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Akiko Yano was born in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Japan. She started playing piano at the age of three, and to take on her musical career, she moved to Tokyo alone when she was fifteen, entering into Aoyama Gakuin High School. Since then, she started doing sessions at jazz clubs, and with her skillful piano, she became popular among other musicians. Around 1972, she started playing as a member for a band with roots in Tin Pan Alley.

Akiko recorded her debut album, “Japanese Girl”, largely in Los Angeles with Lowell George and Little Feat. When it was released in 1976 many reputed her to be a “girl with a musical wonder.”

She then began collaborating with Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). They continued to play on her next recording projects and invited Akiko to join them on two of their worldwide tours. Akiko expanded her musical collaborations with YMO on her subsequent CD releases.

Akiko continued to release CDs joined by JAPAN and Pat Metheny and performed on albums by Thomas Dolby and other artists. In 1990 she relocated to New York where she collaborated and toured with some of the world's most renowned musicians including The Chieftains, Toninho Horta and Jeff Bova on his project THE HAMMONDS.

Akiko’s credits extend beyond her album projects. The famed Japanese animation film company, Studio Ghibli, who are known for works such as “Princess Mononoke” and “Spirited Away”, showcased her. Akiko composed the music for the film "My Neighbors The Yamadas”, and performed the sound effects using only her voice for two short films "Yadosagashi" and "Mizugumo Monmon" by animation director, Hayao Miyazaki. Both films were shown at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. More recently in 2008, Akiko performed as a voiceover actress on “Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea” as Ponyo’s sisters. In addition, Akiko composed music for Toei's animated feature, "Atashin'chi," and piano-based soundtrack for the film "Tagatameni," featuring actor Tadanobu Asada.

She tours Japan annually on her "Satogaeru Concert," and continues her piano solo “Demae Concert” series, enthusing her Japanese audiences. Akiko also appears regularly at major outdoor concerts such as the Fuji Rock Festival, Rock in Japan Festival, and Rising Sun Rock Festival.

As an international artist, Akiko has toured Europe extensively, performing at The Montreux Jazz Festival, Café de la Danse, and Cite de la Musique in Paris. In 2002, she also performed a week of special concerts at Pizza Express in London. In the United States, Akiko has performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and New York City where she periodically plays concerts throughout the year at the famous Joe's Pub at the New York Public Theater. Akiko’s concert series have been supported by a growing number of enthusiastic fans.

In recent years she has appeared at the Blue Note New York as a guest performer for Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer and performed as part of a trio with Anthony Jackson on bass and Cliff Almond on drums in concerts at the Blue Note Tokyo since 2003. In 2008, New York guitarist, Marc Ribot, (who also appears on her “akiko” album produced by T Bone Burnett) joined Akiko for sold-out shows at the Blue Note Tokyo.

August 2007 marked her second debut as “yanokami” a pop unit with rei harakami, an electronic musician and sought-after producer. In March 2008, they released “yanokamick” an English version of their debut album, and appeared at Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore.

To date, Akiko has released 26 original albums, which 3 albums were released from Nonesuch Records: AKIKO YANO, a compilation album selected by Bob Hurwitz and John Zorn (1990), LOVE LIFE (1993) and PIANO NIGHTLY (1996).

Akiko will release her 27th original album “akiko” produced by T Bone Burnett in fall 2008. The album was mainly recorded in Los Angeles, California.