Kanon Wakeshima debuted on May 28, 2008, with the release of the single Still Doll, which functioned as the ending theme for the anime adaptation of Vampire Knight. A Tokyo-born musician, she maintains a multifaceted career as a composer, singer, and cellist, often integrating her classical instrumental training into the production of contemporary Japanese pop and theme music.
Early Musical Development
Wakeshima began her formal training on the cello at the age of three. During her junior high school years, she established an ensemble group before shifting her focus toward the baroque section at age fifteen. By the time she reached sixteen, she started composing original music and experimenting with vocal performances, eventually debuting these combined skills during a high school festival.
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Following a successful audition for Sony Music Entertainment, she signed with the subsidiary label DefStar Records. Her debut studio album, Shinshoku Dolce, arrived on February 11, 2009. That same year, she expanded her international presence by performing at the Japan Expo in Paris and Otakon in Baltimore. She also staged her first art exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, California, in July 2009.
Collaborations and Touring
In 2010, she partnered with An Cafe bassist Kanon to form the duo Kanon x Kanon. The project released several tracks for anime series, including Calendula Requiem for Shiki and Koi no Doutei for 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku. The duo engaged in an extensive touring schedule, performing in Anaheim, London, and Hong Kong, culminating in a European tour at the end of 2011.
Discography and Instrumentation
Wakeshima maintains a distinct collection of four cellos, each with a specific name and purpose. Her primary performance instrument is a white cello named Mikazuki-san. She uses a red cello called Nanachie-san for most music videos, while a brown instrument, Yaeharu-san, serves for recording and practice. Her collection is completed by a silver cello titled Momotose. Her discography includes albums such as Lolitawork Libretto, Tsukinami, and Luminescence Q.E.D.
Fast facts
- Born: 1988, Tokyo
- Occupations: Composer, singer, cellist
- Debut Single: Still Doll (2008)
- Duo Name: Kanon x Kanon
- Performance Cello: Mikazuki-san
- Citizenship: Japan
Questions readers ask
What is the name of Kanon Wakeshima’s practice cello?
Her practice and recording cello is a brown instrument named Yaeharu-san, which she has owned since middle school.
Which anime themes did Kanon x Kanon provide?
The duo recorded Calendula Requiem for Shiki and Koi no Doutei for 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku.
Achievements
- Instruments: cello and voice
- Genres: J-pop, baroque pop and neoclassical dark wave
