Kanae Nozawa

ERHU, VOCAL

Japanese Erhu Player

I was the first Japanese erhu (Chinese violin) player to debut from a major record label in Japan in 2007.

I mainly perform music that I have composed myself, inspired by nature and interaction with people.

When creating music for the erhu, I would like to approach it not as a Chinese folk instrument, but express a Japanese sensibility.

Following this ideal, I have written more than 60 songs and released nine albums since my debut.

One of them is a vocal album, as I love singing apart from playing the erhu.

I have collaborated with artists from all over the world. For example, the internationally acclaimed Spanish bagpipe player Carlos Nunez performed a tune for one of my albums, and the Finnish composer Niko Pihlaja has written songs for me.

Recently, through YouTube, I have had even more opportunities to collaborate with performers from various countries by making performance videos.

These experiences have influenced my music very positively, and I hope to engage with such collaborations also in the future.

I have also had the delight to participate in the recording of various works as a collaborating musician.

For example, I have played erhu for music for popular Japanese animations such as Naruto, songs by Enka (traditional Japanese popular music) singers, J-Pop singers, and the popular Japanese singer LiSA's song for the ending theme of an anime.

Apart from music, I love various creative activities, so I also shoot and edit my own videos.

I would like to continue my musical activities while being inspired by new human encounters and environments.

Music Video

Arkadia

Music: Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement: Tamiya Terashima

I made this music video for a song that was inspired by beautiful scenery and people. We shot the video in the beautiful ocean of Miyako Island, Okinawa 🎥.

約束の朝 /Promised morning

Music Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement : Tamiya Terashima

This song was written for the last scene of the album, which is a story called Arkadia.

I wrote the song about the protagonist's decision to accept her fate and set out on her journey.

風の旅人 Kaze no tabibito /Wind Traveler

From 1st vocal album 「空の記憶/ The Memories of sky」

Lyrics: Goro Matsui

Music: Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement: Tamiya Terashima

This video was shot in Finland.

The song was written with the famous Japanese lyricist Goro Matsui.

そんなあなたでいいのです Sonna anata de iinodesu

From 1st vocal album 「空の記憶/ The Memories of sky」

Lyrics: Goro Matsui

Music: Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement: Tamiya Terashima

This video was shot in Finland.

The song was written with the famous Japanese lyricist Goro Matsui.

This song tells you that it's okay to be you just the way you are.

流浪の花 Rurou no hana

From BRAVE~Era of the planet~

Music : Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement : Tamiya Terashima

ancient flame

Erhu Voice: Kanae Nozawa

Music, Arrangement: Niko Pihlaja

Finnish composer Niko Pihlaja wrote this piece for the erhu.

Performance (Video at the concert)

Gekkou (Moonlight)

Music: Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement: Maki Kirioka

The Legend of Wind from Nausicaä

Music：Joe Hisaishi

Arrangement：Maki Kirioka

Hotaru (Firefly)

Music: Kanae Nozawa

Arrangement: Maki Furugaki

Inochi no Namae (The Name of Life) from Spirited Away

Lyrics：Wakako Kaku Music：Joe Hisaishi

Arrangement：Maki Kirioka

Works

Two new vocal tracks to be released

Drop of Memory

February 22nd, 2024

Drop of Memory" written by Chie Sawaguchi and composed by Kanae Nozawa, who created one of Nozawa's most famous songs, "Sennen no Koi".

The song has an irregular beat, yet catchy melody and epic worldview lyrics that stuck in your head.

Azure Sky

February 22nd, 2024

"Habataki no Tori" was composed by Takeshi Ike, known for composing the Dragon Ball theme song "Maka Fushigi Adventure! The lyrics were written by Maki Kirioka, a multi-talented composer, arranger, lyricist, and artist, and newly written by Kanae Nozawa, featuring her soft voice.

Tamiya Terashima, who has worked on numerous films, animations, and operas, sound-produced and arranged the song, which features the gentle sounds of guitar and strings.

7th Album 「Arkadia」

March 24th, 2021

□Making Video

〜The third and final album in the series〜

Kanae Nozawa, an erhu player, has been fascinated by the erhu, a Chinese folk instrument that fascinates listeners with its unique and lustrous sound. This is the 7th album of Kanae Nozawa who is active in a wide range of fields. With composer Tamiya Terashima as the sound producer, the album tells a story like a movie and a world of grand scale through music." This is a full-length work that harmonizes the "erhu played as if singing" with a band, strings, and folk instruments!

