| Yoko Kanno | |||||
| Native Name: | 菅野 よう子 | ||||
| Birth Name: | 菅野 洋子 | ||||
| Alias: | Gabriela Robin | ||||
| Birth Date: | 18 March 1963[1] [2] | ||||
| Birth Place: | Sendai, Japan | ||||
| Years Active: | 1985–present | ||||
| Module: |
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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, , 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.
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.[3]
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 only allowed her to listen 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.
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" () 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 only receives instructions and storyboards from directors which helps 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 only since 2002 has there been a trend towards the medium, with some of the latter being shown in international film festivals.[4]
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.[5] Yoko Kanno performed her solo PianoMe concert at Otakon 2013.[6]
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.[7] [8] [9]
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.[10] [11]
In addition to Japanese, she speaks a little English and some French, but her English is poor and 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 .[12] 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.[13] [14]
| 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).[15] | |
| 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".[16] | |
| 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.[17] | |
| 8 June 2011 | Yoko Kanno produce Cyber Bicci | Compilation album of previous works with Ilaria Graziano, along with new materials.[18] |
| 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 tracks | ||
| Hitomi Mieno | Hajimari no Boukenshya-tachi ~Hikari no Chizu~ | 1995 | Composer for two tracks | |
| Miki 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 track | ||
| Yuri 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 band | ||
| Kyōko Koizumi | Otokonoko, Onnanoko | 1996 | ||
| For my Life (Single) | 1999 | Composer for two tracks | ||
| Maaya 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 track | ||
| Akino 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 track | ||
| Yasui Inoue | Kyuu Dan | 1998 | Composer for one track | |
| Crystal 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 tracks | |
| SMAP | 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 tracks | |
| Chitose Hajime | Cassini | 2008 | Composer for one track | |
| Origa | The Songwreath | 2008 | Composer for one track | |
| Yoshika | World | 2008 | Composer for one track | |
| May'n | May'n☆Street | 2009 | Composer for two tracks | |
| Natsumi Kiyoura | Juuku Iro | 2010 | Composer for one track | |
| Megumi Nakajima | Be with You | 2012 | Composer for one track[19] | |
| Clammbon | yet | 2015 | String arranger for one track |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Porco Rosso | Ending theme song arranger | |
| 1994 | Please Save My Earth | Composer (other tracks by Hajime Mizoguchi)[20] | |
| Macross Plus | Composer | ||
| 1995 | Composer | ||
| 1996 | 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 | Composer | ||
| 1998 | Opening theme song composer | ||
| Macross Dynamite 7 | Insert song composer | ||
| Cowboy Bebop | Composer | ||
| Cardcaptor Sakura | Third opening theme song composer[21] | ||
| Brain Powerd | Composer[22] | ||
| 1999 | Turn A Gundam | Composer | |
| Jin-Roh | Pianist | ||
| Neo Tokyo | Composer | ||
| 2000 | Escaflowne | Composer (other tracks by Hajime Mizoguchi) | |
| 2001 | Earth Maiden Arjuna | Composer | |
| Composer | |||
| 2002 | RahXephon | Opening theme song composer | |
| Composer[23] | |||
| 2002 | Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Ball Rangers | Composer | |
| 2003 | Wolf's Rain | Composer[24] | |
| 2004 | Composer | ||
| 2005 | Genesis of Aquarion | Composer (other tracks by Hogari Hisaaki) | |
| 2006 | Ōban Star-Racers | Opening and ending theme song composer | |
| Composer | |||
| 2007 | Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha | Composer[25] | |
| Genius Party | Insert song composer | ||
| Genesis of Aquarion | Composer | ||
| 2008 | Macross Frontier | Composer | |
| 2009 | Ring of Gundam | Composer | |
| 2012 | Aquarion Evol | Composer | |
| Code Geass: Akito the Exiled | Theme song composer[26] | ||
| Kids on the Slope | Composer | ||
| 2014 | Space☆Dandy | (other tracks by various others)[27] | |
| Terror in Resonance | Composer[28] | ||
| 2015 | Aquarion Logos | Opening theme song composer[29] | |
| 2021 | Macross Frontier Film Short: Labyrinth of Time | Theme song composer[30] | |
| 2023 | Spy x Family Season 2 | Opening theme song arranger[31] |
| Year | Title | Original system(s) | Role(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms | PC-8801, Sharp X1, FM-7 | Composer | |
| 1986 | Nobunaga's Ambition Zenkokuban | PC-8801, PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1987 | Genghis Khan | PC-8801, PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1988 | Nobunaga's Ambition Sengoku Gunyūden | PC-8801, PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1989 | Ishin no Arashi | PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1990 | Uncharted Waters | PC-8801, PC-9801 | Composer | |
| Nobunaga's Ambition Bushō Fuunroku | PC-9801 | Composer | ||
| 1992 | Nobunaga's Ambition Haōden | PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1993 | Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons | PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 1994 | Nobunaga's Ambition Tenshōki | PC-9801 | Composer | |
| 2000 | Dreamcast | Composer[32] | ||
| 2005 | Cowboy Bebop: Tsuitou no Yakyoku | PlayStation 2 | Composer | |
| 2007 | Ragnarok Online 2 | MS Windows | Composer[33] | |
| 2011 | Continent of the Ninth | MS Windows | Theme song composer | |
| 2012 | MS Windows | Composer | ||
| 2018 | Starwing Paradox | Arcade | Theme song composer[34] [35] | |
| 2023 | Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown | MS Windows, iOS, Android | Composer[36] |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Yo ni mo Kimyou na Monogatari – Mama Shinhatsubai | Composer | |
| 2002 | Mayonaka Betsu no Kao | Composer | |
| 2004 | X'smap~Tora to Raion to Gojin no Otoko~ | Composer | |
| 2006 | Chichi ni Kanaderu Merodi | Composer | |
| 2008 | Camouflage | Composer | |
| 2009 | Kaze ni Mai Agaru Vinyl Sheet | Composer | |
| 2013 | Gochisōsan | Composer | |
| 2017 | Composer[37] | ||
| 2021 | Composer | ||
| 2023 | Composer[38] |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Yamato Takeru | Composer | |
| 1996 | Asalto | Composer | |
| Boku wa Benkyo ga Dekinai | Composer | ||
| 1997 | Natsu Jikan no Otonatachi | Composer | |
| 2002 | Tokyo.sora | Composer | |
| Mizu no Onna | Composer | ||
| 2003 | 03 + | Composer | |
| 2004 | Kamikaze Girls | Composer | |
| 2005 | Ashura | Composer | |
| Su-ki-da | Composer | ||
| 2006 | Honey and Clover | Composer | |
| 2007 | The Show Must Go On | Composer | |
| Say Hello! | Composer | ||
| 2010 | Surely Someday | Composer | |
| 2013 | Petal Dance | Composer | |
| 2015 | Our Little Sister | Composer[39] |
Companies that have commissioned Kanno for commercial music include:[40]
Artists who have performed at least one of Kanno's vocal tracks: