A major orchestral concert honoring Yoko Shimomura has been announced for September 25, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Ikebukuro.
Shimomura, whose career in video game music spans nearly four decades, is celebrated for landmark scores including work on Street Fighter II, Super Mario RPG, Kingdom Hearts, and Xenoblade Chronicles.
The event will bring together the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Arnie Roth and Shimomura herself expected to perform.
The concert, staged at the 1,999-seat Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, will feature selections from across Shimomura’s catalogue.
Reported program highlights include "Hometown Domina" from Legend of Mana, the main theme from Xenoblade Chronicles, "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" from Super Mario RPG, plus pieces drawn from Final Fantasy XV and the Kingdom Hearts series.
Organizers and early coverage described the announcement as a warmly received celebration of Shimomura’s work.
Arnie Roth, known for his involvement with the Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY concert series, will conduct the orchestra.
Shimomura’s participation onstage alongside the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra was included in the announcement reported by journalist Jack Yarwood and the Japanese site denfaminicogamer.
Shimomura’s industry recognition is extensive and recent.
She received a Game Developers Choice Awards lifetime achievement award in 2024 and was honored with a BAFTA Fellowship in April 2025.
Still active in contemporary projects, she contributed the main theme to Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard, a spin-off from the roguelike Vampire Survivors; Vampire Survivors is available on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
Ticketing details published with the announcement list prices between ¥8,800 and ¥9,900 depending on seat class.
Advance pre-sale tickets from the event organizers were set to go on sale at 10:00 AM JST on the date noted in the announcement, with additional presales through Kyodo Tokyo, Pia, Lawson, and e+ scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM JST on July 13 and general sales beginning Saturday, August 22.
Fans of video game music and collectors of orchestral game performances will find this concert a rare, industry-focused tribute to one of gaming’s most influential composers.
With connections to franchises that have appeared across platforms — including the Xenoblade Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch — the program is positioned to attract longtime followers of both Shimomura’s work and orchestral game music audiences.
Shimomura, whose career in video game music spans nearly four decades, is celebrated for landmark scores including work on Street Fighter II, Super Mario RPG, Kingdom Hearts, and Xenoblade Chronicles.
The event will bring together the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Arnie Roth and Shimomura herself expected to perform.
The concert, staged at the 1,999-seat Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, will feature selections from across Shimomura’s catalogue.
Reported program highlights include "Hometown Domina" from Legend of Mana, the main theme from Xenoblade Chronicles, "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" from Super Mario RPG, plus pieces drawn from Final Fantasy XV and the Kingdom Hearts series.
Organizers and early coverage described the announcement as a warmly received celebration of Shimomura’s work.
Arnie Roth, known for his involvement with the Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY concert series, will conduct the orchestra.
Shimomura’s participation onstage alongside the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra was included in the announcement reported by journalist Jack Yarwood and the Japanese site denfaminicogamer.
Shimomura’s industry recognition is extensive and recent.
She received a Game Developers Choice Awards lifetime achievement award in 2024 and was honored with a BAFTA Fellowship in April 2025.
Still active in contemporary projects, she contributed the main theme to Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard, a spin-off from the roguelike Vampire Survivors; Vampire Survivors is available on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
Ticketing details published with the announcement list prices between ¥8,800 and ¥9,900 depending on seat class.
Advance pre-sale tickets from the event organizers were set to go on sale at 10:00 AM JST on the date noted in the announcement, with additional presales through Kyodo Tokyo, Pia, Lawson, and e+ scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM JST on July 13 and general sales beginning Saturday, August 22.
Fans of video game music and collectors of orchestral game performances will find this concert a rare, industry-focused tribute to one of gaming’s most influential composers.
With connections to franchises that have appeared across platforms — including the Xenoblade Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch — the program is positioned to attract longtime followers of both Shimomura’s work and orchestral game music audiences.
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