Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko, born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子 Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer born in Tokyo and raised in Aomori and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s. She has been called "one of the major musical talents of the Japanese popular music world", and her vocals and singing style have been compared to British singer Kate Bush.
She has recorded with Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as with Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, The Chieftains, Lyle Mays, members of Little Feat, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Kenji Omura, Gil Goldstein, Toninho Horta, Mino Cinelu, Jeff Bova, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, David Rhodes, Bill Frisell, Thomas Dolby, Toninho Horta, the band Quruli, Rei Harakami as Yanokami and her daughter Miu Sakamoto.
映画「SUPER FOLK SONG」のリヴァイヴァル・ヒットもあり、新たな弾き語り作品の登場を待ち遠しく思っていたら届きましたよ、ありがたいことに。この第5弾にもバカラック&デヴィッド作の"Wives and Lovers"やYUKI"汽車に乗って"など、珠玉のカヴァーがズラリ。従来よりもオリジナル曲が多めなのが特徴で、なかでもあの名曲のその後を描いた"SUPER FOLK SONG RETURNED"は笑えて沁みる。