Ado
Ado (born October 24, 2002) is a Japanese singer and songwriter renowned for her anonymous public persona, powerful and versatile vocal delivery, and rapid ascent in the J-pop industry following her 2020 debut single "Usseewa," which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and amassed over 100 million streams in 17 weeks—the sixth-fastest such milestone in Japanese music history and the youngest achieved by a solo artist.[1][2] Emerging from the utaite scene of online Vocaloid song covers on platforms like Niconico starting in 2017 as a middle school student, she transitioned to original music under a major label while deliberately avoiding visual exposure of her face, performing exclusively in silhouette or through avatars to emphasize her voice as the central element of her artistry.[3][4] Her breakthrough track "Usseewa," with its raw, expletive-laden lyrics critiquing societal pressures and conformity, sparked debate among Japanese audiences, including parental concerns over its defiant tone promoting youthful rebellion against adult expectations, yet it propelled her to commercial dominance with subsequent releases like "New Genesis," which earned an Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards.[5][3] Ado's discography, including albums such as Ado's Utattemita Album and Zanmu, blends J-pop, rock, and electronic influences, often exploring themes of angst, identity, and resilience, leading to sold-out arena tours across Japan and her first world tour in 2024, marking her as the first solo female J-pop artist to headline the Japan National Stadium.[6][7] Despite occasional fan disputes and criticism over production choices in tracks like "I'm a Controversy," her emphasis on vocal prowess and thematic candor has solidified her status as a voice for Japan's younger generation navigating modern disillusionment.[8]Ado (singer)
Early life and online beginnings
Ado was born on October 24, 2002, in Tokyo, Japan.[9] During her middle school years, she developed an interest in music through exposure to the Vocaloid scene and anonymous online singers known as utaite.[2] At age 14, in 2017, Ado began her online career by uploading covers of Vocaloid songs to Niconico Douga, a Japanese video-sharing platform, under the username "ado," maintaining anonymity from the outset.[2] [9] [10] Her early recordings were often produced in makeshift setups, including a closet to reduce echo and improve audio quality.[2] These anonymous posts gradually built a dedicated following within Japan's utaite community, where performers reinterpret Vocaloid tracks using their own voices, fostering her distinctive vocal style characterized by powerful delivery and emotional range.[2] [9] Ado's approach emphasized artistic expression over personal visibility, setting the foundation for her later professional trajectory without public appearances or identity disclosure.[3]Debut and rise to fame
Ado began her professional career after gaining notice for anonymous Vocaloid covers on Niconico, where she had uploaded her first song in 2017 as a middle school student.[3] Her utaite activities, including covers like "Kimi no Taion," built a modest online following, leading to opportunities with music producers. In 2020, at age 17, she signed with Virgin Music Japan and released her debut single "Usseewa" on October 23, produced by syudou with lyrics challenging societal conformity.[11] The track's raw, aggressive delivery and viral spread on Niconico and YouTube propelled it to commercial dominance, marking her breakthrough.[12] "Usseewa" debuted at number one on the Oricon Digital Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100, becoming a social phenomenon with over 100 million streams within months.[13] Its success, driven by relatable themes of youthful rebellion, contrasted with Ado's maintained anonymity, which amplified intrigue and fan engagement through silhouette visuals and distorted vocals in promotions. Follow-up singles like "Odo" and "Readymade" in 2021 sustained momentum, each topping charts and expanding her reach, while collaborations and features in media further solidified her stardom.[14] By 2022, Ado's rise culminated in voicing the character Uta for the anime film One Piece Film: Red, where her performed songs, including "New Genesis," shattered streaming records and broadened her international appeal.[15] This period established her as a leading J-pop artist, with her debut album Kyougen also debuting at number one, reflecting sustained chart performance rooted in digital virality rather than traditional promotional routes.[12]Musical style, anonymity, and artistic philosophy
