After the release of Moriagaro in 2013, Ai was engaged to Hiro, the leader and vocalist of the rock band Kaikigesshoku.

[5][6] Majority of the songs on the album were used in commercial tie-ins, such as "Feel It", which was used by Japanese fashion brand Global Work.

[3] In a 2017 interview with The Japan Times, Ai explained Japanese record labels found her sound "too American" at the start of her career.

[7] In an interview with her record label, Ai stated majority of the English songs from the Yo disc were recorded during her Atlantic City session, originally intended for her tenth studio album, Moriagaro.

"Justice Will Prevail at Last" failed to enter Japanese charts until the release of Wa to Yo, debuting and peaking at number 74 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

[7] He added that part of the Wa disc falls short when it "embraces a staple of J-pop – the ballad.