Akiko Yano – 7 O’Clock in Tokyo (1979)

A legendary live recording featuring Yellow Magic Orchestra, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Minako Yoshida – newly remastered and released worldwide for the first time.

Tokyo, 1978: A Scene in Motion

The late 1970s marked a seismic shift in Japan’s musical landscape. Economic optimism was fueling cultural experimentation, and Tokyo’s clubs and concert halls were buzzing with new sounds that blurred the lines between jazz, funk, rock, and emerging electronic music.

At the center of this movement stood Akiko Yano, a young pianist and songwriter whose music refused to sit neatly in any category. By 1978, she had already released three albums showcasing her playful songwriting and daring arrangements. That same year, she assembled an extraordinary lineup for a live performance in Tokyo:

• Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi — the trio that would soon become Yellow Magic Orchestra, pioneers of electronic pop.

• Tatsuro Yamashita — the rising star of what would soon be dubbed city pop.

• Minako Yoshida — one of Japan’s most soulful and expressive voices.

The result was 7 O’Clock in Tokyo, a one-night-only meeting of creative forces at a moment when Japanese music was about to reach global recognition.

Akiko Yano: The Playful Visionary

Born in Tokyo in 1955, Yano trained as a classical pianist but quickly gravitated toward pop and jazz, infusing her music with humor, eccentricity, and sharp musicianship. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she wasn’t afraid to experiment — one moment playful and childlike, the next deeply soulful or rhythmically complex.

Her music resonated with Japan’s growing cosmopolitan youth, who were eager for something fresh, and it has since gone on to influence generations of musicians. Today, artists like Mac DeMarco, Clairo, and Jessy Lanza cite Yano as an inspiration, proof of her enduring relevance.

The Concert Document

Recorded in September 1978, 7 O’Clock in Tokyo captures Yano at a creative crossroads. She had just released her third studio album, To-Ki-Me-Ki, and YMO was preparing their debut. This performance, then, wasn’t just a concert — it was a glimpse into the future of Japanese pop.

Highlights include:

• “Shiny Moments (To-Ki-Me-Ki)” – A sparkling performance of her then-new album’s title track.

• “Satchan” – A humorous interlude with Yano alone at the piano, reminding listeners of her childlike charm.

• “Walk on the Way of Life” – An eight-minute groove that pulls the entire ensemble together in a joyous finale.

The blend of styles is striking: funk basslines from Hosono, Sakamoto’s adventurous keyboard textures, Takahashi’s crisp drumming, and Yamashita and Yoshida’s soulful presence — all woven together by Yano’s commanding piano and playful vocals.

A Cultural Crossroads

Listening to 7 O’Clock in Tokyo today is like opening a time capsule. In its grooves, you can hear the seeds of what would become:

• City Pop — soon to dominate Japanese radio with its slick, Western-influenced production, led by artists like Tatsuro Yamashita.

• Yellow Magic Orchestra — whose fusion of electronic experimentation and pop sensibility would inspire musicians around the world.

• Akiko Yano’s own trajectory — moving between pop, avant-garde, and collaborations that kept her at the center of Japan’s creative ferment.

The album doesn’t just document a concert — it captures a moment when the future of Japanese music was being sketched in real time.

Tracklist

Side 1

1. God’s Loyal Love / (7 O’Clock in Tokyo) – 7:16

2. Water Ways Flow Backward Again – 2:37

3. Satchan – 2:03

4. Go For It, Yanagida – 4:45

5. Riding in the Balloon – 4:32

Side 2

1. Imomushi Gorogoro – 4:01

2. Kataroon Karurun – 4:01

3. Shiny Moments (To-Ki-Me-Ki) – 5:06

4. Walk on the Way of Life – 8:22

Why This Release Matters

For decades, 7 O’Clock in Tokyo remained a cult gem, known mainly to collectors and hardcore fans of Akiko Yano. Now, with its first-ever international release, newly remastered audio, original artwork, and liner notes by Paul Bowler, the album is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

It’s more than just a reissue — it’s a rare chance to hear the Japanese pop scene at its most fertile and daring, when musical boundaries were being broken and redefined.

A captivating snapshot of Tokyo in the late 70s, this release affirms Akiko Yano’s place not just in Japanese music history, but in the global story of pop innovation.

✨ For fans of Japanese city pop, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and adventurous pop experimentation, Akiko Yano’s 7 O’Clock in Tokyo is an unmissable rediscovery.