From the archive, November 13, 2014: 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 — it is the kanji for Hikaru Utada's name, and it symbolizes the hope and clarity found after navigating through risks and difficulties.

Expressing a Diva's Spirit in Silent Ink

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 — a diva's spirit expressed in the silent world of calligraphy.

See more commissioned works on the ARTWORKS page.

For inquiries about calligraphy works inspired by music or themes, please feel free to contact me.