Ado's music primarily falls within the J-pop genre, incorporating elements of J-rock, electronic beats, and Vocaloid-inspired production, characterized by emotive vocals that range from sneers and screams to controlled rage, often conveying raw frustration and introspection.[2] Her vocal technique spans over four octaves, enabling dramatic shifts between delicate tones and aggressive growls, as demonstrated in tracks like "Usseewa," where she channels anger as a "necessary element of human emotions."[16] [17] Influenced by Vocaloid artists such as Hatsune Miku from a young age, Ado began by covering synthetic songs and adapting them for her human voice, which led to a style blending anime-like expressiveness with rock energy drawn from bands like Queen and Kiss, whose live performances and album tracks shaped her early singing experiments.[16] [18] Central to Ado's presentation is her commitment to anonymity, maintaining a hidden identity since her 2017 online debut as an utaite cover artist on Niconico, where she performed from a closet setup without revealing her face.[2] She performs live only in silhouette, often behind lighting or structures that obscure her features, aligning with Vocaloid culture's emphasis on voice over visual persona and allowing audiences to focus on lyrical content rather than personal appearance.[16] Ado has stated that this approach provides "endless possibilities" for expression, free from the constraints of public scrutiny, and serves as a deliberate artistic choice rather than self-doubt, enabling her to embody an "ideal self" through a 2D avatar developed with illustrator Orihara.[17] Her artistic philosophy prioritizes pure conveyance of emotion via song and form, rejecting conformity in favor of honest self-acceptance and empowerment, as seen in works critiquing societal expectations and exploring personal rage or doubt.[2] Ado views music as a medium to "light the way and offer hope" for others to live authentically, evolving from youthful covers to mature reflections on fame and identity while emphasizing emotional outlets like anger to foster resilience.[16] This is underpinned by a practical focus on vocal and mental health to sustain high-energy performances, reflecting a belief in sustained artistic integrity over fleeting trends.[18]Key releases, tours, and achievements
Ado's debut single, "Usseewa", released on October 23, 2020, propelled her to prominence, accumulating 100 million streams in 17 weeks—the sixth-fastest in Japanese history—and establishing her as the youngest artist to reach that milestone.[2] Subsequent singles included "Readymade" and "Odo" in 2021, followed by "New Genesis" in August 2022, which served as the theme for the anime film One Piece Film Red and became the first Japanese song to top Apple Music's Top 100 Global chart.[6] Her debut studio album, Kyōgen, released in November 2022, debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums.[19] In July 2024, Ado released her second studio album, Zanmu, comprising 14 original tracks that debuted at number one on both the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts, marking her continued dominance in physical and digital sales.[20] Compilations such as Ado's Best Adobum (2023) and its follow-up volumes aggregated her hit singles, with limited-edition vinyl releases announced for 2025 to capitalize on collector demand.[21] These releases emphasized her shift toward original material while incorporating collaborations and thematic explorations of emotion and societal critique. Ado embarked on her Hibana arena tour in 2023, expanding to international dates, before performing two sold-out shows titled "Heart" on April 27 and 28, 2024, at Japan's National Stadium—the first by a solo female artist at the venue.[22] Her inaugural world tour, "Wish," launched in 2024 and extended into 2025 across multiple continents, achieving near-complete sell-outs within months of announcement and featuring high-energy setlists with tracks like "Show" and "Aishite Aishite Aishite."[23] Ongoing 2025-2026 dates, including arena performances in North America and Europe, underscore her growing international draw, with tickets available through major platforms.[24] Among her achievements, Ado topped Billboard Japan's Year-End Artist 100 in 2022, driven by combined Hot 100 and Hot Albums performance.[25] "New Genesis" surpassed 500 million streams by September 2025, earning a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, while she became the first artist to hold the top three positions on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 simultaneously with that track, "I'm Invincible," and another release.[26] In 2022, she received the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards for "New Genesis," recognizing its cultural impact via the One Piece franchise.[27] By mid-2025, Ado was the most-streamed Japanese artist overseas, with "Show" contributing to her global metrics amid sustained chart success.[28]Reception, influence, and criticisms
Ado's music has received widespread commercial success in Japan and internationally, with her single "Show" topping the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for nine weeks in late 2023 and accumulating over 200 million YouTube views by October 2024.[29] Her debut album Utattemita sold 262,557 copies, marking strong physical sales in a digital-heavy market.[30] Critics have praised her powerful, raspy vocals and emotive delivery, positioning her as a leading figure in contemporary J-pop emerging from online cover culture.[2] Ado was the most-streamed Japanese artist overseas in the first half of 2025, reflecting her appeal beyond domestic audiences.[28] Her influence draws from Vocaloid and utaite traditions, where anonymous online performers gained traction through covers of virtual singer tracks like those of Hatsune Miku, shaping a "Vocaloid-native generation" of artists prioritizing vocal expression over visual identity.[2] Ado's rise has popularized silhouette-based performances and raw, non-conformist lyrics in J-pop, inspiring a shift toward global outreach for Japanese acts amid concerns that the genre risks being overshadowed by anime tie-ins.[3][31] She has cited influences like Queen and Kiss, blending rock elements with pop to expand J-pop's stylistic boundaries and promote Japanese music worldwide through arena tours.[18][14] Criticisms have centered on the provocative lyrics of her breakout hit "Usseewa" (2020), which openly rebelled against societal conformity and authority with phrases interpreted as rude or defiant, sparking a moral panic among Japanese parents and conservatives who deemed it harmful for youth.[32][5] The track's success amplified debates on generational clashes in Japan, where extreme social pressures to conform clashed with its raw expression, though supporters viewed it as a cathartic voice for Gen Z non-conformists.[16] Some online discourse has questioned her lyrical depth or collaborations, but these remain niche compared to her broad acclaim.[33]Controversies and public debates
Ado's debut single "Usseewa", released on October 23, 2020, sparked public debate in Japan over its explicit lyrics challenging societal conformity and authority figures, with phrases like "Shut up" directed at teachers and norms interpreted by some as promoting juvenile delinquency.[5] Parents expressed concerns on social media about its influence on children, citing vulgar language and rebellious themes as unsuitable, though the song's viral success—topping charts and exceeding 100 million YouTube views by early 2021—demonstrated broad youth appeal amid generational divides on free expression.[5] In January 2024, Ado publicly addressed fan backlash against her collaborators, including utaite artists Jaku and Yoshi, following joint projects; she stated on X (formerly Twitter) that such criticism caused her significant emotional distress, emphasizing her intent to create without harming others and rejecting "insensitive" attacks lacking empathy.[34][35] This incident highlighted tensions within her fanbase, where some viewed collaborations as diluting her solo artistry, prompting Ado to affirm her agency in selections and urge supporters to prioritize kindness over gatekeeping.[36][37] Her April 29, 2024, concert at Japan's National Stadium drew widespread criticism for poor sound quality, described by attendees as "garbage acoustics" with muddled vocals and echoes undermining the performance despite high ticket demand.[38] Ado acknowledged the feedback in a post-concert statement, noting she would "firmly take it into account" for future events, but refrained from issuing a formal apology, leading to further debate on accountability in large-scale productions managed by her agency, Universal Music Japan.[38] Debates persist around Ado's strict anonymity, enforced through silhouetted stage appearances and obscured media, which some critics argue limits genuine artist-fan connection while enabling her focus on vocal prowess; supporters counter that it shields her from exploitative industry pressures, as evidenced by her sustained commercial success without visual reliance.[16]Aviation
Air Do airline
