Singer and composer Yoh Kamiyama performed his first overseas concert on the first day of the British convention Hyper Japan Manchester last year. The artist also shared an insight into his style, vision for music, and production process during a press conference on the same day.
While Kamiyama-san’s roots trace back to his days as a Vocaloid producer, he started his career under the artistic name “Yoh Kamiyama” in 2018. The same year he gained popularity with the song “YELLOW” on YouTube, which as of May 2026 has more than 169 million views.
Following the success of YELLOW, he composed and performed many anime songs, including Gunjou for Drifting Dragons (2020), Hoozuki for The Demon Prince of Momochi House (2024), Endroll for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Separation (2023), and Kimi ni Naretara for With You, Our Love Will Make It Through (2025).
He’s also well-known in the anime community for “Iro Kousui,” the opening theme of the first season of Horimiya (2021). Composed and written by him, the song represents Kamiyama-san’s signature pop and electronic sounds, with a melancholic vibe that fits romantic stories.
Currently Yoh Kamiyama blends his personal artistic career with composing and writing lyrics for other artists. You can learn more about him in the press conference below.
Portions of this press conference have been lightly edited for clarity. This press conference was conducted with the assistance of an interpreter.
Q: This is your first time in Manchester. What is your impression of the city?
A: The atmosphere of the city is very stylish. It’s a wonderful place, just as I imagined. This is also the first time I have come to Europe.
Q: When you perform in a country with a different language, is there anything you want to try?
A: I have only performed in Asia, but I’m always mindful of conveying my message through music. I make sure to look the audience in the eye and try to perform in the best way, even with the language barrier. Music is the thing that unites everybody around the world.
Q: Is there a British musician you would like to learn from? How do they influence you?
A: Oasis and Radiohead. I also like the band The Horrors. When I was in a band, I was in a genre called shoegazer, so I was influenced by both Radiohead and My Bloody Valentine. But now, I’m more influenced by groups like The Chemical Brothers and other groups who use electronic instruments.
Q: Were you surprised by how many different countries really appreciated your music?
A: I was very surprised. I don’t make music in English, so I was shocked and happy to discover that the music I made in a Japanese-style melody and lyrics was appreciated overseas. My music is inspired by Kayokyoku, a Japanese genre [known also as Shōwa-era pop].
Q: How do you feel about the influence of social media as a means of connecting music and listeners?
A: “Yellow” was a song I released originally on YouTube. It was a combination of illustrations, video, and music, which was especially listened to by Japanese people. But as time went by, people who didn’t know me discovered “Yellow” on TikTok and started spreading my music. That’s how I noticed how modern music was spreading. Thanks to this engagement, Yellow became the song that reached the most people overseas.
Q: Compared to when you make your own solo songs, do you change your mind or change your attitude when producing an anime song?
A: It depends on the anime. Basically, when I make a song for an anime, I want to make music that can convey the worldview of the original work. I make music that amplifies the emotions that fans feel for the work.
Q: Did that give you more confidence in your own style, or did you ever think of tweaking and tailoring your music style for other people?
A: I’ve never thought of my music as focused on being popular. I’m happy making music that makes as many people as possible happy. What I found unique about Japanese music composition is the harmony of the melodies and the lyrics we use, which tends to be very emotional. I find it interesting how people from overseas enjoy that style.
Q: This year, you collaborated with vocalist Yosuke of SPYAIR on “Subarashi Sekai,“ the theme song for the 10th anniversary of the game Fate/Grand Order (2025). Why did you combine melancholic sounds with a catchy, upbeat vibe? How do you strike a balance between these contrasting elements in a single piece?
A: There are a lot of different movements in one song. It’s a combination of intense and gentle movements. I think that’s a characteristic of anime songs. Since Fate/Grand Order is both a game and an anime, I intentionally made it feel like an anisong.
Q: Your most recent venture is “Kimi Ni Naretara,” the ending song of the anime With You, Our Love Will Make It Through (2025). Similar to your performance for the anime Horimiya, the story features a high school romance with a fantasy aspect. Do you prefer to work on nostalgic songs? Why do you think these narratives resonate so strongly with adult audiences?
A: Regarding the first question, when I compose a song that I’ll also perform, I try to write it to make sure that I can bring out some reality since it’s coming from myself. If you feel my music is nostalgic, it could signify my personality. About the second question, I tried to create an emotion or atmosphere that I personally felt during my high school years, and other people may too. It makes me happy that you can feel that from the song.
Q: In previous interviews, you have commented on the inherent degree of freedom in pop music. Building on that, what unique message does Japanese pop music convey to overseas audiences that other genres might not?
A: That’s right. I think the most distinctive feature of Japanese pop music is that the chord progression is very elaborate. I think that’s the biggest difference from Western music. Japanese pop music tends to be more dramatic and more story-oriented, too. We try to make sure the audience can feel the story from the song itself, like reading a novel.
Q: We are curious about your vision of music as a way to connect with people. Why do anime songs resonate so much with overseas audiences, even when they do not fully comprehend the lyrics?
A: Since last year [2024], I’ve been performing outside Japan. When I saw people enjoying my music, I reflected a lot on it. I realized that there are people all over the world who like my music just as much as I do. There is something that can be conveyed or reach the audience, even if the language or the place where they’re born is different.
Q: If someone were going to make a video game about you, what sort of video game would you like it to be?
A: I grew up playing RPGs like Final Fantasy, so I’d like something similar.
Q: Would you like to do the music composition for the soundtrack?
A: I would love to do that. I would really love to do that. It’s my dream to make a video game soundtrack. I’ve composed for a TV drama, but a video game soundtrack would be great.
We want to extend our thanks to Hyper Japan Manchester’s organization to be part of Yoh Kamiyama’s first concert and press conference in Europe.
If you want to have the opportunity to enjoy your favorite Japanese’s artists, don’t miss the upcoming Hyper Japan edition in London on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th July at Olympia London. Tickets are already available, and you can choose your preferred date.
In the meantime, you can read our interview with singer Yukka at Hyper Japan Manchester 2025!
Photos courtesy of Hyper Japan Festival organization.
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