Yoko Takahasi is a Japanese singer born on August 28, 1966 in Tokyo. She has a long musical career behind her: she has been releasing records since 1991 and one of her most popular songs is the ‘opening’ of the famous anime ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’.

Her presence caused a real furor among the fans of the Salón del Manga, where she gave two small recitals before starting a tour around the world. Her latest project is the group’ Hermit‘, in which she brings together studio musicians of various ages with the aim of enjoying a new stage in her career in which she enjoys global recognition for her.

Your voice is in many chapters of Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the most popular anime on the planet. How has the public received it at the Manga Hall?

I have seen everyone with a lot of encouragement, I have had a great time. At the signing session I was able to see a lot of people who came dressed in their ‘cosplays’ and the t-shirts of their favorite manga… I would say that their smiles expressed the way she was. I am very grateful to all of them.

What values ​​does the ‘opening’ for which it is so well known transmit?

For me anime songs are not mine, they are from all over the world. They contain the meaning of an animation, a story, some characters and it is through all these pillars that the song arises.

What anime would you like to sing a song from?

I would like to sing ‘Evangelion’ again. The series has ended, but if in the future, for whatever reason, the situation arose, I would choose it without hesitation. Many people know me for singing this anime work. I feel proud. It reminds me of when I debuted, back then I sang more ballads and pop.

What musical projects do you have in mind for 2023?

I’m doing a world tour that I’m very focused on. On December 19 we released a new song that appears in the video game ‘Godzilla vs Evangelion’, I have composed the lyrics and melody myself, completely in English. The environment is a bit different from what I’ve done so far, it’s neither too fast nor too slow, I hope the public will welcome it. I’m focused on my new group. It’s called ‘Hermit’, next year we’re going to release music of all kinds, half Japanese, half English, for the whole world, with cover songs and some original ones.

What is the group’s philosophy?

The concept is not to have an obligation to make music, but to play for fun. I don’t know how the public will react, if they will like it. At the moment we are not thinking about the sales that it will have or about making commercial music.

What did you think of Barcelona?

Before arriving in Spain, I saw a program on television about Gaudí, and I understood that the construction of the Sagrada Familia was done above all out of love for Gaudí and the people of Barcelona. The truth is that I wanted to see it once in my life, because in the whole world there is nothing quite like it.