よよか
BIOGRAPHY
YOYOKA, a 16-year-old drummer, has been playing drums since she was 1 year old. Born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan, she began performing live at the age of 4, and at 8 years old, her drum cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” gained international attention when it was praised by Robert Plant.
She has appeared twice on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and is the youngest drummer ever listed among the “World’s Top 500 Drummers” by Drummerworld. She was also the youngest person ever included in Newsweek Japan’s “100 Japanese People the World Respects.”
She has performed with artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Tom Morello, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Fall Out Boy, and Jack Black. She has received praise from Ian Paice, Chad Smith, Bootsy Collins, Anderson .Paak, and Dave Grohl.
At age 8, she signed endorsement deals with Pearl, Zildjian and VIC FIRTH. She also recorded 18 tracks for the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster video game series and has appeared in global commercial campaigns for Nike, Moncler, Google, and UNIQLO.
In September 2022, she moved to the United States with her family to further pursue her passion for drumming and music; her family left their jobs, gave up their home, and ended their relationship with her Japanese agency—making many sacrifices to take this uncertain, no‑guarantee leap.
She first attended Oakland School for the Arts, taking advanced music classes, and later relocated to Los Angeles in June 2023 to focus more seriously on her career. In 2024, she signed an endorsement deal with drum manufacturer Ludwig.
In 2023, she also formed the jazz fusion band Ken Okada Group ft. YOYOKA, which has performed at numerous festivals and is currently working on its third original album.
She released her debut album “For Teen” in October 2024, featuring collaborations with Narada Michael Walden, members of Jamiroquai, and Marco Mendoza.
In July 2025, a surprise video of YOYOKA performing “Mr. Crowley” with Jack Black, Tom Morello, and the sons of Scott Ian was screened at Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert “Back to the Beginning” in Birmingham, UK. The video has since surpassed 11 million views on YouTube.
Later that month, she made a guest appearance at Tom Morello’s concert in Toronto, performing “Mr. Crowley” with Morello and “Limelight” with Alex Lifeson from Rush.
In just three months, YOYOKA accomplished a successful solo tour through Japan, New York, Toronto, and five countries across Europe.
In November 2025, YOYOKA began recording original music for YOBA, her new duo project with 10-year-old guitarist Bay Virgolino, a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. Their first original song is being produced by Rob Cavallo, the Grammy-winning producer.
YOYOKA Social Media
https://linktr.ee/YOYOKA
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2026 (Age 16)
August:
Performed with Yoyoka Family Band at “Ramble On at the Ranch.”
Performed with 𝓟𝓵𝓾𝓶 at the “GIRLACTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL” at Whisky A Go Go.
Donated copies of YOYOKA’s book, The Truth About a 15-Year-Old Japanese Girl Drummer’s Roots and Her Journey in America, published in May 2026, to 18 facilities in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan.
The “8K Premium Concert,” featuring a duo performance by YOYOKA & Ai Furusato, made its terrestrial television debut on NHK ETV (NHK Educational TV).
Performed with Late Autumn at “CAMP – THE NEXT GEN FEST” at The Underground Museum.
July:
Performed at “ULTIMATE JAM NIGHT Presents BACK IN BLACK” at the Whisky A Go Go.
Performed with The Only Bay Allstars at “Kids Rock For Kids + Brooklyn Music Lab in Times Square NYC with The Only Bay Allstars,” held in Times Square, New York City.
Appeared as a duo with Ai Furusato on NHK BS’s “8K Premium Concert.”
June:
Performed with Yoyoka Family Band and as the supporting drummer for Saxon Weiss at the Riviera Village Summer Festival, on the South Bay Music Connection Stage.
Performed with Yoyoka Family Band at Taste of Japan at Anaheim GardenWalk.
Performed at Ultimate Jam Night’s “MASTERS OF THE KEYS” at the Whisky A Go Go.
Held “YOYOKA Fan Meeting & Family Band Live” at GARRET udagawa in Shibuya, performing alongside Kaneaiyoyoka, WAKASA, Aoi MichellE, Akarin, Kanon Inazuki, Yoshi (Romantique Ojisan), KOSEI KIMIJIMA, and others.
Held a special talk event celebrating the release of YOYOKA’s first book at J-SQUARE SHINAGAWA.
May:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2026 at Tokyo International Forum Hall as part of The Music Park Orchestra, alongside ATARASHII GAKKO!, Eru Matsumoto, Ryota Kikuchi, KREVA, JUJU, Shosoin THE SHOW “Hikari” Session (Jumpei Otsuka, Sayo Komada, Yuka Nagasu, Hanako Nakamura, Takuya Koketsu, Juzan Kasahara), Ai Takamatsu, Hibiya Broadway (Yoshio Inoue, Rio Asumi, Hiroki Miura), Ayaka Hirahara, and Naotaro Moriyama.
At the Hibiya Library & Museum, held the YOYOKA × Mino talk session “The Reality of Taking on the World — Moving to the U.S. at 12: What I Saw and What I Want to Share”, as well as “Let’s Enjoy Drumming with YOYOKA!”, a drum workshop for beginners.
Held a YOYOKA Drum Workshop & Session at Studio 246 Kyoto Omiya L Studio.
Performed as a duo with Ai Furusato at WEAVE! 2026.
Released the digital single “近未来 (Near Future)” as YOYOKA featuring Futures Band (YOYOKA, Natsushi, Shio, Kengo, Akarin, Ryusei).
April:
Selected as a 2026 Yamaha Music Support Program Scholarship Recipient.
March:
Returned to Japan for recording sessions.
Performed showcases in Austin, Texas.
February:
Recorded nearly 10 million total views across social media in one month.
January:
Performed at The NAMM Show 2026, collaborating with Tiffany and Dug Pinnick.
2025 (Age 15)
December:
Performance at The Baked Potato reached 6.2 million views.
August:
First European Tour (London, Barcelona, Switzerland, Germany, Bulgaria). Collaborated with Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) and Nandi Bushell.
July:
Appeared in the “Mr. Crowley” video premiered at Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert “Back to the Beginning” in the UK, alongside Jack Black, Roman Morello, and Revel Ian. The video was directed by Tom Morello. She was the only Japanese artist involved in this historic concert.
Performed in New York at venues including Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End, and DROM with PANGEA, Ai Furusato and YOYOKA, and Yoyoka Family Band.
Performed in Toronto, Canada with Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Tom Morello.
Performed in Canada at The Black Swan Tavern and Biltmore Theatre with The Bay All Stars and other collaboration bands.
Performed with the Yoyoka Family Band at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa.
June:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2025.
Held solo concert at Shibuya duo MUSIC EXCHANGE.
May:
Performed at the Oakland Coliseum (50,000 capacity) for Oakland Roots.
April:
Featured in the English textbook Here We Go!.
Released live album LIVE AT ALVAS.
January:
Charity livestream for LA wildfires.
Performed at “Ultimate NAMM Night” at Anaheim Arena.
2024 (Age 14)
October:
Released first solo album “For Teen”.
Sold-out birthday/album release concert at The Bourbon Room (Hollywood).
August:
Entered high school in the U.S.
Released session with Simon Phillips.
Released album “Young and Brave” with Ken Okada Group.
July:
Headlined “Utah Arts Festival.”
Received the “Rising Star Award” from the Japan America Society of Southern California.
June:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2024.
Participated in Berklee College of Music Percussion Summer Program.
Full scholarship student at Musicians Institute (MI) Summer Shot.
April:
Released “Hello Sunshine featuring Rachel West.”
March:
Held the first U.S. “YOYOKA Drum Workshop” in Austin, Texas.
Guest appearance with Led Zeppagain.
January:
Charity livestream for Noto Peninsula earthquake.
Performed at The NAMM Show 2024.
2023 (Age 13)
December:
Performed at Narada Michael Walden’s Christmas concert. Received the “Narada’s Best Young Drummer of the Year Award” from Narada Michael Walden.
October:
Performed at Mary Morello’s 100th birthday party with Jack Black. Spoke at TEDxSapporo 2023.
August:
Drummer for MIYAVI at Japan House LA.
June:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2023 with Tokiko Kato and Kaela Kimura. Held “YOYOKA JAPAN TOUR 2023.” Moved to Los Angeles.
May:
Debuted “Ken Okada Group featuring YOYOKA” in San Jose.
April:
Performed at SF Cherry Blossom Festival.
March:
Performed with Alanis Morissette at the “Notes & Words” charity event.
February:
First sold-out solo concert at ROKKO Restaurant (California). Session with MIYAVI in San Francisco.
January:
Featured on NHK WORLD “Direct Talk.”
2022 (Age 12)
November:
Moncler’s 70th anniversary campaign.
Documentaries aired on MBS and TBS.
October:
Based in Oakland, CA.
Guest drummer for UNITED RAGE in LA.
Received the 5th Shinji Hattori Award (Music Category).