AIRDO Co., Ltd., operating as Air Do, is a regional airline based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, specializing in domestic flights connecting Hokkaido to Honshu.[39] Founded on November 14, 1996, as Hokkaido International Airlines with initial capital of 14 million yen, it received its air transport license in October 1998 and commenced operations on December 20, 1998, with three daily round-trip flights between Tokyo (Haneda) and Sapporo (New Chitose).[40] The airline's IATA code is HD and ICAO code is ADO; it maintains hubs at New Chitose Airport and emphasizes safe, reliable service to support Hokkaido's regional economy.[41] Early expansion included increasing Tokyo-Sapporo frequency to six daily flights by July 2000 using two aircraft, reaching one million passengers by December 2000.[40] Financial pressures led to filing for bankruptcy protection under Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law in June 2002, followed by a confirmed rehabilitation plan in December 2002 that reduced and reinjected capital to 2,000 million yen.[40] Recovery involved codesharing with All Nippon Airways starting February 2003 on the Sapporo-Tokyo route, enabling route additions such as Asahikawa-Tokyo in July 2003, Hakodate-Tokyo in March 2005, Memanbetsu-Tokyo in February 2006, and Sapporo-Sendai in November 2008, with cumulative passengers hitting 10 million by then.[40] The company rebranded to AIRDO Co., Ltd. in October 2012, expanded to routes like Sapporo-Nagoya and Sapporo-Hiroshima in October 2015, and Sapporo-Fukuoka in July 2022; it marked 20 million passengers in July 2014, 30 million in May 2019, and its 25th anniversary in December 2023.[40] In May 2021, AIRDO signed a letter of intent for a joint holding company with Solaseed Air, leading to the establishment of RegionalPlus Wings Corp. in October 2022 to enhance regional connectivity.[40] As of October 2025, AIRDO operates a fleet of 12 aircraft with an average age of 19.8 years, consisting primarily of Boeing 737-700 narrow-body jets for shorter routes and Boeing 767-300 wide-body aircraft for higher-capacity services like Tokyo-Sapporo.[41] [42] The airline plans a fleet modernization starting in 2026 to replace aging models.[43] It has maintained an impeccable safety record with no accidents or serious incidents since inception, prioritizing rigorous safety management and on-time performance.[44] AIRDO serves 11 domestic destinations, focusing on six Hokkaido airports—New Chitose (Sapporo), Hakodate, Asahikawa, Obihiro (Tokachi-Obihiro), Kushiro, and Memanbetsu—linked to Tokyo Haneda as the primary gateway, alongside secondary Honshu cities including Sendai, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.[45] [46] Operations include 31 round-trip flights across these routes, with codeshare partnerships facilitating seamless connections; the model targets cost efficiency and regional accessibility without international services.[44]Andamooka Airport
Andamooka Airport (IATA: ADO, ICAO: YAMK) is a small airfield located approximately 600 km north of Adelaide in Andamooka, South Australia, Australia, at coordinates 30°26′17″S 137°08′13″E and an elevation of 76 meters (250 feet) above mean sea level.[47][48] It primarily serves the remote opal mining community of Andamooka, facilitating access for medical evacuations, mining-related transport, and limited general aviation. The airport operates as a private-use facility, with civilian landings currently permitted at the pilot's own risk due to its status and maintenance by state infrastructure authorities.[48][49] Established around 1984, the airfield has historically functioned as a vital link for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), enabling 24-hour emergency medical responses in a region lacking nearby major hospitals—avoiding the 80 km drive to Olympic Dam Airport for critical cases.[49] It also supports the local opal industry by accommodating charter flights for international buyers and traders, particularly in anticipation of events like the planned 2027 Opal Symposium. The airport features two runways: 07/25, currently 1,050 meters long and surfaced with dirt or gravel, and 17/35, a shorter auxiliary strip.[49][50] As of 2024, community-led plans aim to revitalize the airfield, including extending Runway 07/25 to 1,200 meters for safer operations, decommissioning Runway 17/35 to reclaim land for opal mining, reinstating full ICAO certification, and adding perimeter fencing, improved drainage, and access gates to mitigate flood risks.[49] These upgrades are tied to broader town developments, such as a new hospital opening in 2025, to enhance medical evacuation efficiency and boost tourism and trade in South Australia's opal fields. The airport lacks extensive facilities, with no dedicated lounges, fuel services, or commercial handling reported, relying instead on basic infrastructure for general aviation and charters.[49][51]Businesses and organizations
