What you'll hear is a surprise until the day of the show! Akiko Yano's first "Ongakudo" live performance in 15 years.
Akiko Yano's live performances, especially her acoustic shows, are anything but "pre-arranged" or "planned."
"Basically, I decide on the setlist right before the concert. It's all up to my mood. I always carry around 100 song lyrics. Before the show starts, I'll ask the staff about the audience demographics, like 'Are there a lot of children?' or 'What percentage are elderly people?' and then I might decide, 'Okay, let's include this song,' or sometimes I'll suddenly feel like playing a particular song. When I'm performing with a band, I definitely decide on the setlist in advance, but with solo acoustic performances, there's a lot of freedom, and I enjoy that."
Therefore, the behind-the-scenes staff, such as sound and lighting technicians, have to give it their all every single time.
"It seems like they're making predictions. They're like, 'If things continue this way, this is probably what's coming next.'"
I can picture the smug look on the staff's faces when their prediction was correct, and at the same time, I feel that there is an incredible level of trust between them.
"We've been working together for a long time, and as professionals, we share the same desire to make our customers think, 'I'm glad I came.'"
One of the most trustworthy members of the staff, recording engineer Kinji Yoshino, recommended the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall as the recording location for his fourth acoustic album.
The album "Ongakudo" (Music Hall), released in 2010, was recorded at this very music hall in 2009. And now, in 2025, Akiko Yano's solo acoustic live performances are returning after approximately 15 years.
The hall, built in 1954 and modeled after the Royal Festival Hall in England,
"I have the impression that I was able to play in a really good mood. The interior had a nice retro feel to it. Up until now, I've mostly performed live in Kamakura, but when I wanted to change the environment a bit, the event organizer suggested, 'How about the Music Hall?' and because I had a good impression of it at the time, I thought, 'That sounds good.'"
Currently based in New York, Yano returns to Japan three times a year for tours. This year, before his live performance at the music hall, he has planned the "Satogaeru Tour," which will take him to six locations across the country. While this tour is in a band style, he says that this solo acoustic performance is also basically part of the tour.
"There are differences in the degree of freedom, but we don't set a specific theme. The basic idea is to make the audience happy, and the setlist changes from venue to venue. For the audience, the fun of not knowing what's coming each time, and the balance with the classics, is probably the highlight. This time, we won't be playing songs from the album 'Ongakudo' exactly as they are. We'll probably play a few songs, though."
As for my impressions of Kanagawa and Yokohama other than the concert hall,
"After the live show, I had dinner in Chinatown, and it was really delicious. I just went in on a hunch, thinking, 'Ah, this is it!' I'm pretty good at finding good places like that. That's one of the reasons why I have a good impression of Yokohama as a whole. I'm hoping to go to Chinatown after the live show this time too."
After finishing their December concert at the music hall, they will enter their 50th anniversary year as the new year begins. Their future plans include:
"I'm working on a new album. I don't know when it will come out yet. It's not a greatest hits album, it's something new. I want to deliver the latest music. It's probably going to be a busy year."
His activities, described as "unrestricted" and encompassing solo work, collaborations, bands, and acoustic performances, have reached their 50th anniversary and seem poised to expand even further. In the midst of all this, health management is crucial.
"I try to walk as much as possible, and I'm also careful not to get injured. It would be a nuisance if I couldn't play the piano anymore. Actually, I'd like to try ice hockey, but I don't think that's possible right now. Maybe I'll think about it after the 50th anniversary is over."
Yano enjoys taking on various challenges not only in music, but also in life and lifestyle.
The "new music" she creates shows no signs of slowing down in its spread.
Akiko Yano Recital in the Music Hall 2025
Featuring: Akiko Yano (Vocal & Piano)
Date and time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Venue: Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall
*Tickets are limited and only a few seats remain. (You may be placed on a waiting list.)
Concert information: Click here
Akiko Yano Official Website: Click here
