{"title":"Akiko Yano","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAkiko Yano, born as Akiko Suzuki on 13 February 1955 in Tokyo, is a renowned Japanese artist. She studied jazz piano in high school and released her first album, \"Japanese Girl,\" in 1976. With her unique blend of a wispy, girlish voice and the ability to improvise on the piano, Yano stood out from the Japanese pop scene at that time. She gained international recognition as she toured worldwide with Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) as their support keyboardist. Yano's collaborations include working with Little Feat on the West Coast and recording with UK rock band Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter separating from Ryuichi Sakamoto, her former husband and musical partner, Yano moved to New York in the '90s where she continues to perform regularly and collaborate with various musicians primarily in the jazz genre. Her music has garnered a dedicated following both in Japan and abroad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to her successful career as an artist, Yano is also known for being the mother of Miu Sakamoto alias Sister M. Her unique style has influenced many artists including Tomoyo Harada, Sketch Show, Chu Kosaka, Minako Yoshida, Cornelius, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"to-ki-me-ki","title":"To Ki Me Ki","description":"\u003cp\u003eWewantsounds is glad to continue its Akiko Yano reissue series with the release of the singer's third studio album \u003ci\u003eTo Ki Me Ki\u003c\/i\u003e, recorded in New York and released in 1978 in Japan. It follows her cult \u003ci\u003eIroha Ni Konpeitou\u003c\/i\u003e LP and keeps the similar blend of Japanese pop and New York funk found in the latter. \u003ci\u003eTo Ki Me Ki\u003c\/i\u003e features such musicians as Rick Marotta, Will Lee and David Spinozza and also programmer Hideki Matsutake who would soon join the YMO with Akiko for their international 1979\/1980 tour before she recorded her next studio album \"Tadaima\" that year, featuring the YMO musicians. \u003ci\u003eTo Ki Me Ki\u003c\/i\u003e is reissued outside of Japan for the first time, remastered in Tokyo by revered engineer Mitsuo Koike and featuring original artwork by Tsutomu Murakami with 4 page colour insert and new liner notes by Paul Bowler.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50395056406859,"sku":"2096883","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50395055587659,"sku":"2096873","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_2163f91f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726453959"},{"product_id":"japanese-girl","title":"Japanese Girl","description":"\u003cp\u003eWewantsounds is pursuing its ambitious Akiko Yano reissue program with the release of \u003ci\u003eJapanese Girl\u003c\/i\u003e, her landmark debut album from 1976. Recorded with no less than Little Feat as the backing band on one side and the creme of Japanese musicians on the other one (including Haruomi Hosono and Tatsuo Hayashi) when Yano was just 21, the album is a masterstroke bursting with creativity. Featuring superb compositions by Yano with her inimitable voice and keyboard playing, the album mixes pop, rock, Japanese folk and Little Feat's superb sound. The album created a stir when it first came out in Japan and made an overnight sensation of Yano. Released for the first time outside of Japan and about time as it's undoubtedly one of the most important Japanese albums of the 70s.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - Deluxe LP. Housed in Tip on Sleeve with OBI strip and Download plus the original 4 page insert with lyrics and full line up. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50417662984523,"sku":"1056043","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7c1579cf-0d6b-4e43-b612-4efdeb103f20_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726734730"},{"product_id":"iroha-ni-konpeitou","title":"Iroha Ni Konpeitou","description":"\u003cp\u003eAkiko Yano's cult second album from 1977. Wewantsounds continues its Akiko Yano reissue programme with the release of\u003ci\u003e Iroha Ni Konpeitou\u003c\/i\u003e, another superb Akiko Yano album and one of her funkiest, highlighting her unmissable singing and songwriting talents. Recorded in Tokyo and New York City, the album features a superb line up of the best musicians from both cities and sees Yano mixing Japanese pop with funk and a touch of electronics, playing a wide array of keyboards programmed by YMO synth wizard Hideki Matsutake. \u003ci\u003eIroha Ni Konpeitou\u003c\/i\u003e is perhaps Akiko Yano's best known album in the Western world not just because of its striking front cover - a shot by famed photographer Bishin Jumonji featuring Akiko holding an inflatable dolphin (legend has it all the props and clothes were