Iyo Matsumoto

Iyo Matsumoto
Birth name Matsumoto Iyo (松本伊代)
Born June 21, 1965
Ōta, Tokyo, Japan
Genres J-pop, Kayokyoku
Occupation(s)
  • TV personality
  • singer
  • actress
Years active 1981–present
Iyo Matsumoto
YouTube information
Channel
Years active 2021 -
Subscribers 6.54k
Total views 3,008,622 million times
Last updated: January 15, 2024

Iyo Matsumoto (松本伊代, Matsumoto Iyo, born June 21, 1965), married name Iyo Kozono (小園伊代, Kozono Iyo), was a pop idol in the early '80s. She is now a Japanese TV personality, singer and actress, and is currently signed to Production No Title.

Early life

Matsumoto was born in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. She attended Morimura Academy (森村学園, Morimura Gakuen) from kindergarten through middle school and continued to Horikoshi High School a private high school in the Nakano section of Tokyo. She completed her studies at Toita Women's College also in the city.

Career

Matsumoto debuted in the entertainment business in 1981 when she was 15 years old, after being scouted by the agency Bond Kikaku while shopping in Shinjuku. Dubbed "Toshihiko Tahara's little sister", her singing career was launched October the same year with the single "Sentimental Journey" which was an instant hit, making it to no. 9 on the Oricon Chart. The single went on to sell over 300,000 copies, and remain as her biggest hit.

In 1982, she was awarded the Newcomer Prize at the 24th Japan Record Awards., along with many other newcomer awards from various TV stations. On January 1, 1983, Matsumoto became the youngest artist to hold a concert in Nippon Budokan at the age of 17 years and 6 months. The record was broken that September by Sayuri Iwai, at 15 years and 1 month.

From 1984 to 1986, Matsumoto hosted the midnight TV show All Night Fuji, while steadily releasing four singles each year.

After the peak of her pop idol career in the late 80's, she shifted her focus onto becoming a TV presenter as well as doing other work, and was well received. In 1992, she starred in the Tokyo TV drama Kinono Watashi Ni Sayonara (Goodbye to the Old Me) Four years later she participated as a judge on Iron Chef. She teamed up with fellow idols Yū Hayami and Chiemi Hori in 2005 to form the unit Cutie Mommy, with whom she released two singles.

In 2009, she released Sweet 16 Box, a box set that compiled all of the albums from her idol career and a bonus CD and DVD. Included was her first new song in 19 years, titled "Watashi no Koe wo Kiite" (私の声を聞いて), written by Ami Ozaki.

As a 30-year commemoration of her debut, in 2012 she held a concert at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel's Stellar Ball and released a best-of album which included a handshake ticket.

On January 13, 2016, while filming a travel programme with Hayami, both of them allegedly trespassed onto the track of the Sanin Main Line near Saga-Arashiyama Station in Kyoto without authorization and were almost prosecuted. Both Matsumoto and Hayami were heavily criticized by the media and held separate press conferences apologising after the incident were made public. After the situation was assessed, and both were acknowledged as unaware of the regulations, the charge was dropped.

Personal life

In 1993, she married Japanese comedian Hiromi. She is the mother of two children.

