Yoko Kanno is actively performing and composing, with recent interviews at Anime Boston 2026 and Anime Expo 2026 covering her creative process, upcoming New York concerts, and her openness to scoring anime again if timing and economics align.
Yoko Kanno gave two extensive interviews in 2026, at Anime Boston in May and Anime Expo in July, offering a rare unvarnished look at her career and current state. At Anime Boston, she discussed her upcoming New York performances: a solo piano show called "Piano Me," which she last performed at Otakon in 2013, and a concert with The Seatbelts on April 10 and 11. She explained that she wanted to perform "Piano Me" now because she does not know how much longer she or her bandmates will be able to do such shows. Kanno also addressed why she has not scored an anime since 2014's "Terror in Resonance," saying her fees are high and the economy is not great, but she would be happy to do it if timing worked. She described working with Netflix as a challenge, and shared stories about recording with Rudy Van Gelder, who she said was aggressive in his seventies.
At Anime Expo, Kanno discussed her method of location-based research, describing how she immerses herself in locations to inform her soundtracks. She expressed a desire to work again with late collaborators Origa and Keiko Nobumoto, and shared interest in composing for stage plays and ballet. Across both interviews, Kanno said her biggest current inspiration is God, and that she is interested in DJing and exploring classical music. She called a piano a spaceship that allows her to connect with audiences, and said she views music as a way to communicate through the collective subconscious. The interviews together show a composer still deeply engaged with her craft, candid about the realities of the industry, and open to new forms of expression.
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Yoko Kanno discussed her career and creative process at Anime Expo 2026, describing how she immerses herself in locations to inform her soundtracks. She expressed a desire to work again with late collaborators Origa and Keiko Nobumoto, and shared interest in composing for stage plays and ballet.
Composer Yoko Kanno gave a wide-ranging interview to multiple outlets at Anime Boston 2026, covering her career, creative process, and upcoming New York performances. Kanno discussed her solo piano show "Piano Me," which she last performed at Otakon in 2013, and her concert with The Seatbelts on April 10 and 11. She explained that she wanted to perform "Piano Me" now because she does not know how much longer she or her bandmates will be able to do such shows. Kanno also addressed why she has not scored an anime since 2014's "Terror in Resonance," saying her fees are high and the economy is not great, but she would be happy to do it if timing worked. She described working with Netflix as a challenge, and shared stories about recording with Rudy Van Gelder, who she said was aggressive in his seventies. Kanno said her biggest current inspiration is God, and that she is interested in DJing and exploring classical music. She called a piano a spaceship that allows her to connect with audiences, and said she views music as a way to communicate through the collective subconscious.