borrowed from the set of an Issey Miyake ad), but because the album is one of Akiko's funkiest ones. A slick mix of Japanese Pop and New York funk, the album was recorded in Tokyo except for the \u003ci\u003eIroha Ni Konpeitou\u003c\/i\u003e title track which was recorded in NYC with an all-star line-up consisting of Rick Marotta, David Spinozza, Will Lee and Nicky Marrero. For the rest of the album, Akiko is accompanied by some of the best musicians from the Tokyo music scene gravitating around the groups Happy End and Tin Pan Alley: the ubiquitous Haruomi Hosono on bass, Tatsuo Hayashi on drums, Shigeru Suzuki on guitar to name just a few. Interestingly two Hosono compositions are featured on the album, \u003ci\u003eAi Ai Gasa\u003c\/i\u003e which he recorded on his 1973 landmark debut\u003ci\u003e Hosono House\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHourou\u003c\/i\u003e originally recorded in 75 by singer and musician Chu Kosaka (on the eponymous album \u003ci\u003eHoro\u003c\/i\u003e). Last but not least Hideki Matsutake is handling the keyboard programming duties on the album as Yano is playing a wide array of keyboards: Moog IIIc, Mini Moog, String Ensemble, on top of the Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Yamaha CP7C. Matsutake would soon become programmer in chief for YMO, touring and playing with them around the world (like Yano herself). Although the album feels very accessible and funky, there are complex keyboard layers underneath as on the first short introduction\u003ci\u003e KAWAJI\u003c\/i\u003e, a short electro fantasy, or on such tracks as \u003ci\u003eAi Ai Gasa\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eKino Wa Mou\u003c\/i\u003e on which Akiko is playing bass with her Moog, making the album a richly textured and inventive one once you scratch its surface. The tracks on the album flow effortlessly also highlighting Akiko Yano's superb songwriting and knack for creating fascinating pop song.\u003ci\u003e Iroha Ni Konpeitou\u003c\/i\u003e sounds as fresh and beautiful as when it first came out more than forty years ago and will please the growing circle of Akiko Yano fans around the world as a welcome addition to her brilliant discography.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - This Deluxe LP edition includes remastered sound, download card plus the original 4-page insert with poster, lyrics and full line-up. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50419813613899,"sku":"1064429","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/dcd0cb8b-31c6-491f-85c8-79efa0025627_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726749429"},{"product_id":"tadaima","title":"Tadaima","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing the success of Hiroshi Sato’s reissue, Wewantsounds is proud to announce an ambitious programme to release Akiko Yano's albums outside of Japan starting with her 1981 synth-pop masterpiece \u003ci\u003eTadaima.\u003c\/i\u003e, co-produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto and featuring YMO. The reissue includes original artwork by cult illustrator King Terry, a 2 page insert and OBI Strip (LP) plus a new introduction by renowned Electro DJ Joakim. Japan's best kept secret, Akiko Yano is one of the most ground-breaking artists to come out of the 70s Japanese music scene along with Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto. A piano child prodigy, Yano started her solo recording career in 1976 at just 21, recording her debut album \u003ci\u003eJapanese Girl\u003c\/i\u003e with no less than Little Feat as the backing band. This album created a stir on the Japanese scene and Yano was on the map. She went on to record a series of superb albums mixing Funk, Electro and City Pop featuring the cream of Japanese (and sometimes American and English) musicians; The fact she was producing, writing and composing herself made her a true maverick in a very male-dominated industry. These albums, incredibly, have never been released outside of Japan to this day. \u003ci\u003eTadaima\u003c\/i\u003e. (\"I'm home\" in Japanese) recorded in 1981 is Yano's fith studio album co-produced by her then husband Ryuichi Sakamoto and featuring all the musicians from YMO (Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi and Sakamoto), the group she was touring with at the time. \u003ci\u003eTadaima\u003c\/i\u003e. is Yano's first attempt to leave the acoustic piano aside and delve into the synth sounds of the early 80s. The result is a fascinating electro pop masterpiece showcasing her talent as a writer, musician and singer, creating her own unique universe. Mixing Japanese and English lyrics, Yano crafts perfect pop songs such as \u003ci\u003eTadaima, I Sing, Harusaki Kobeni\u003c\/i\u003e (which became one of her most famous songs after its use in a Japanese cosmetics