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Artist
Yousti
10+ albums
kobayashi yuijapaneseyoustiJPop
about
yousti is a Japanese singer and former idol, best known for her tenure as a first-generation member of Keyakizaka46 and later Sakurazaka46. She was born as Yui Kobayashi (小林由依) on October 23, 1999, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Yui passed the first-generation audition for Keyakizaka46 in 2015 and debuted with the group in 2016. Known for her composed stage presence and versatility, she remained a prominent and popular figure throughout the group’s rebranding to Sakurazaka46 in 2020. After nearly a decade of activity as an idol, she graduated from the group in February 2024. In 2025, one year after her graduation, she began a new chapter in her music career under the self-produced artist name yousti. The name is a coined term derived from a blend of “Yui” (her given name) and “ostrich,” referencing the bird’s association with escapism, as ostriches are commonly (though inaccurately) believed to bury their heads in the sand when frightened. The artist name reflects a message of emotional self-acceptance: to not overexert oneself, to retreat when needed, and to go with the flow. The name yousti also carries a layered meaning, incorporating the pronouns “i” (self), “you” (listener), and “st” (a reference to the superlative suffix, suggesting “the best”), symbolizing a bond between the artist and her fans. Yui has cited a desire for artistic independence and creative control as major influences on her decision to pursue a solo career. While her musical direction under the name
