is a Japanese composer, arranger, and keyboardist from Tokyo.
Biography Born in Tokyo in 1964, Shin Kono began studying piano at the age of five, attending Yamaha Music School alongside a friend and his older sister. Despite friends dropping out, Kono continued lessons, partly due to his sister’s persistence, until his third year of junior high. During this time, he studied classical pieces by composers like Friedrich Burgmüller and Carl Czerny but grew increasingly drawn to pop music. As a child, he enjoyed kayōkyoku artists like Kenji Sawada and Candies, later discovering Western artists like The Carpenters through an LP gifted by an uncle. His passion for music deepened in junior high when his sister introduced him to a Beatles live album, which profoundly influenced him. Though he wanted to quit classical piano to focus on pop, he found it difficult to voice this desire and continued lessons, often erasing his teacher’s red pencil marks to avoid assigned pieces. Kono’s love for pop music led him to transcribe songs by ear from the radio, a practice that honed his musical intuition.
During his high school years, Kono pursued music actively through band activities. While attending university, he performed as a keyboardist for productions by the Shiki Theatre Company. After graduating, Kono embarked on a professional music career, initially gaining prominence as a session musician and arranger.
In the 1990s, Kono became a long-time collaborator with singer-songwriter Chisato Moritaka, composing several songs for her and serving as a support band member for her concerts. During this decade, Kono also worked with diverse acts, including Hello Project’s Morning Musume, Pizzicato Five, and Cosa Nostra. A significant project was his involvement with the pop band from 1992 to 1997 alongside Naruyoshi Kikuchi and Midori Hara, where he contributed to songwriting, arranging, producing, keyboard performance, and backing vocals.
Kono’s career in TV soundtracks began in 2000 with the drama Food Fight, broadcast by NTV. Collaborating with Tetsutaro Sakurai, Kono crafted character-driven music that showcased his ability to adapt to various contexts, a skill honed during his 1990s session work. This marked the start of a prolific period in the 2000s, during which Kono composed for numerous dramas, films, and stage productions. His versatile and emotionally resonant compositions, contributing to numerous hit dramas such as Ossan's Love, An Incurable Case of Love, and Dairenai: Boku o Wasureru Kimi to, earned him a name as a prolific composer of background music, known in Japanese as gekiban. In 2006, Kono received the Music Award at the 49th edition of Japanese Television Drama Academy Awards for his work on Iryū: Team Medical Dragon, alongside fellow composer Hiroyuki Sawano.
In addition to his work for TV dramas, Kono composed and arranged all music for the Shiki Theatre Company’s production Robot in the Garden, which premiered in 2020.
His arranging, producing, composing, and works as supporting band member have also extended to prominent artists including Crystal Kay, Mika Nakashima, Rip Slyme, Maaya Sakamoto, Nao Matsushita, and Mone Kamishiraishi, among others.