ad), while \u003ci\u003eTaiyo No Onara\u003c\/i\u003e is a suite composed of nine short stories written by Children. Contributors on \u003ci\u003eTadaima\u003c\/i\u003e also include Shigesato Itoi, one of Japan's most famous copywriters (for Studio Ghibli among others) who wrote two tracks on the album and his friend legendary illustrator Teruhiko Yumura - aka King Terry - who revolutionised underground manga in the 70s with his 'heta-uma' (bad-good) style, as showcased on the album's striking artwork. \u003ci\u003eTadaima\u003c\/i\u003e. is the perfect entry point to Akiko Yano’s unique body or work \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50419819020619,"sku":"1048485","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2deb0e82-3ac1-4a6a-b462-48d47758cd84_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1726749453"},{"product_id":"ai-ga-nakucha-ne","title":"Ai Ga Nakucha Ne","description":"\u003cp\u003eWewantsounds continues its Akiko Yano series with the reissue of her cult classic \u003ci\u003eAi Ga Nakucha Ne \u003c\/i\u003erecorded in 1982 and co-produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Featuring Japan, the album includes additional recording in Tokyo with YMO and is mixed by Steve Nye and Shinichi Tanaka. It is the first time the album is released outside of Japan and the deluxe LP features the original artwork with gatefold sleeve and a lavish 24-page colour booklet with sessions photos by Pennie Smith (famous for The Clash's London Calling photo). The reissue also includes a new introduction by Mac DeMarco and a dual interview with Akiko Yano and Steve Jansen by journalist Paul Bowler. The audio remastered from the Original tapes by Mitsuo Koike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAi Ga Nakucha Ne\u003c\/i\u003e ('there must be love' in Japanese) is Akiko Yano’s 6th studio album and follows 'Tadaima' in 1981. It continues exploring the electro-pop sound of its predecessor, hot on the heels of her touring with Yellow Magic Orchestra between 1979 and 1980. For this album, Akiko decided to try something new; she enrolled English fellow musicians Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and David Sylvian from Japan and booked the Air Studios in London under the supervision of engineer Steve Nye. ​​Over a couple of weeks, the musicians created a fascinating soundscape full of catchy pop tunes, sung in both Japanese and English.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50435318382923,"sku":"1130652","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ef4e3064-d691-4df8-9b87-4406651aac5c_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1726902479"},{"product_id":"gohan-ga-dekitayo-2","title":"Gohan Ga Dekitayo","description":"\u003cp\u003eWewantsounds is delighted to continue its Akiko Yano reissue program with the reissue of her superb double album recorded  with YMO at a time when she was part of the group's touring line up between 1979 and 1980. The album is pure Akiko Yano featuring her superb singing and piano playing, enhanced by touches of YMO's synth-pop sound  (check her cult version of YMO's classic, \"Tong-Poo\"). It is the first time the album is released outside of Japan and the deluxe 2-LP set features the original artwork with gatefold sleeve and 4-page insert.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"2LP. - Black","offer_id":50443277271371,"sku":"2050204","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50443276386635,"sku":"2050203","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_a4f91917_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727011870"},{"product_id":"7-oclock-in-tokyo","title":"7 O'clock in Tokyo","description":"\u003cp\u003eAkiko Yano's cult 1979 album \u003cem\u003e7 O'Clock in Tokyo\u003c\/em\u003e, recorded live in September 1978 at a pivotal moment in Japanese music history, just as Yellow Magic Orchestra was about to take the world by storm (Yano would tour the world with the group in 1979). Featuring a very funky Yano performance accompanied by Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, plus Tatsuro Yamashita and Minako Yoshida, the album is presented outside Japan for the first time, with remastered audio, original artwork, and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Paul Bowler.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":53380149182795,"sku":"R9849-6677","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":53380149215563,"sku":"R9849-6190","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cover.ki-14_5db09334-9731-41e8-b25a-e3310b4eb809.jpg?v=1757796172"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_98879134_thumbnail_4096_bfa1ea1d-f0a7-4942-946a-26fb02679211.jpg?v=1726453929","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/akiko-yano.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}