 2010, and was announced as a member of AKB48's newly formed Team 4 in 2011.[5] In May, Takeuchi was selected to be part of the subunit "Ojarumaru Sisters" in order to sing "Hatsukoi wa Mitsuru", used as the ending theme of the anime Ojarumaru.[6]
Takeuchi signed to OH Enterprise in 2012.[7] Later that year, Team 4 was disbanded, and Takeuchi was moved to AKB48's Team B.[8] During this time, Takeuchi uploaded home recordings of song covers on social media. In 2014, she began to post song covers on her YouTube channel.[9] In 2021, Her Youtube Channel has amassed 230.000+ subscribers.[9]
In 2018, Takeuchi participated in the South Korean competition series Produce 48 as one of the Japanese contestants from AKB48 and its sister groups. She finished in 17th place.[10][11]
2018–present: Departure from AKB48, South Korean career
Four days after the Produce 48 finale, on September 4, 2018, Takeuchi announced her departure from AKB48.[12] Her last performance with AKB48 took place on December 25, 2018,[13] and her contract with OH Enterprise ended on December 31, 2018.[14]
On March 8, 2019, South Korean entertainment company Mystic Story announced that they had signed an official contract with Takeuchi.[15][16] On October 22, 2019, Takeuchi released her first solo single, as well as her first Korean single and first single in Mystic Story, titled "My Type" (내 타입) as part of Mystic Story's CEO Yoon Jong-shin's Yoon Jong Shin Monthly Project 2019.[17][18] In February 2020, Takeuchi was announced as a member of Mystic Rookies, pre-debut trainee group within the company.[19]
On February 24, 2021, Takeuchi released her second solo single titled "Forbidden Game" (왠지 그럼 안될 것 같아) as part of Yoon Jong Shin's Yoon Jong Shin Monthly Repair Project .[20] On May 3, 2021, Takeuchi announced the end of her exclusive contract with Mystic Story.[21][22] On May 5, 2021, Takeuchi uploaded a video to her YouTube channel explaining her departure from the company. She stated that she originally signed a contract to debut as a solo artist and she decided to leave when Mystic Story instead arranged for her to debut in a girl group.[23]
^"日本から2人!元AKB48 竹内美宥&キム・スヒョンら、MYSTIC STORYのデビュー候補生7人を公開…SNSも開設" [Two members from Japan! Former AKB48 member Miyu Takeuchi, Kim Su-hyeon, and others announced to be part of Mystic Story's pre-debut group of seven members... also revealed on social media]. Kstyle (in Japanese). 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
^"元AKB48 竹内美宥、MYSTIC STORYを離れた理由とは?今後の活動にも言及「元々ソロで…」(動画あり)" [What are the reasons for why former AKB48 member Miyu Takeuchi separated from Mystic Story? Future plans also announced: "I was originally supposed to be a solo artist..." (with video)]. Kstyle (in Japanese). 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2024-10-26.