is a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer of soundtracks for anime series, video games, television dramas and movies. She has written scores for Cowboy Bebop, Terror in Resonance, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Wolf's Rain, Turn A Gundam and Darker than Black. Kanno is a keyboardist and the frontwoman for Seatbelts, who perform many of her compositions.
Early life Yoko Kanno was born on 18 March 1963, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Her earliest experiences with music came from attending church with her parents. She studied keyboard on both the piano in her home and the organ at her kindergarten. In elementary school, she began participating in composition contests, but in high school, Kanno began to take more of an interest in literature than in music.
Kanno attended Waseda University, where she majored in literature, but she transcribed music for various student groups at Waseda in her free time. During this time, Kanno—whose parents had allowed her to listen only to classical music—was introduced to rhythm by a friend who played drums in a school band. She spoke of this experience in an interview with Akihiro Tomita:
While with this band, she studied the composition and style of popular music.
While at Waseda, the Japanese video game company Koei asked Kanno to compose the soundtrack to Nobunaga's Ambition. The game turned out to be a hit, and Kanno's music career was launched.
Career Yoko Kanno's soundtrack themes include "Kiseki no Umi" (Lodoss War), "Voices" (Macross Plus), "Tank!" (Cowboy Bebop), "Yakusoku wa Iranai" (Escaflowne), "Gravity" (Wolf's Rain), the whole soundtrack of Turn A Gundam, "Inner Universe" (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and Stand Alone Complex O.S.T. In regards to making the Stand Alone Complex soundtrack, she said:
Having composed in various genres, including blues, classical, jazz, techno and J-pop, she was once asked if she favored a particular genre:
Since she works in the animation industry, she receives only instructions and storyboards, which help her with composing. However, it is uncertain if all of her works are to be included in the finished project. She once said that this is a way she likes to work, for she does not have to deal with rules during composing. In reference to this, she once stated:
She was the lead member of the project band Seatbelts, which regrouped in 2004 to compose the soundtrack for the PlayStation 2 Cowboy Bebop video game (released in Japan in 2005).
She has composed for Koei games released during the late 1980s to early 1990s and for Napple Tale, a Dreamcast game. Due to her close involvement in the Cowboy Bebop anime, the game released by Bandai also features her work.
Apart from anime and games, Kanno also composes for live-action films and television commercials. Some popular brands she has composed for are Canon, DoCoMo, Fuji Xerox, 7-Eleven, Microsoft, Nissan, Toyota, Shiseido, Avon and MasterCard to name a few. Her contributions to films started in the 1990s but since 2002 has there been a trend toward the medium, with some of the latter being shown in international film festivals.
She attended Otakon and Anime Expo in 1999, as well as Anime Expo New York in 2002. In 2010, she made a surprise appearance at Anime Expo. Yoko Kanno performed her solo PianoMe concert at Otakon 2013.
She composed a three-movement suite, entitled "Ray of Water," for the ascension of Emperor Naruhito. It was performed for him and Empress Masako at the enthronement celebration on 9 November 2019. Yoshikazu Okada wrote the lyrics for the vocal portion, which was performed at the celebration by the idol group, Arashi.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
Gabriela Robin On many of Kanno's tracks, "Gabriela Robin" was credited as a lyricist and vocalist, but whenever these songs were performed in concert, either Maaya Sakamoto or Origa would perform them. In a 2009 written interview, Robin said that she would perform live for the first time at Kanno's 2009 Tanabata Sonic concert. However, at the end of the concert—which featured Kanno directing the Warsaw Philharmonic—Kanno turned to the audience and sang "Moon", a song previously attributed to Robin from the Turn A Gundam soundtrack, revealing that "Gabriela Robin" was simply a pseudonym Kanno used to write songs mixing English and Japanese freely. In a later interview, Kanno said she picked the name because the first orchestral recording she had heard was the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and at the time Yitzhak Rabin served as Israel's Prime Minister.
Personal life In addition to Japanese, she speaks a little English and some French, but she needs translation help to converse in French.
Commenting on spirituality and religion, Kanno has said:
Kanno enjoys music, photography, and writing. She has penned several journals for Newtype magazine, accompanying her articles with her own photographs for illustrations. Additionally, a collection of photographs taken by Kanno of her protégé and former production partner, Maaya Sakamoto, was showcased in the special event program for Sakamoto's thirtieth birthday concert at Nippon Budokan in 2010.
In 2011, Yoko Kanno expressed her support for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, composing a song titled . Later, she composed NHK's official support song on the occasion of the first anniversary of the earthquake entitled , including lyrics by Sendai film director Shunji Iwai. The song features notable natives from the affected areas of Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate.
Discography Studio albums Date Title Notes 1 January 1998 Song to Fly All songs composed and conducted by Yoko Kanno; track 8 performed by Yoko Kanno.(Tracks 1–7, 9–11 performed by Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra,Warsaw Chorus, Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch, Franco Sansalone, Krzysztof Ciupinsky,Steve Conte, Jadwiga Rappé and Gabriela Robin). 22 May 2002 23-Ji no Ongaku All songs composed and conducted by Yoko Kanno. Vocals performed by Maaya Sakamoto. Album released by Victor Entertainment. The title translates as "11:00 pm music". 2 May 2008 CM Yoko Compilation album of music for commercials done by Yoko Kanno over the years. All songs composed by Yoko Kanno. 22 April 2009 CM Yoko 2 Compilation album of music for commercials done by Yoko Kanno over the years. All songs composed and/or arranged by Yoko Kanno. 27 May 2009 Space Bio Charge Compilation album of Yoko Kanno with Seatbelts. 8 June 2011 Yoko Kanno produce Cyber Bicci Compilation album of previous works with Ilaria Graziano, along with new materials.