ADO bus company (Mexico)
Autobuses de Oriente (ADO), commonly known as ADO, is a major Mexican intercity bus operator specializing in first-class, executive, and luxury services primarily in the southeastern and eastern regions of the country.[52] Founded on December 23, 1939, in Veracruz, the company initiated operations with a single route connecting Mexico City to Puebla, Perote, Xalapa, and Heroica Veracruz, using six buses to establish early infrastructure including dedicated terminals.[53][54] ADO expanded rapidly post-founding, incorporating luxury express coaches and extending coverage to the Gulf of Mexico by the early 1940s, aligning with Mexico's growing transportation needs.[55] The company operates as part of Mobility ADO, a larger group managing interurban and urban services across Mexico, Central America, and beyond, with approximately 11,000 vehicles in total fleet operations and 390 terminals nationwide.[56] ADO itself focuses on premium segments, offering brands such as ADO GL for luxury travel with amenities like reclining seats, Wi-Fi, entertainment, and onboard refreshments, alongside ADO Platino for high-end intercity routes and economic options under subsidiaries like AU.[57][58] The operator serves over 1,157 routes connecting 83 cities, with more than 10,900 daily departures emphasizing southern and eastern Mexico, including key Yucatán Peninsula links from Cancún to Tulum and Mexico City southward corridors.[59] In 2025, ADO committed over US$110 million to fleet renewal, acquiring 303 new units for Platino and GL services to enhance comfort amid competition from low-cost airlines.[58] This investment underscores ADO's strategy to maintain market share in a sector where bus travel remains dominant for domestic passengers valuing reliability over air alternatives.[60]Other people
Notable individuals named Ado
Ado (singer) (born October 24, 2002) is a Japanese vocalist and songwriter who debuted at age 17 with the digital single "Usseewa" on October 23, 2020, which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart.[61] Retaining anonymity by concealing her face in performances and media, she has sold millions of records, contributed songs to anime such as One Piece Film Red (where "New Genesis" became Japan's biggest digital single of 2022), and embarked on arena tours including a 2025 world tour supporting her album Zanmu.[2][14] Ado Bayero (July 25, 1930 – June 6, 2014) was the Emir of Kano in Nigeria, ruling from October 22, 1963, to his death, a tenure of over 50 years that made him the longest-serving emir in the emirate's history.[62][63] Appointed at age 33 from the Fulani Sullubawa royal clan, he navigated post-independence Nigeria's political upheavals while promoting Islamic scholarship and traditional governance in northern Nigeria.[62] Ado Birk (November 14, 1883 – February 2, 1942) served as Prime Minister of Estonia for three days, from July 28 to July 30, 1920, amid the young republic's early instability.[64] A lawyer and diplomat of Eastern Orthodox faith, he later acted as Estonia's envoy to the Soviet Union before his arrest and death under Stalinist repression.[65] Ado Grenzstein (February 5, 1849 – April 20, 1916), under the pseudonym A. Piirikivi, was an Estonian journalist, educator, and writer who founded the innovative weekly newspaper Olevik in 1881, advancing linguistic and content reforms in Baltic German-dominated press.[66][67] Saint Ado of Vienne (c. 800 – December 16, 874) was a Frankish archbishop of Vienne from 850, appointed by Pope Nicholas I, renowned for hagiographical works like Chronicon Vienne compiling Carolingian-era saint lives from primary sources.[68] Educated at Ferrières Abbey under Abbot Lupus Servatus, he emphasized monastic reform and died venerating ecclesiastical traditions.[69]Places
Ado locations in Nigeria
