Yū Yamada, born 山田 優 on July 5, 1984, in Okinawa, Japan, is a singer, actress, and model. She began her career as part of the J-pop trio y'z factory in 1999 after training at the Okinawa Actor's School and appearing as an Oha Girl on the children's show Oha Suta. Yū Yamada transitioned to acting in 2001, starring in various television dramas such as Kabachitare! and Shiawase no Shippo. Following y'z factory disbandment in 2002, she resumed her singing career in 2006 with the release of her debut single "Real You", which served as the theme for the film Akihabara@DEEP, in which she also starred. Yū Yamada's subsequent singles include "Fly So High" (2007), used as the ending theme for the anime series BLUE DRAGON, and "leave all behind" (2008). Her debut album, MYUSIC, was released in 2008. On 20 May 2009, she released her seventh single, ‘free’. Throughout her career, Yū Yamada has also voiced characters in anime, notably Yukari Hayasaka in Paradise Kiss (2005), and appeared in various films and television dramas including ROUTE 58 (2003) and Kanna-san, Daiseiko Desu! (2008). She has also lent her voice to the Japanese dub of the animated film Les Rois de la glisse (Surf's Up). Yū Yamada's acting roles have spanned a wide range of genres, from romantic dramas like Orange Days (2004) to mystery series such as Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo (2001).