Looking back to December 2014, we revisit a high-profile collaboration involving one of Japan’s most iconic music artists, Hikaru Utada.
Interpreting the Music of a Legend
To celebrate her 15th anniversary, the tribute album “Utada Hikaru no Uta” (Songs of Utada Hikaru) was released, featuring covers by top musicians. Alongside the music, a special promotional project was launched where creators from various fields—designers, artists, and illustrators—were invited to visually interpret her songs.
Chosho Yabe was selected as one of these creators. Her assigned track was the hit song, “Wait & See ~Risk~”.
From “Risk” comes “Light”
How does one capture the essence of “Wait & See ~Risk~” in ink? The song speaks of overcoming fear, facing risks head-on, and trusting in the future.
Yabe chose not to write the song title, but to distill its message into a single character: “Light” (光 – Hikari). This character carries a dual meaning:
- The Artist: It is the Kanji for Hikaru Utada’s name.
- The Message: It symbolizes the hope and clarity found after navigating through risks and difficulties.
The resulting artwork features sharp, dynamic splashes of ink, visualizing the speed and strength required to break through barriers. It is a visual manifestation of the song’s driving beat and empowering lyrics.
Yabe Chosho Office
