Yoko Kanno - Anime Convention Personality of the Week - Nov. 8, 1999 Was composer Yoko
Kanno brought from Japan to entertain American anime fans, or were the
conventions staged to entertain Yoko Kanno? It was hard to tell! From the
beginning, Kanno seemed to have more fun at American conventions than any
of the fans in attendance. Kanno didn't act anything like a star composer
who is one of the hottest figures in the world of Japanese popular music.
Instead, she acted like a schoolgirl on holiday who was delighted by every
exotic sight at U.S. conventions. On the first day of Otakon, she dove
into the packed dealers' room, looking for her discs. Playing the piano
in front of of 2,000 people wasn't enough for Kanno, who kept playing for
fans in her hotel lobby. At Anime Expo, Kanno spent more time with fans,
amazed by the costumers, then played another concert for another huge crowd.
Through all of it, Kanno remained cutely coy about her possible secret
identity as singer "Gabrelle Robin." |
At the Otakon 99 dealers' room |
Piano artistry in concert |
With Shin Kurokawa |
With Hiromi Matsushita at AX 99 |
Hanging out with AX fans |
Enjoying California costumers |
