Did you miss anything last year? Here's a comprehensive recap!

And also, best music wishes for 2016!

Releases

Despite the absence of any new anime project, there were 2 major releases in 2015:

Flowers Will Bloom Compilation Album
Release date: 2015, April 3
(all tracks composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

This album contains mostly unreleased arrangements of the song Flowers Will Bloom (花は咲く [Hana ha Saku]). My favorite tracks would be the 2 piano solos, the English lyrical version and the orchestral live version, but there's definitely one version for you!
Also note that your money will be donated to the affected areas of the 2011 earthquake.

Our Little Sister O.S.T.
Release date: 2015, June 10
(all tracks composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

This orchestra soundtrack has only 1 short song but overall the background music is great. If you saw the movie, which I highly recommend, you will love the tracks even more!

Besides, as usual she wrote or arranged a few songs here and there:

Yet (Clammbon, 12th single)
Release date: 2015, February 2
(all songs arranged by Yoko Kanno)

1pi (UNIQLO CM song)
Release date: 2015, July 15
(composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

Yamaidare Darlin' (May'n, Aquarion Logos OP1)
Release date: 2015, July 22
(1 song (karaoke incl. ) composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

Follow Me Up (Maaya Sakamoto, 9th album)
Release date: 2015, September 30
(1 song composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

Ponpara Pekoruna Papiyotta (5572320, 2th single)
Release date: 2015, October 5 (digital release)
(1 song composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

夜明けのロゴス (May'n, Aquarion Logos OP2)
Release date: 2015, December 16
(1 song (karaoke incl. ) composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno)

Unreleased

Besides two CM songs for Piano Inc. and a new Flowers Will Bloom version with May J., Yoko Kanno arranged a classical mash-up for a 360º movie concept project with Panasonic.

Hokuriku Shinkansen (JR East CM song)
First broadcast date: 2015, February 2
(composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno, vocals by Lister Elia)

"Flowers Will Bloom" ～ Love It ♡ Tōhoku Ver. ～ (campaign song)
First broadcast date: 2015, April 24
(composed and Arranged by Yoko Kanno, vocals by May J.)

odakyu days (Odakyu Electric Railway CM song)
First broadcast date: 2015, July 23
(composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno, vocals by Julia Shortreed)

A Song For You (Panasonic Technics C-700 series concept song)
First broadcast date: 2015, September 10
(arranged by Yoko Kanno,
performed by Kammerorchester der Münchner Philharmoniker)

On stage

She appeared in April as a special guest during the Maaya Sakamoto 20th Anniversary LIVE Follow Me at Saitama Super Arena where she performed a piano solo medley and played the piano on a few songs with Maaya.

DVDs and Blurays were released on November 25, 2015.

Gabriela Robin still hiding

Yoko Kanno's inner muse just wrote the 2 Aquarion Logos opening songs for May'n this year.

Let's hope she comes out from her hideout in 2016!

Origa passed away

It happened in January and took everyone by surprise. Origa, who performed many major songs written by Yoko Kanno, and also performed on stage at Seoul and Tokyo for Yoko Kanno biggest lives ever so far, passed away after struggling with a lung cancer. A special album was released later in 2015 featuring a special self-cover demo version of Inner Universe.

Upcoming Work

Chris Mosdell, an old lyricist friend with Yoko Kanno, gives us one hint about a song (temporarily?) entitled Clockwork Quick and Lightning Slow for a new anime project: