2Y's Yuko Yabe & Yoko Toyokawa

• 1 Kesorap 04:48
• 2 Lotus 04:51
• 3 Bunun — Sacred Ascent 04:38
• 4 Acikara 04:33
• 5 Sinrici hawehe〜Voices of Our Ancestors〜 03:30
• 6 Ikomososo 03:59
• 7 Wind Ripple 02:14
• 8 Pehe utar rimse 05:04
• 9 Tsutau 05:05
• 10 Korpokkur 〜Under the Butterbur Leaves 〜 02:32
• Total Runtime 41:14

Info for 2Y's

Yuko Yabe composer and pianist inspired by the nature creates sounds and Yoko Toyokawa, vocalist projecting the culture and traditions of her Ainu roots—a people who coexist with nature—into the modern era.

The album 2Y's was woven together through the resonance of Yuko and Yoko sharing a common vision of symbiosis with nature.

1. Kesorap
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition_ Yuko Yabe

Kesorap is an imaginary spirit bird of the Ainu. It resembles a peacock. The poem draws inspiration from Yukie Chiri's sacred song “The God of Kesorap.” In the iomante (spirit-sending) ritual, it departs, embracing an inaw (wooden sacred banner), to journey to the land of the kamuy (gods) where its mother awaits.

2. Lotus
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yuko Yabe

Lyrics: questioning the meaning of life and one's own existence. Suffering from society's notions of correctness, lamenting one's own weakness, yet singing “Who am I?” while still living strongly in the present.

3. Bunun — Sacred Ascent
Composition: Bunun Tribe, Yuko Yabe

We offer our deepest respect and gratitude to the Bunun Tribe Cultural Foundation of Taiwan, who provided the eight-part choir. We offer our deepest respect and gratitude to everyone at the Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm. This music was born from the experience of encountering their prayers and resonant sounds.

4. Acikara
　　　　　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yuko Yabe


This song depicts searching for a lost treasure within a Cise (traditional Ainu dwelling).The final lyrics are: “Something precious. My treasure. What is it? Sitopera (a wooden paddle for stirring dumplings).”

5. Sinrici hawehe〜Voices of Our Ancestors〜
　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yoko Toyokawa

Long ago, when the Ainu gathered, they would begin singing by tapping the lid of the sintoko (cooking pot) beside the hearth to keep the beat. This would start the ukouk (round singing), and as the mood grew more and more lively, they would begin to dance. These lyrics were created imagining such scenes of our ancestors.

6. Ikomososo
　　　 Composition: Yuko Yabe

7. Wind Ripple
Lyrics: Rintaro Uchida
Composition: Yuko Yabe

This piece was composed inspired by the poem “Wind Ripple” found in the latest picture book “Friends” by picture poet Rintaro Uchida.

8. Pehe utar rimse
　　　　　　　

Composition: Yoko Toyokawa Satoshi Kawamoto Yuko Yabe

Rimse means dance. The sound of the droplets seemed to be joyfully feasting within the cave. I add my voice as if to be quietly included in that feast.

9. Tsutau
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Kiyu
Composition: Yuko Yabe

10. Korpokkur Under the Butterbur Leaves
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yuko Yabe

The lyrics tell of an old man korpokkur (a being dwelling under butterbur leaves) who, unable to leave his shelter because the rain won't stop, grumbles about it, and eventually just says, “Guess I'll sleep.”

Yuko Yabe, piano
Yoko Toyokawa, vocals

No biography found.

Booklet for 2Y's