Yoko Kanno is a prolific Japanese composer, musician and arranger renowned for her eclectic musical style that spans a wide range of genres. Born on March 18, 1963, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Kanno pursued her passion for music at Waseda University, before embarking on a career that would see her becoming one of the most respected figures in the world of anime music composition and beyond.

Kanno's career is marked by an impressive versatility and a distinctive ability to evoke emotions through her compositions. She has gained international acclaim for her work on soundtracks for popular anime series such as "Cowboy Bebop," "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," and "Macross Plus." Her music seamlessly blends elements of jazz, classical, pop, and electronic music, creating soundscapes that perfectly complement the narratives of the anime and films she scores. Among her most recent works are the soundtracks for the historical drama "NHK Taiga Drama 'Onna Joushu Naotora'" (also known as "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House") and the game "Volzerk," showcasing her enduring relevance and adaptability in the ever-evolving music industry. Kanno's talent for composition extends beyond the screen, however; her standalone pieces, like "Yoko Kanno: Ray of Water [piano solo main theme]" and rearrangements such as "Kanno: Flowers Will Bloom (Arr. Schindler for Piano Solo)," are testaments to her skill as a solo musician, beloved by fans for their haunting beauty and complexity.

Genres

Anime Score

Japanese Classical

Japanese Soundtrack

Japanese Vgm

Related Artists

Joe Hisaishi

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Nobuo Uematsu

Kenji Kawai

Yasunori Mitsuda

Hans Zimmer

Aimer

Hiroyuki Sawano

Shiro SAGISU

Yugo Kanno

Akira Senju

Taku Iwasaki

Latest Release

Volzerk ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

Yoko Kanno

Album - 20 Tracks - Released January 27, 2023