September:
Moved to the United States with her family.
August:
Selected for Newsweek Japan’s “20 Japanese Challenging the World.”
Obtained O-1 Visa with recommendation letters from Ian Paice and Cyndi Lauper.
Performed with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra at RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2022.
June:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2022 and Sapporo Dome.
Crowdfunding for her move to the U.S. reached 12,523,040 yen from 660 supporters.
April:
“Sparkling” selected as entrance music for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Held a sold-out solo concert at TOKIO TOKYO.
Performed at “NAON no YAON 2022.”
March:
Released solo original “Sparkling” (featuring Rhonda Smith and Derek Sherinian); topped iTunes charts in multiple countries.
Met Anderson .Paak in Las Vegas.
Performed at Whisky a Go Go.
February:
Started Patreon and Voicy.
Began appearing on KXLA “Creative World” in LA.
January:
Left Yoshimoto Kogyo to aim for moving to the U.S.
2021 (Age 11)
December:
Held workshops in Southern Hokkaido.
Released “Happy Wedding.”
November:
Traveled to the U.S.; session with Derek Day.
Guest performed and taught at schools in Minnesota.
Received the “Citizen Achievement Award” from Ishikari City.
October:
Released “YOYOKA’s 12th Birthday YouTube Session.”
Released “Space Truckin’” collaboration with Ian Paice.
August:
Featured in Rolling Stone.
Performed at “Main Matsuri” in Germany over three days.
June:
Performed at Hibiya Music Festival 2021 (no audience), collaborating with MIYAVI and Ikimonogakari.
Featured in Modern Drummer.
May:
Appointed as the youngest visiting professor at iU.
April:
Signed with Yoshimoto Kogyo.
March:
Featured in “Rhythm & Drums Magazine.”
Announced the end of her contract with TWIN PLANET.
January:
Released “Bukimi ni Warau Yoru no Tsuki.”
Appeared on TV Asahi “Kanjam Kanzen Nenshow.”
2020 (Age 10)
December:
Selected as one of the “World’s Top 500 Drummers” by Drummerworld (youngest in history).
Recorded drums for Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series.
Ian Paice (Deep Purple) praised her on his channel.
October:
Released “Utopia” featuring YT and Billy Sheehan.
September:
Released “Take Cover” collaboration with Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big).
Appeared in a Hokkaido Nissan “Serena” commercial featuring her song “Happy.”
July:
Released “Switch on!” (Opening theme for HTB “Ichimoni!”).April:
Launched the “Super Family Project” and “Super Family Channel” with Satsudora.
Started the “101groove project” connecting participants worldwide.
March:
Held a charity online live on YouTube, donating 284,918 yen to live music venues in Hokkaido. Appeared in commercials for Pokka Sapporo “Kireto Lemon.”
Released “Marigold” collaboration with Seiji Kameda.
February:
Held concerts in Osaka and Kyoto before COVID-19 led to the cancellation of all offers.
January:
Performed at “True Colors JAZZ.”
Performed at The NAMM Show in LA as the youngest drummer at the Pearl booth and appeared on “Drum Channel” at DW.
2019 (Age 9)
December:
Gene Simmons (KISS) shared her “Detroit Rock City” cover; met KISS at their Osaka concert.
Performed on TV Asahi “Untitled Concert.”
Provided videos for the “YouTube Streamy Awards” in LA.
Pandemic and New Projects
November:
Released the digital single “Jitensha.”
Her “Bulls on Parade” cover was introduced by Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine).
Attended Moncler’s “House of Genius” and met MIYAVI.
October:
Released the livestream “Yoyoka’s Room” for her 10th birthday.
Performed with Cyndi Lauper at her Japan Tour final (Tokyo Orchard Hall).
Selected for the UNIQLO 25th anniversary fleece commercial.
September:
Appeared on Fuji TV “MUSIC FAIR,” performing with Daichi Miura and Kumi Koda.
Performed at “Satsudora Fes 2019” and “Tokyo Girls Collection 2019.”
Secret guest at the YouTube Creator Summit.
Final act at HTB Festival.
August:
Guest performance with Fall Out Boy at SUMMER SONIC 2019 (Mountain Stage) in front of 20,000 people. Received praise from Tony Royster Jr.
Provided drum BGM for UHB “Min Tele.”
Featured on Fuji TV “Mirai Monster” and CNN’s “Great Big Story.”
July:
Appeared on TBS “Ongaku no Hi,” performing “Runner” with Sunplaza Nakano-kun.
