Yoko Kanno Discusses Career, New York Concerts, and the Future in Extensive Interview
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.