Works 1990s Year Artist Title Album Work 1991 Chisato Moritaka "Get Smile" (concert arrange version) The Moritaka Keyboards, Chorus "Seishun" (The Moritaka take) "Kusai Mono ni wa Futa wo Shiro!!" (old man version) Keyboards 1992 "The Blue Blues" Rock Alive Composer, Arranger "Yowasete yo Kon'ya Dake" Arranger "Pepperland" Pepperland Composer, Arranger, Guitar "Tokonatsu no Paradise" Keyboards 1993 Midori Hara from Spank Happy "Ohayō" Young, Gifted and Five Co-Composer, Arranger "Out with Her ~Lovers' Universe~" (Without Her) Arranger Satoshi Ikeda "Traffic Jam" The Album Arranger "Jealous Guy" "Accidental Happiness" 1994 Chisato Moritaka "Rock'n Omelette" Rock'n Omelette Keyboards Ice Box "Want Experience Age" (baking powder mix) The Very Best of Ice Box Keyboards "Setting Sun" Chisato Moritaka "Taifū" Step by Step Keyboards 1995 Cosa Nostra "Jolie" Jolie Strings Cosa Nostra "Share Your Love" Share Your Love Strings, Brass, Keyboards "Be Yourself" Love the Music Strings, Brass, Keyboards "Share Your Love" (Album Version) Strings, Brass, Keyboards Hanayo "Dang Dong" Dang Dong Keyboards, Co-Programming Cosa Nostra "Sweet Child" Sweet Child Brass, Keyboards Yuko Tsuburaya "One Hundred Million Kisses One Hundred Million Sighs" One Hundred Million Kisses One Hundred Million Sighs Brass, Keyboards Pizzicato Five "Sekai de Ichiban Funky na Band" Romantique 96 Keyboards Cosa Nostra "The Door's Open!" World Peace Brass "Peace & Happiness" Chorus "Bonjour Fujiyama" Strings "Say Goodnight" Strings "Why" Strings "Sweet Child" (English Version) Brass, Keyboards "World Peace Part 1" Co-Arranger, Strings, Brass, Keyboards "World Peace" Strings Satomi Kihara "Carnival" Carnival Arranger, Keyboards Katsuyuki Watai "Path to Tomorrow" Tears Strings "Town of Dream Fragrance" Strings "I Want You" Strings "Someday Everything" Strings Yoichiro Yanagihara "Christmas Bell" Christmas Bell Keyboards "I Am a Musician" Osada Sadao featuring Sunshine/Moonlight "May Christmas Bring You Happiness" Girls Christmas ~Wish You Were Here~ Keyboards, Programming F.L.A.G.S. "F.l.a.g.s." (album) F.l.a.g.s. Keyboards Born Free Red featuring Midori Hara "Red Bird Escaped?" Go! Cinemania Reel 4 ~Cover Rocks~ Keyboards Spank Happy "Chocolate Fork Song" Chocolate Fork Song Composer, Keyboards, Guitar, Chorus 1996 Aya Hisakawa "Okonomiyaki Go Go" For You For Me Composer, Arranger, Keyboards Pizzicato Five "Baby Portable Rock" Baby Portable Rock Keyboards Soon "Picture Show" The Perfect Unbalance Keyboards Naho Hoshina "Girl Meets Boy" Anata to Sugoshitai Arranger Youssou N'Dour "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Co-Arranger Midori Hara "Bye Bye Black Baby" (Dedicated to Black Cat Nakaya) Worst 12 in Heaven Co-Arranger, Keyboards Mari Natsuki "Gorilla" Gorilla Arranger "November" "My Blue Sky" Kangaroo Pockets "Movin' in the Right Direction" Kangaroo Pockets Arranger, Keyboards "Night of Sand" Arranger, Keyboards "Time After Time" Arranger, Keyboards F.L.A.G.S. "M.o.r" (album) M.O.R Keyboards "Breathless" (mini album) Breathless Keyboards Pizzicato Five "Theme of Kids Challenge" Great White Wonder Rare Masters 1990-1996 Keyboards Senri Yamazaki "Wide Show" Envy Arranger "Cyberpunk" "W-Face" Tetsutaro Sakurai "And Now" Haikei, Koshiro Fubuki-sama Keyboards "T.v.jesus" Sa Se Pari ~C'est Si Bon~ Keyboards Kangaroo Pockets "Wish Upon a Star ~Hoshi ga Kirakira to Kagayaku Hitomi ni~" Hoshi ni Negai o ~Star Floating in My Eyes~ Arranger "Pillow" The Name of Love "Party Party ~Kajoo ni Jishin ga Arisugite Igai to Yowaki~" Party Party Brass, Keyboards F.L.A.G.S. "Holy Planet" (mini album) Holy Planet Keyboards Tetsutaro Sakurai "Ready to Fly" (Alphaville Mix) Takanaka Remix The Best Keyboards Yumi Adachi "Better Place ~Koi no Marathon Boy~" Viva! America Arranger Pizzicato Five "Message Song" Message Song Keyboards 1997 Cosa Nostra "People" (High Relax Version) Let's Sing and Dance Keyboards "Let's Sing and Dance" (Reprise) Keyboards F.L.A.G.S. "Cream" (mini album) Cream Keyboards Cosa Nostra "Round Trip" Trip Magic Keyboards "Love Kitten" Keyboards "Sunny Day" Keyboards "Time Machine" Keyboards "Raise Your Hand" Keyboards Yuko Suzuki "I Can Tell You Why" Moving Arranger "Zutto