Yoko Kanno

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.

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:

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

Works

Anime

Video games

Television dramas

Movies

Publicly commissioned works YearTitleOccasionRole(s)2019"Ray of Water"Enthronement of NaruhitoComposer

Commercial music Companies that have commissioned Kanno for commercial music include:

AEON AGF Maxim Ajinomoto Asahi Glass Co. Avon Cafe Noevir Citizen Watch Co. Canon Cosmo Oil Daikin Daio Paper Daiwa House FamilyMart Fancl Fuji Xerox Fujitsu Google Glico Gravity Half Century More Haus Ten Bausch Hisamitsu Hitachi House IBM J-Phone Japan Medical Association Japan Railways Japan Telecom Kanebo KDDI Kincho Kirin Beverage Kubota MasterCard International Meiji Microsoft Mister Donut Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mitsui Home Morinaga Nagatanien National Ionity Nanocare Nikon Nintendo Nissan NTT DoCoMo Ono Pharmaceutical Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Pioneer Platinum Guild International Pola Seiko Epson Sekisui House Seven Eleven Sharp Shimura Shiseido Sony Suntory Taiyo Life Insurance Takano Yori Beauty Clinic Tepco Tirol-Choco Tokyo Gas Tokyo Metro Tombow Pencil Toyota Try Group UFJ Bank Vodafone Yukiguni Maitake

Hired vocalists Artists who have performed at least one of Kanno's vocal tracks:

Aceilux Afra Aimer AKINO Akino Arai Pierre Bensusan Hanna Berglind Emily Bindiger Hassan Bohmide Donna Burke Hajime Chitose Steve Conte Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria Crystal Kay Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch Emily Curtis Arnór Dan Ben del Maestro Kyoko Endo Masaaki Endoh Feather and Down Masayoshi Furukawa Ilaria Graziano Motohiro Hata Heartsdales Reynada Hill Mari Iijima Miki Imai Yuho Iwasato Seika Iwashita Tim Jensen Joyce Tokiko Kato Kyoko Katsunuma Kei Kobayashi Kyōko Koizumi Scott Matthew May'n Hitomi Mieno Chris Mosdell Maryanne Murray Ryo Nagano Mem Nahadr Megumi Nakajima Kaoru Nishino Aki Okui Egil Olsen Origa Soichiro Otsuka Yuuki Ozaki POP ETC Raiché Coutev Sisters Raj Ramayya Jadwiga Rappé Maaya Sakamoto Franco Sansalone Shanti Snyder Artur Stefanowicz Aoi Teshima Sydney Thiam Anna Tsuchiya Carla Vallet James Wendt WISE Wuyontana Etsuko Yakushimaru Chinatsu Yamamoto Mai Yamane YOSHIKA Chiyono Yoshino Makino Yui YUKI