June:
Performed on the main stage of the first Hibiya Music Festival, collaborating with Godiego, JUJU, KREVA, and Seiji Kameda.
Featured on Fuji TV “Umezawa Tomio no Zubatto Kikimasu!”
May:
Filmed Moncler’s global campaign “GENIUS IS BORN CRAZY” in New York with Will Smith. Appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for the second time, performing Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender” and receiving a video message from Dave Grohl.
April:
Held the “Kaneai Yoyoka Hokkaido Tour” in five locations.
Selected for Newsweek Japan’s “100 Japanese People Respected by the World.”
March:
A 30-minute special about Yoyoka aired on UHB.
Performed at “HOME6.”
Signed a partnership agreement with TWIN PLANET Inc.
February:
Appeared on “Minna de Do Fes! 2019” with Yo Oizumi and Taka and Toshi.
Performed at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
January:
Appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Held her first overseas live at Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.
Featured on Nihon TV “Sukkiri.”
Filmed for the Netflix documentary “Gimme the Beat.”
2018 (Age 8)
November:
Performed at NHK “Now Is the Time, Together Hokkaido Live” as the only amateur performer.
October:
Performed at HTB Festival and held a sold-out solo concert at Sapporo Doshin Hall (700 seats) with guest KenKen.
Performed at “Gakki Fair 2018,” collaborating with Seiji Kameda, Pierre Nakano, and KOUHEI.
Official website launched.
September:
Performed at Tokyo Girls Collection (Saitama Super Arena) in front of 30,000 people. Collaborated with Saeko and a marching band.
Signed endorsement contracts with Pearl, Zildjian, VIC FIRTH, and CYMPAD.
August:
Performed at Sapporo Factory with Yuriyan Retriever.
Performed at RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2018 in EZO as the youngest performer in history, collaborating with Char, Tamio Okuda, KenKen, and Soichiro.
Filmed a global Nike commercial in Bangkok with Serena Williams and other athletes.
July:
Performed at the 5th Lyrics Festival and STV “Dosanko Mirai Fest” with EXILE SHOKICHI. Appeared live on UHB “Minna no TV,” and her song “Jitensha (Bicycle)” was selected as the program’s ending theme. Recorded a “Mission Impossible” drum cover upon request from a film company.
June:
Her cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” was featured by NBC, BBC, CBC, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and others. Received praise from Robert Plant, Chad Smith, Eric Singer, Kim Gordon, Sheryl Crow, Sean Lennon, and Bootsy Collins. In Japan, Akiko Yano, Chikuzen Sato, Hama Okamoto, Seiji Kameda, and Pierre Nakano introduced her on social media. Her name became known worldwide.
May:
Released Kaneai Yoyoka 3rd CD “YO-YO-YO?”
April:
Released the music video “Happy” (lyrics, composition, vocals, and drums by YOYOKA). Won Weekly Champion (Under 18 category) in the international female drummer contest “Hit Like A Girl.”
February:
Performed at the Snow Festival J:COM Stage. Started a three-day recording session for the album “YO-YO-YO?” at Geimori Studio.
January:
Appeared live on NHK TV program “Shibu 5 Ji.” Performed at “Caffeine Live vol.42” at Sapporo mole. Launched a crowdfunding project for a new CD, receiving 843,421 yen from 119 people. Within days of starting TikTok, her drum solo video reached 1.8 million views.
2017 (Age 7)
Released Kaneai Yoyoka 2nd CD “Sense!”
Included the song “Ongaku,” for which she wrote lyrics, composed, sang, and played drums.
Donated proceeds to support music promotion in Ishikari City.
2016 (Age 6)
While in kindergarten, released Kaneai Yoyoka’s first CD “Hamanasu no Yakusoku.”
Donated all proceeds to support music promotion in Ishikari City.
Launched a crowdfunding project titled “7-year-old elementary school drummer Yoyoka’s journey to become the world’s best professional drummer – Support Project!” and received support from 56 people totaling 647,000 yen.
2015 (Age 5)
Formed the family band “Kaneai Yoyoka.”
Performed mainly original songs at local live houses and events and appeared in local media.
2014 (Age 4)
Began performing live professionally.
2010 (Age 1)
Started playing drums and began playing music in family jam sessions.
2009
October 12: Born in Ishikari City, Hokkaido, Japan.
EQUIPMENT
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Drum Kit
Ludwig
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Cymbals
Zildjian
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Sticks
VIC FIRTH
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Pedal
DW