The British convention Hyper Japan held its first edition in Manchester last year, and Anime Corner made a stop in the city to celebrate this milestone. Among the diverse musical performances assembled at the event, Jpop singer-songwriter Yukka (ゆっか) took the spotlight for a concert on the last day of the event.
The artist has been touring Europe and the UK for quite some time, performing in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries. She even performed at the French convention Japan Expo Paris in 2023, where her CDs sold out during her appearance.
During Hyper Japan Manchester, we had the chance to meet Yukka and talk about her rising musical career and style.
Portions of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity. This interview was conducted with the assistance of an interpreter.
Q: This is your second time in the UK, after 7 years. How does it feel to be back in the UK?
A: I’m so happy to come back to the UK. I was happy to see English people in Manchester, which is a nice city, and I enjoyed myself on stage.
Q: You have been touring Europe for some time. You performed at Japan Expo Paris in 2023. How was that experience?
A: I went to the UK seven years ago, but under another artist’s name. As Yukka, Japan Expo Paris was my first time visiting Europe. Then, many people in France and other countries invited me for additional concerts around Europe.
Q: One of your collaborations is a project with French artist Cookiesan, titled Differan. How did this collaboration come to be?
A: It’s a song that mixes Japanese and French lyrics. The theme is about how everyone is different and should be proud of it. I’m happy that both Japanese and French audiences loved the song.
Q: Did you meet Cookiesan before the collaboration? How did you contact each other?
A: He contacted me and proposed the music. I liked the proposal, so I wrote the Japanese lyrics. When both Japanese and French lyrics were finished, I traveled to Paris for the recording. That was the first day I met him in person.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My main genre is Jpop. I’m a singer-songwriter too. That’s why I value composing a good sound with rhyme, and then I focus on the writing process. When performing live, I always play the guitar.
Q: What are your major musical influences in music? Do you have any favorite Western musicians?
A: I love Ed Sheeran. He writes with such good rhythm. From Japan, my favorite artist is Kenshi Yonezu, whom I have followed since my high school days. His lyrics are interesting and poetic.
Q: Thanks to anime, the overseas audience discovered and connected with many Japanese singers. Do you have any favorite anime that inspired you?
A: I love Dragon Ball, Attack of Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist. When I get back home, I often watch anime before sleep. Recently, I watched The Summer Hikaru Died.
Q: Right now, what are your current career goals?
A: I want to do a live tour in Europe. I have traveled around many places already, but I want to properly visit each country. I also want to perform an anime song.
Q: Do you have any preferred anime genres that you would like to perform a song?
A: I want to share a lot of energy with the audience. For example, a “hero” anime, or an action-packed anime.
Q: What was your sensation when you first started singing in Europe?
A: I felt so much energy from European fans! I was surprised when I performed at Japan Expo for the first time. Thanks to the audience, I’m happy to be on the stage.
We want to extend our thanks to the Hyper Japan staff for the opportunity to attend the event, and to Yukka for giving her time to talk with us. You can listen to and purchase Yukka’s latest single, Yurei Railway, at this link.
Yukka’s social media:
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