Ado-Ekiti serves as the capital of Ekiti State in southwestern Nigeria and headquarters of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area, which was established in May 1989 from the former Ekiti Central Local Government. The area spans latitudes 7°35'–7°47' N and longitudes 5°11'–5°16' E, covering approximately 7 square kilometers with elevations ranging from 200 meters in the southeast to 500 meters in the northeast, and is bounded by Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Areas to the north and west, as well as Aiyekire, Ikere, and Ekiti Southwest to the east and south. Its population was recorded as 308,621 in the 2006 census, yielding a density of about 43,986 persons per square kilometer, predominantly Yoruba-speaking with a homogeneous cultural identity led by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. The local economy centers on agriculture, including rice, yam, cocoa, and kola nut production, supplemented by farm settlements such as Igirigiri, Idogwu, Ilamuo, Ago Aduloju, and Igimo-Kogo.[70] In Benue State, Ado Local Government Area lies in the Middle Belt region and was created in 1989, deriving its name from the Ado stream that traverses the territory. Headquartered in Igumale, it forms one of 23 local government areas in the state, known for agricultural productivity aligned with Benue's status as Nigeria's food basket.[71] Other minor settlements bearing the name Ado include a town within Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, central Nigeria, situated at coordinates approximately 9°00' N, 7°37' E as part of the broader Karu urban agglomeration. In Lagos State, Ado is a small village in the southwestern region, located near Langbasa and Iranla communities.[72][73]Science and technology
ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) is a set of Component Object Model (COM)-based components developed by Microsoft to provide a high-level, language-independent interface for accessing and manipulating data in client applications, primarily through OLE DB providers that connect to relational and non-relational data sources.[74] ADO abstracts the underlying data provider details, enabling developers to perform operations such as querying, updating, and navigating records with minimal code, while emphasizing ease of use, low memory usage, and efficient performance for both client-server and web-based scenarios.[74] It forms a core part of the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) stack, serving as a wrapper over OLE DB to simplify data access compared to direct provider interactions.[75] The architecture of ADO relies on a hierarchy of objects that represent connections, commands, data sets, and parameters, allowing flexible data retrieval and modification without tight coupling to specific database engines.[76] Central to this is the Connection object, which establishes and manages sessions with data sources via connection strings specifying providers, server details, and authentication; for instance, it supports methods likeOpen to initiate links and Execute for non-result-returning commands.[74] The Recordset object holds the primary data payload, representing rows from queries or tables, with capabilities for cursor types (e.g., forward-only, static, or keyset-driven) that enable features like disconnected operation through the Client Cursor Engine, which caches data locally for offline editing before batch updates.[74] Supporting elements include the Command object for parameterized queries to mitigate SQL injection risks and enhance reusability, Parameter objects for defining input values, and Field objects within Recordsets to access individual column data types and values.[76]
ADO evolved through multiple versions integrated with MDAC releases, with common libraries including 2.5 (bundled with Windows 2000), 2.6, 2.8 (aligned with Windows Server 2003), and later iterations like 6.1 for compatibility in Windows Vista and subsequent systems, where higher version numbers often repackage the 2.8 core for newer environments without major functional changes.[77] These updates added support for XML data persistence (e.g., Save and Open methods in Recordsets for .xml/.xsd formats), improved error handling via the Error object, and extensions like ADO MD for multidimensional datasets (using objects such as CubeDef and Cellset for OLAP providers) and ADOX for administrative tasks like catalog enumeration and table creation.[74] Properties across objects, such as CursorLocation for server- or client-side cursors and LockType for optimistic or pessimistic concurrency, allow fine-tuned control over data behavior.[78]
Though effective for legacy Visual Basic, ASP, and COM environments, ADO has been superseded by ADO.NET in the .NET Framework since 2002, which offers better integration with disconnected, XML-centric architectures and managed code, rendering ADO largely deprecated for new development despite ongoing support in Windows for backward compatibility.[79] No official end-of-life date has been declared, but Microsoft recommends migrating to modern alternatives like Entity Framework for enhanced security, scalability, and cross-platform capabilities.[77]