Other involvements Artist Album Year Role(s) Tetsu 100% Tokyo Taco Blues 1986 Composer for one track Tetsu 100% 1987 Composer for four tracks Ato3cm 1987 Composer for five tracks Jack in the Box 1988 Composer for three tracks Manatsu no Santa Claus 1988 Composer for one track Sunao 1989 Composition credited to band Chiyono Yoshino Montage 1988 Composer for two tracks Song Bird 1989 Melanger 1990 Keiko Nakajima Keiko Nakajima 1990 Composer for four tracks Kyoko Endo Renai 1990 Arranger for seven tracks Kobitori ni Naritai 1993 Arranger for all tracks Fuyu no Miwa 1993 Arranger for all tracks Hashire Hashire 1999 Arranger for two tracks Aki Okui Lost Melodies 1994 Arranger for two tracks Straw Color 1997 Arranger for one track Tsuki no Mayu 2000 Composer for all tracksHitomi Mieno Hajimari no Boukenshya-tachi~Hikari no Chizu~ 1995 Composer for two tracksMiki Imai Love of my Life 1995 Arranger for four tracks Thank You 1996 Arranger for four tracks IMAI.MIKI from 1986 1998 Arranger for one track Blooming Ivory 2000 Arranger for one trackYuri Shiratori Atarashii Kutsu 1995 Caramel Pop 1995 Composer and lyricist for two tracks Samply Red Perfect Rouge 1996 Composition credited to band Ah-ra ii Kimochi 1996 Composition credited to band Kiseki to Taitsuku 1996 Composition credited to band Happy Go Lucky OST 1997 Composer for eight tracks Kemeko no Uta (Happy Go Lucky) 1997 Arrangement credited to band It's for my Ego 1997 Composition credited to band Perfect Rouge I, II, III 2002 Composition credited to bandKyōko Koizumi Otokonoko, Onnanoko 1996 For my Life (Single) 1999 Composer for two tracksMaaya Sakamoto Grapefruit 1997 Composer for all tracks DIVE 1998 Composer for all tracks Single Collection+ Hotchpotch 1999 Composer for all tracks Lucy 2001 Composer for all tracks Easy Listening 2001 Composer for all tracks Single Collection+ Nikopachi 2003 Composer for all tracks Shōnen Alice 2003 Composer for all tracks Kazeyomi 2009 Composer for two tracks You Can't Catch Me 2011 Composer for one trackAkino Arai Sora No Mori 1997 Composer for five tracks Sora No Miwa 1997 Composer for two tracks Hiru No Tsuki 1998 Arranger for two tracks RGB 2002 Composer for one trackYasui Inoue Kyuu Dan 1998 Composer for one trackCrystal Kay Eternal Memories 1999 Composer for two tracks Komichi no Hana 1999 Composer for one track C.C.L. Crystal Lover Light 2000 Kei Kobayashi Nagashime Play 2003 Composer for all tracksSMAP Say What You Will 2005 Composer for two tracks super.modern.artistic.performance 2008 Composer for one track Yukawa Shione Yuki No Waltz 2007 Composer for one track AKINO from bless4 Lost in Time 2007 Composer for all tracksChitose Hajime Cassini 2008 Composer for one track Origa The Songwreath 2008 Composer for one trackYoshika World 2008 Composer for one trackMay'n May'n☆Street 2009 Composer for two tracksNatsumi Kiyoura Juuku Iro 2010 Composer for one trackMegumi Nakajima Be with You 2012 Composer for one trackClammbon yet 2015 String arranger for one track
Works
Anime Year Title Role(s) 1992 Porco Rosso Ending theme song arranger1994 Please Save My Earth Composer(other tracks by Hajime Mizoguchi) Macross Plus Composer 1995 Memories: Magnetic Rose Composer1996 The Vision of Escaflowne Composer(other tracks by Hajime Mizoguchi) X Clamp Character File Composer(other tracks by various others)1997 Clamp School Detectives Second ending theme song composer Noiseman Sound Insect Composer1998 Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight Opening theme song composer Macross Dynamite 7 Insert song composer Cowboy Bebop Composer Cardcaptor Sakura Third opening theme song composer Brain Powerd Composer1999 Turn A Gundam Composer Jin-Roh Pianist Neo Tokyo Composer 2000 Escaflowne Composer(other tracks by Hajime Mizoguchi)2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna Composer Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door Composer2002 RahXephon Opening theme song composer Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Composer 2003 Wolf's Rain Composer 2004 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG Composer 2005 Genesis of Aquarion Composer(other tracks by Hogari Hisaaki)2006 Ōban Star-Racers Opening and ending theme song composer Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society Composer2007 Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha Composer Genius Party Insert song composer Genesis of Aquarion Composer 2008 Macross Frontier Composer 2009 Ring of Gundam Composer2012 Aquarion Evol Composer Code Geass: Akito the Exiled Theme song composer Kids on the Slope Composer2014 Space☆Dandy (other tracks by various others) Terror in Resonance Composer 2015 Aquarion Logos Opening theme song composer 2021 Macross Frontier Film Short: Labyrinth of Time Theme song composer2023Spy × Family Season 2Opening theme song arranger
Video games