Yoko Shimomura to be honored with the BAFTA Fellowship
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Renowned Japanese composer and pianist Yoko Shimomura is set to receive the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship at the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards, scheduled for April 8.
Known for her exceptional contributions to the music of video game series such as Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy 15, and Xenoblade Chronicles, Shimomura's work is being celebrated with this honor.
After graduating from the Osaka Junior College of Music with a focus on piano, Shimomura carved out a successful career as a freelance composer, following her tenure at companies like Capcom and Square Enix.
BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip expressed, "It's a distinct honor to celebrate Yoko Shimomura with this year's BAFTA Fellowship."
Millichip continued, noting Shimomura’s role as a trailblazer in the field, "Yoko's iconic soundtracks for beloved video games have not only left a lasting impact on the industry, but she has also been a key figure for women in a predominantly male domain."
Shimomura’s influence reaches far, inspiring numerous artists and setting a path for future generations.
In the previous year, Shuhei Yoshida, a veteran in the PlayStation sphere, was honored with a BAFTA Fellowship. In 2021, Siobhan Reddy, studio director at Media Molecule, made history as the first female recipient of this award.
The upcoming 21st BAFTA Game Awards will take place at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and will be broadcast live on Twitch. Notably, Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 has secured 11 nominations this year.