Akiko Yano- Highland, Self Titled Album, 1990

Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子)is an influential Japanese pop and jazz musician. She was born as Akiko Suzuki (Suzuki Akiko) on February 13, 1955 in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Northern Japan. She married and soon after divorced Makoto Yano, a producer of her first recording. She later married Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of the members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, whom she divorced in August 2006.

Highland is off her self titled album released in 1990. Since this album can be found in the US and the names of the tracks and credits are written in English, it is assumed that this album was released for the US market. All of the songs are sung in Japanese with a few phrases sung in English as most J-pop songs are known for.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yano's former husband's influence is evident on this album due to the arrangement of the instrumentation. Many of the pop songs on this album have a feel of 1980s and early 1990s Japanese and American pop music. For example, the keyboard solo in the track, "I want to eat ramen" is reminscent of Steve Perry era Journey song, "Separate Ways".

Yano's music can be found in US mainstream media with the DVD release in 2005, My Neighbors the Yamadas. This animation movie features James Belushi as the voice of the main character, the father. This English-language version's Japanese counterpart was first released in 1999.

List of songs by Akiko Yano: Please select one that you want on Youtube:

1. Highland
2. Ramen Tabetai (I want to eat Ramen)
3. Mufujotai (Eye of the Hurricane)
4. Pastorale
5. Gokigen Wanisan
6. Owari no kisetsu (Seasons of Parting)
7. Omocha no Cha Cha Cha (Toys go Cha Cha Cha)
8. David
9. Greenfields
10. Komado Kara (From a Small Window)
11. Furimukeba Kaeru
12. Home Sweet Home

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Akiko
• Yano
• Ryuichi
• Sakamoto
• Yellow
• Magic
• Orchestra
• My
• Neighbors
• the
• Yamadas
• James
• Belushi

[danone19]

DaVince21, glad to be of service!

[danone19]

@gabsylv, While their vocals are similar, you have to bear in mind that this song is off of Yano's crossover album despite all of the songs being sung in Japanese. Seeing how artists of an era all want the "in" sound, this could be the case.

[mayarose89]

i would love to hear canton boy if you have it!

[danone19]

I'm sorry, I don't have that song.  Please see the list of songs that I have by this artist by visiting information section in the top right portion of this page.

[danone19]

I'm glad that you like it. Let me know if there are any other songs that you would like for me to upload.

[DaVince21]

Holy shit.

Akiko Yano is THE link for me.

She's worked with some of my favorite musical artists, from some of my favourite bands. Ryuichi Sakamoto. David Sylvian. Yellow Magic Orchestra. Japan. And then, the lyrics of this particular song were written by my all-time favourite video game designer, Shigesato Itoi.

And then this song turns out to be great. I can't express how happy I feel about this.

[gabsylv]

Dis she purposely pattern her vocals after Kate Bush, or is it coincidence?

[lulahbelle]

Thank-you for this. I remember seeing a live performance she once gave of this song on youtube and I fell in love with it but it was taken down. I didn't think I would hear it again.