Unable to express herself as she wanted, Nao Yoshioka struggled repeatedly, but gradually began to understand how to reach a new level. As she opened up new avenues of expression, did her words and way of thinking change?

--Did these struggles lead to changes in your singing and lyrics?

One of the songs on the album "The Light" is "I'm Not Perfect," which sings about loving your imperfect self. After completing the album and other tracks, I released "The Light" and finally felt like I had returned to zero. Until then, I had always thought of myself as inferior to others. But when I debuted, I realized that I couldn't stay that way, and that loving myself as I was would open up the next path for me. I began to wonder, "So, what kind of person should I become?"

The answer I came up with was, "I am worthy of love, and in order to be loved by others, I first need to love myself." This idea is heavily reflected in the song "JOY" from my second album, "Rising." The song sings, "I have a love that will never break, that will never fade," but when I was writing the lyrics, the "me" in the song was merely an idealized image. It's like I'm expressing my hope for my own growth, saying, "I hope you become that kind of woman after the release."

--What are the moments in your daily life when you feel love, Nao?

I believe the reason I'm able to sing like this is because of the love and support I receive from everyone around me.

For example, on "Rising," there's a song called "I Need You," which Gordon Chambers wrote with the concept of conveying love to my mother. This song contains a message addressed to my beloved mother: "Your love gives me the strength to face tomorrow." When I performed at Blue Note Tokyo, I told my mother, who was in the audience, during the MC, "I'll sing the next song for you," before I sang it. My mother was also moved by it.

--Do you always decide on a concept before writing a song?

Yes. When I was creating the concept for the album, I first decided on the main concept of "into the light." From there, I expanded on the image for each song, asking myself, "What kind of person would step into the light?" As a result, both my last album and this one feel like a direct reflection of my own life, and every song is meaningful and essential.

--Is there a song that is particularly memorable?

Of the songs on "Rising," the song "Turning" holds a particularly deep meaning for me. This song was created in collaboration with Shirma Rouse, Brian Owens, and Gordon Chambers, and it sings about a "fateful encounter."

When we recorded this album in the Netherlands, I felt that we had met by fate to create something that only this group of people could create. I believe that it's precisely because I've met my soulmate that I've been able to see scenery no one has ever seen before.

--Do you often feel a sense of destiny in your music career?

For the past three years or so, I've felt like I've been walking a path that was planned for me. It's a strange feeling, like I'm living in a story written by fate.

On this tour, I'll be performing at the Blue Note in New York. It all started when someone from a local label saw me perform at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York last year. They said to me, "Nao, you could definitely perform at the Blue Note in New York." Up until then, I hadn't received the positive reviews I was looking for in America, so I was filled with the feeling that "I've finally met the person I was meant to meet." I was so happy.

--Can you tell us about your future plans?

You're planning a European tour soon, and I have some unforgettable memories from Europe. Two years before my debut, I had the opportunity to sing onstage at the North Sea Jazz Festival, held annually in the Netherlands. Since it was before my debut, I was grateful for the precious experience of singing in front of so many people. At the same time, I strongly believed that the reason I was there was to return.

So, after my upcoming European shows, I imagine her saying, "It was absolutely fate!" (laughs).

As Nao spoke with a shy yet powerful tone, I could see in her eyes a vision of herself in a few years' time, confirming with herself that everything was inevitable. And when that time comes, I'm sure she will have found her next "place to return to."

Back to 1/2.

■Nao Yoshioka Profile

A talented singer who placed runner-up at the Amateur Night at the soul music hall, the Apollo Theater, and rose to become Top Dog, was selected as a finalist out of 40,000 people at one of America's largest gospel festivals. Her first album, "The Light," was released in the US in 2015, and she made her major label debut in Japan the same year with her second album, "Rising." Her first solo performance, held as a release party at Blue Note Tokyo, sold out, and she has also appeared at numerous festivals, including SUMMER SONIC 2015. In September 2015, she embarked on her first nationwide tour, visiting 12 cities across Japan, as well as a US tour that included an appearance at Blue Note New York and a collaboration with Jose James. Continuing to grow into one of Japan's leading singers in both name and reality, she is now set to take to the world stage. ■ "Rising Japan Tour 2015 -Living Our Dreams-" Saturday, October 31st: Music Club JANUS (Osaka Prefecture) Saturday, November 21st: Iino Hall (Tokyo) For more detailed tour information, please visit: http://www.sweetsoulrecords.com/rjt/