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Formats
JPN
Physical
1981 "Sentimental Journey"
（センチメンタル・ジャーニー） 		9 CD, LP, Cassette
1982 "Love Me Tender"
（ラブ・ミー・テンダー） 		11 CD, LP, Cassette
"TV no Kuni kara Kirakira"
（TVの国からキラキラ） 		15 CD, LP, Cassette
"Otona ja Nai no"
（オトナじゃないの） 		16 CD, LP, Cassette
"Dakishimetai"
（抱きしめたい） 		9 CD, LP, Cassette
1983 "Chinese Kiss"
（チャイニーズ・キッス） 		12 CD, LP, Cassette
"Taiyou ga Ippai"
（太陽がいっぱい） 		12 CD, LP, Cassette
"Koi no Biorhythm"
（恋のバイオリズム） 		16 CD, LP, Cassette
"Toki ni Ai wa"
（時に愛は） 		8 CD, LP, Cassette
1984 "Koi no KNOW-HOW"
（恋のKNOW-HOW） 		10 CD, LP, Cassette
"Nagareboshi ga Suki"
（流れ星が好き） 		24 CD, LP, Cassette
"Shyness Boy"
（シャイネスボーイ） 		24 CD, LP, Cassette
"Believe"
（ビリーヴ） 		11 CD, LP, Cassette
1985 "Anata ni Kaeritai (Dancin' In the Heart)"
（あなたに帰りたい） 		16 CD, LP, Cassette
"Ponytail wa Musubanai"
（ポニーテイルは結ばない） 		21 CD, LP, Cassette
"Gekka Bijin"
（月下美人） 		30 CD, LP, Cassette
1986 "Last Kiss wa Hoho ni Shite"
（Last Kissは頬にして） 		22 CD, LP, Cassette
"Shinjikata wo Oshiete"
（信じかたを教えて） 		17 CD, LP, Cassette
"Sayonara wa Watashi no Tame ni"
（サヨナラは私のために） 		18 CD, LP, Cassette
1987 "Omoide wo Kirei ni Shinaide"
（思い出をきれいにしないで） 		23 CD, LP, Cassette
"Suteki na Jealousy"
（すてきなジェラシー） 		19 CD, LP, Cassette
1988 "Samishisa nara Hitotsu"
（淋しさならひとつ） 		23 CD, LP, Cassette
"Sonatine/Nakanaide Gatsby"
（泣かないでギャツビー） 		83 CD, LP, Cassette
1989 "Kanashikute Yarikirenai"
（悲しくてやりきれない） 		57 CD, Cassette
1990 "Kitto Wasureru kara"
（きっと忘れるから） 		- CD, Cassette
"—" denotes items which did not chart

Digital singles

Year Single Reference
2013 "Watashi no Koe wo Kiite"
2015 "Sentimental Journey: Mada 50sai ver."
2021 "Sentimental Journey: 40th Anniversary Version"
"Kutenai Hotel"
"Love Me Tender"
2022 "Toki ni Ai wa (2022 New Vocal Version)"
"Shinjikata wo Oshiete (2022 New Vocal Version)"

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
Sentimental I-Y-O 8
Something I-Y-O
  • Released: April 21, 1982
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 4
Only Seventeen
  • Released: October 5, 1982
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 4
Endless Summer
  • Released: June 21, 1983
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 7
Yume Hitotsu Shinkirou
  • Released: December 5, 1983
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 16
Sugar Rain
  • Released: March 5, 1984
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 17
Sentimental Dance Club
  • Released: August 21, 1985
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 26
Tenshi no Baka
  • Released: September 5, 1986
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 33
Kaze no You ni
  • Released: December 16, 1987
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 67
Private File
  • Released: January 21, 1989
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 97
Innocence
  • Released: October 21, 1989
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 -
Mariage: Mou Wakakunai kara
  • Released: January 21, 1991
  • Label: Victor Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
 -
"—" denotes items which did not chart

Cover albums

List of cover albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
Treasure Voice (40th Anniversary Song Book) Dedicated to Kyōhei Tsutsumi 2
"—" denotes items which did not chart

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
Iyo in Budokan 13

Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
Believe 17
Review Super Best -
Single Collection 44
Complete Single Collection -
Matsumoto Iyo CD FILE VOL.1/2/3 -
The Best REFILL -
Matsumoto Iyo CD FILE VOL.4 -
Siesta: The Best -
Matsumoto Iyo Zenkyokushuu -
Matsumoto Iyo Best of Best -
New Best One -
Matsumoto Iyo Best Selection -
Matsumoto Iyo Golden Best -
Always I-Y-O (30th Anniversary BEST ALBUM) 217
YAPPARI I・Y・O'16 -
"—" denotes items which did not chart

Box sets

List of box sets, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
Matsumoto Iyo Box -
Sweet 16 Box: Original Album Collection -
"—" denotes items which did not chart

Other appearances

List of non-studio album or guest appearances that feature Iyo Matsumoto
Title Year Artist Album/Single
"BOYFRIEND A GOGO" 2007 - Beautiful Katamari Original Soundtrack
"Ima ga Ichiban Suki" 2022 Yu Hayami Affection: YU HAYAMI 40th Anniversary Collection
"Shinjikata wo Oshiete (2022 New Vocal Version)" 2023 Tetsuji Hayashi 50th Anniversary Special A Tribute of Hayashi Tetsuji: Saudade