Wakako Kaku

Wakako Kaku’s debut as a lyricist was simultaneous with her graduation from Waseda University, and many of her works were used in CDs by SMAP, Kumiko, and Ayaka Hirahara, among others. While collaborating with artists in many fields, such as architecture, music, dance, art, and photography, she pioneered an original field called “performative story-poems” and continues to perform all over the world. In 2001 she won the Japan Record Grand Prize and Gold Prize, for the lyrics to "Always, Anytime” (music/voice Yumi Kimura), the theme song of the animated film "Spirited Away." She was in charge of the story development, direction (with Shuntaro Tanikawa) and scriptwriting of “Yahchaika,” first shown in the summer of 2008. She contributed the lyrics for the opening theme song of the film "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea." Among her many writings are poetry collections such as Zero ni naru karada and Umi no yo na otona ni naru, as well as essays, and translations of picture books for children.

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