MiladyConfetti meets anime singing icon Yoko Takahashi at Anime NYC
What does it take to sustain a career in music for over 30 years? This past weekend at Anime NYC, I was honored with the opportunity to interview and listen to the iconic Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi, best known for her work in anime soundtracks, as she spoke about her career, maintaining her voice, love for music, and what it takes to maintain a career in the music industry for over three decades.
Takahashi’s debut occurred immediately after the “burst” of the Japanese economy in the early 1990s, making it a challenging time to enter the music industry. Her musical training as a young girl initially led her to want to pursue an opera career, but the stars had bigger plans for Takahashi.
After years of performing as a backup singer for up-and-coming legends like Yumi Matsutôya and Toshinobu Kubota, Takahashi released her first album Pizzicato. In 1995, after releasing more studio albums, an opportunity arose through one of her mentors for her to use her song Cruel Angel’s Thesis as the opening song for the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. Thirty years later, it remains one of Takahashi’s most popular songs to date.
At Anime NYC 2025, I had the opportunity to listen to Yoko Takahashi speak on her harrowing career over the last three decades and ask her questions. She was a wealth of knowledge. The interview kicked off with me inquiring about Takahashi’s vocal training. As a fellow vocalist, I know from personal experience the challenges of training and maintaining one’s voice over the years. Takahashi credited the core of her training to vocal practices she learned from her primary school choral teachers. Much of the foundational training she received then is still something she does to this day to keep her voice in peak shape.
With the thirtieth anniversary of Evangelion this year, the opening theme song Cruel Angel’s Thesis and the anime itself have maintained their popularity and made a notable impact in the industry. Takahashi’s relationship with Cruel Angel’s Thesis over the years has broadened as the audience who engages with the series has also grown. She stated that the demographic for Evangelion has continuously expanded over the years. During the Coronavirus lockdown, people had the opportunity to re-watch series that brought them joy, or watch anime series for the first time, which expanded the fan base of the series. Also in Japan, the series being played constantly on TV also contributed to the fan base’s constant growth as more generations got to watch the series.
When reflecting on the series and people’s consistent love for Cruel Angel’s Thesis, she explained that when people watch anime, they are entirely present with the show and what it is depicting. Neon Genesis Evangelion’s messaging is timeless, and it has impacted so many fans. Takahashi went on to explain that when people experience an anime for the first time or rewatch a series they are fond of, it is a thing of the moment and completely encapsulates the viewer, and that is something that she has realized over the years as more people fall in love with the series, and by extension Cruel Angel’s Thesis.
I was curious, because of how beloved the series is whether Takahashi had heard any covers or remixes of Cruel Angel’s Thesis? It was stated by her team that she had not heard any covers in an official capacity, so she had no comment on fans making their own unofficial renditions of one of her most popular songs, which was disappointing to hear.
Before the interview concluded, Takahashi spoke on how the music industry has changed since her debut and the hard work that goes into maintaining a music career. Before studying under Kabuta and becoming his backup singer, she always had a love for music and put a lot of hard work into her craft. She said the reason why she has had a successful career is not only because of the hard work she put into being a great singer, but also because she put effort into the things she is not good at.
“Character and careers are defined not by what one is good at, but by the consistency of getting better at the things one is not good at. The music industry and being a singer is a job that requires hard work.” She left the room with advice to up-and-coming singers who are interested in a music career to polish their skills, and to repeatedly focus on the skills they are weaker at to become better artists and get results in the industry.
As a singer, creator, and writer, I took Takahashi’s words to heart. As a content creator, those on the outside looking in may have the perception that the work we do is ‘easy’ when, more often than not, creators often make what we do look easy, while knowing the challenges that come with trying to ‘make it’. It is a job, with its own challenges, worries, and drawbacks like any other job in any industry, except in the artistic fields, YOU are the brand, the product, the face, the editor… essentially the EVERYTHING. I felt encouraged by Takahashi’s wisdom to keep going and where to put my efforts to be successful!
As a vocalist and young anime watcher, I have always been a fan of Yoko Takahashi’s work. When I went out for the elite choir at the schools I attended or musical theatre, I sang Cruel Angel’s Thesis or Takahashi’s version of Fly Me to the Moon. I am proud to say I made the elite choir each time I tried out!
From a young age, Takahashi’s influence has been with me, so getting the opportunity to speak with her in person is not only surreal but feels like a full-circle moment. I want to thank Yoko Takahashi, her team, and the folks at Anime NYC for the opportunity to interview a living legend.
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