A masterpiece by Yoko Kanno. Recommended songs.

Flowers will bloom.

[Chorus] Flowers Will Bloom (Mixed Choir, Three Parts)

In 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake threatened the entire country.

In an effort to encourage as many of those hurt by the disaster as possible, many musicians released songs.

This is Hana wa Saku, a charity song created by the duo of Yoko Kanno and Shunji Iwai.

The beautiful words written by Shunji Iwai and Yoko Kanno’s memorable, singable melody are a perfect match.

It is a work filled with sincere emotion.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Genesis of AquarionAKINO

Genesis of Aquarion – AKINO (Full)

When it comes to anime songs that took the 2000s by storm, isn’t “Sousei no Aquarion” the one that comes to mind? You can’t help but find yourself humming the lyrics.

AKINO’s high notes feel so good to listen to that you want to imitate them.

And when you sing it at karaoke, just hearing the intro is guaranteed to hype everyone up.

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kinoshita ayaka

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Sea of MiraclesSakamoto Maaya

Kiseki no umi – Maaya Sakamoto / Op. Records of Lodoss War

This is the song “Kiseki no Umi,” which was used as the opening theme for the anime Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight.

It’s a powerful and grand piece that evokes the anime’s world.

The singer is Maaya Sakamoto, who is both a vocalist and a voice actress.

Although Sakamoto herself is from Tokyo, in this song she delivers a vocal performance with a faintly folk-like quality, showcasing the breadth of her expression as a singer.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Seeds of Life

[Full/Piano] Yoko Kanno Cosmo Oil CM Song “Seeds of Life” Cover / NAADA

This song, familiar from Cosmo Oil’s TV commercials, is Seeds of Life composed by Yoko Kanno.

If you watch TV often, you’ve probably heard it at least once.

Its relaxed tempo and clear, transparent piano tone are soothing.

When the music swells, the notes seem to burst and scatter, becoming lively as if celebrating something.

It’s a track that makes you want to sing Cosmo Oil’s catchphrase without even thinking!

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Yoimachi Jēn

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VOICESNii Akino

VOICES

This song, also used as the ending theme of Macross Plus, is VOICES, sung by Akino Arai.

It’s a mysterious piece that feels like you’ve wandered into a fantasy world.

The way the track unfolds, the choice and use of synthesizer sounds—all radiate Yoko Kanno’s signature style.

Akino Arai’s girlish vocals, as a labelmate, also perfectly match the song’s atmosphere.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Memory of TimeSEIKA

Memory of Time - Yoko Kanno (Please Save My Earth: Protect My Earth)

This is a song called “Toki no Kioku” sung by SEIKA.

The airy, slightly fragile vocals perfectly match the mood of the piece, leaving listeners with a pleasant sense of loneliness.

The warm timbre of the synthesizer somehow evokes a nostalgic feeling.

It begins with a minimal arrangement that syncs with the melody, and from the middle it unfolds into a grand, strings-led development, making it a very romantic track.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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I don’t need promises.Sakamoto Maaya

Escaflowne - No Need for Promises

I can feel the dedication to crafting songs that aren’t just “anime tracks.” You could have gone with a more pop, straightforward melody, but you didn’t… It sounds like it would be hard to follow the notes, so the karaoke version is probably for advanced singers.

I also love the way the lyrics spell out the question, “Does love have an end?”