Track list

Track List

1. Traveler

2. Beautiful world

3. Journey

4. 優しさの種 / The Seeds of Kindness

5. 狭間の刻 / In The Deep Gorge

6. 秘密箱 / Karakuri Box

7. Kizuna

8. Aurora

9. Destiny

10. 約束の朝 / Promised Morning

11. Arkadia

1st Vocal Album 「空の記憶 The Memory of Sky」

December.1st, 2018

〜A Story of the Heart Connected by the Sky〜

This is the first vocal album by Kanae Nozawa, who has made her debut as an erhu player 11 years ago, and has also made her presence known through her singing. She expresses the world of words written by lyricists such as Goro Matsui, Yuriko Mori, Eiko Xu, and Takahiro Maeda with her soft, erhu-like voice. The sound is produced by composer Tamiya Terashima, who has also collaborated on his own erhu album. This is a collaboration album with a gorgeous team of artists, including newly written songs.

The album contains a total of 10 songs: 7 vocal songs and 3 instrumental songs.

Track List

1. The memory of sky（instrumental）

2. Wind traveller

3. Jasmine Bojo　

4. Hotaru

5. Road of Memories（instrumental）　

6. Owarinaki jyunrei　

7. Kokoro no ito

8. Inoru youni tsubomi ha ue wo muku

9. Komorebi（instrumental）

10. Sonna anata de iino desu

6th Album 「BRAVE era of the planet」

June 9th, 2017

□MAKING VIDEO

This is the sixth original album by erhu player Kanae Nozawa. The sound producer is Tamiya Terashima, who is known for his film music such as "Gedo Senki" and "Han ochi" as well as his previous work. The story played by Kanae Nozawa on the erhu is beautiful and powerful, and you can feel the new world of the erhu. With the participation of various artists and performers, this is an ambitious album with a sound worth listening to.

Track List

1. Historia

2．Forest in Fantasia　

3．Blessing　

4．Ocean　

5．霧の舟 /Misty Shallop

6．Labyrinth　

7．Brave　

8．祈り〜prayer〜　

9．芽吹き / Mebuki

10．流浪の花 /Rurou no hana

11.　Era of the planet

5th Album 「PLANET」

July 9th, 2014

This is an ambitious work with Tamiya Terashima, the composer known for "Gedo Senki", as the sound producer.

The various landscapes encountered by a traveler who lands on a planet are expressed in music of a grand scale. In order to express the sense of the world of each of the songs in the collection, strings, numerous ethnic instruments, a large chorus group, and other sounds of nature were included. This is the first album by the Planet Terra Project, a group of domestic and international creators!

Track List

1. Planet　

2．Shizuku　

3．水月 / Suigetsu

4．星の祭 / Festival of planet

5．Carnelian

6．風の丘を越えて / Over the Wind Hill

7．Ancient Flame　

8．River　

9．Ends of the West Continent　

10．光の道 / Hikari no michi

Erhu played Japanese traditional song「Kokoro no Melody」

December.17, 2012

「Furusato」「Sakura」「Momiji」・・・

Japanese melodies played by erhu. Contains 13 songs including 2 originals!

Track List

1．Kokoro（Original）　

2．Takeda Lullaby

3．Sousyunhu　　

4．Furusato

5．Sakura　

6．Oboro Zukiyo

7．Ame Furi Otsuki

8．Hamabe No Uta　

9．Natsu No Omoide　

10．Sato No Aki　

11．Momiji　

12．Yuki No Furu Machi Wo　

13．SYunka Syutou（Original）

4th Album 「Gift」

March.16th, 2011

This album was created by Kanae Nozawa to express her gratitude to the people who listen to her music.

Track List

1. Sora He!　

2. Tabidachi No Asa　

3. Jinchouge　

4. Madobe Ni Furu Ame　

5. ONE　

6. Spain　

7. Rasen No Sora　

8. GIFT

3rd Album 「Canary」

November.11th, 2009

Kanae Nozawa plays the erhu as if singing. Her third album is even more beautiful and brilliant.

Track List

1. Ryusei

2. jiku Hikou　

3. Chamomile　

4. Syounen Jidai　

5. Ye Lai Xiang　

6. Clap your hands　

7. SHAKE!

8. Habanera

9. Kazahana　

10. Ajisai Dori

11.I Need to Be in Love

12. Sennen No Koi

13. eternal flow　

14. Toki Wo Wataru Kaze

2nd Album 「Gekka〜Sincerely〜」

March.12th, 2008

The word "Gekka" means moonlight. Moonlight shining gently in the clear night sky... Kanae Nozawa, who magically manipulates the erhu, a symbol of healing tones, brings you an album that pours out countless love to dear people, things, and hearts.

Track List

1. Jyun Ai　

2. sakura　

3. inspire　

4. Scarborough Fair　

5. Kaze No Kanata He

6.　Nada Sousou

7.　Hikouki Gumo　

8.　Adventure　

9.　When you wish Upon a Star　

10.　Sosyu Yakyoku　

11.　Going　