Shinjite..." Aco "Yoru no Sketch" Nude Keyboards Yumi Tanimura "I Love You at Least" Semetemo no I Love You Brass, Keyboards Pizzicato Five "Mon Amour Tokyo" Mon Amour Tokyo Keyboards Chisato Moritaka "Ninki Mono de" Peachberry Composer, Arranger "Kataomoi" Composer, Arranger Yumi Yoshimura "Tennen no Beauty" Solosolo Keyboards "Hanabi" "Sore Nari ni" "Ai no Aura" "Watashi no Nozomi" Morning Musume "Ai no Tane" Ai no Tane Keyboards Michiyo Heike "Get" Get Keyboards "Prepare" Yuko Suzuki "(They Long to Be) Close to You" Close to You Arranger 1998 Morning Musume "Morning Coffee" Morning Coffee Keyboards Yuko Suzuki "Life" Life Arranger "A Hundred Ways" "Yotei Chōwa no Mainichi" "Kokoro no Iro" "Bossa Nova" "Tōi Hi no Melody" "~Miyabi~" Michiyo Heike "Akai Tsuki" Teenage Dream Keyboards Cosa Nostra "Sweet Music" Our Thing Keyboards "Hachimitsu" Keyboards "I Know You Know" Keyboards "Communication" Brass, Keyboards "Yes" Keyboards "Obscure Corner" Brass "World Go Round" Keyboards "Dreaming" Keyboards Shizuka Kudo "Kama Sutra no Densetsu" I'm Not Keyboards Kaoruko "Bye-bye Arigato" Bye-bye Arigato Keyboards "Aishiteru no" Heath "Daydream #006" (Lp Version) Gang Age Cubist Keyboards "Believe" "Rock and Roll" "Mind" Isis "Angel" Submarine Tunnel Keyboards "Kono Hoshi no Uragawa de" mcSisters "Doko ka" Doko ka? Keyboards Miho Yonemitsu "Orange" Orange E.P. Arranger "Colorful" "Hoshi" Yuko Suzuki "Ame" Mikazuki Arranger Nin Yoshizuka "I'm a Boy" Boy EP Keyboards Chisato Moritaka "Utopia" Sava Sava Composer, Arranger "Umi Made Gofun" (Album Version) Keyboards Aco "Lady Soul" (Day-lite Version) Lady Soul Arranger Pizzicato Five "Weekend" Weekend Keyboards Akiko Wada "Kanashii Uta" Dynamite-A-Go-Go!!! Keyboards Yipes "Another Song Cycle" (instrumental) Beat Per Minutes Keyboards Clémentine "Week-end" Heure D'ete Keyboards 1999 7house "Stop ~Nakanai de~" Stop ~Nakanai de~ Arranger Aco "Aishuu to Ballad" Aishuu to Ballad Co-Arranger, Keyboards Amika "Asagata" Yureru Hikari nai Umi no Soko Keyboards "Jutaku" Tanpopo "Motto" Motto Arranger Precoci "I~jan!!" I~jan!! Keyboards Chisato Moritaka "Watashi no Yō ni" Watashi no Yō ni Composer, Arranger, Keyboards Junichi Inagaki "A Dozen no Iiwake" FM AOR Keyboards Tanpopo "Sentimental Minamimuki" Tanpopo 1 Arranger "Motto" (album mix) Aaron G. "The Heat Is On" Bust a Move 2/Dance Tengoku Mix Composer, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer Anji "Hello! Kitty-n" Composer, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer Pizzicato Five "Darlin' of Discotheque" Darlin' of Discotheque E.P. Keyboards Hinano Yoshikawa "Mellow Pretty" Mellow Pretty Brass Morning Musume "Manatsu no Kōsen" Manatsu no Kōsen Keyboards Epo "Dareka o Honki de Aishitemitai" Peach Keyboards "Kimi no Sagashimono" "Baby's Magic" Tomomi Kageyuto "Anata ni Tsuite" Lemon & Milk Arranger "Parasol Chocolate" Cosa Nostra "Don't Stop the Music" Don't Stop the Music Strings Aco "Nothing Compares 2u" Aishita Anata wa Tsuyoi Hito Arranger SMAP "Idea" Birdman ~SMAP 013~ Keyboards Taiyo to Ciscomoon "In Space La Ta Ta" Uchu de La Ta Ta Keyboards Morning Musume "Manatsu no Kōsen" (Vacation Mix) Second Morning Keyboards "Otome no Shinrigaku" Keyboards Arb "Respect the Night" El Dorado Keyboards "Nightmare Slayer" "Midnight Stranger" "Hito Toshite" Coconuts Musume "Dance & Chance" Dance & Chance Arranger Mio "Akai Kutsu" Akai Kutsu Composer, Arranger Tsunku "Touch Me #4" Touch Me Arranger Chisato Moritaka "Feeling Good" (Out Take) Mix Age* Keyboards Aco "Flower Blooming in Joy" Yorokobi ni Saku Hana Strings, Keyboards Aco "Prologue" Absolute Ego Strings "Spleen" Co-Arranger, Keyboards Keizo Nakanishi "Hoshi no Oasis" Sunshine Groove Strings, Keyboards
2000s