Composer Chad Cannon of 'Ghost of Tsushima' and 'Ghost of Yōtei' to Hold 'Music for the Ocean' Japan Tour

The marine conservation project "Music for the Ocean," founded by Chad Cannon, the composer and orchestrator for "Ghost of Tsushima" and "Ghost of Yōtei," will hold a Japan tour from June to July 2026. Traveling through Kumamoto, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Yamaguchi, Kyoto, and Aichi, Cannon will visit various coastal regions across Japan, creating new musical compositions inspired by local marine environments and cultures while raising awareness for ocean conservation.

In November 2025, Chad Cannon and pianist Hui Wu perform "Garden Eels," a piece from "Music for the Ocean," at Texas A&M University. (Photo by Alex Garza)

Hosted by the non-profit organization Tela Coral, "Music for the Ocean" is a multimedia concert series that fuses classical music, electronic music, video, lighting design, and marine science. Through original works inspired by underwater recordings and actual marine research, the project aims to convey the beauty of the ocean and the importance of its preservation.

Chad Cannon composed the score for the Netflix Academy Award-winning documentary "American Factory" and managed the music and arrangement for PlayStation's popular games "Ghost of Tsushima" and "Ghost of Yōtei - Legends." Furthermore, he serves as the orchestrator and arranger for composer Joe Hisaishi's latest "Joe Hisaishi Film Music Concert." This new program is scheduled for its world premiere in France on June 28, 2026, followed by performances at prestigious concert venues worldwide, including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall in New York. Immediately after completing preparations for Joe Hisaishi's latest world tour, Chad Cannon will travel to Japan to launch the "Music for the Ocean" Japan tour. During this tour, he will create new compositions while visiting coastal areas across Japan, developing a unique initiative that connects music with ocean conservation.

Pianist Hui Wu, an alumnus of the Juilliard School and the University of Southern California, will co-perform in the tour. In 2026, she released the album "GLASSOPEDIA," featuring Philip Glass's Etudes, which received high acclaim.

In June 2025, the music video "Bioluminescence" for "Music for the Ocean" was filmed at Zipper Hall inside the Colburn School in Los Angeles. The piece is inspired by the mysterious world of bioluminescence spreading in the deep sea, performed by Chad Cannon and Hui Wu, with video production by Will Chen. (Video by Will Chen)

Tour Overview

The "Music for the Ocean" Japan Tour 2026 is a nationwide project in which Cannon creates new musical works while traveling around Japan's oceans, presenting the results through concerts, film screenings, and lectures. During the tour, Chad will engage in scuba diving and collaborate with researchers in Amakusa, the Kerama Islands, Suo-Oshima, Kyotango, and Ise to create new works inspired by the marine environments and cultures of each region.

Chad Cannon diving in Tela Bay, Honduras, after obtaining his scuba diving license. This coral reef, where Tela Coral conducts conservation activities, maintains one of the healthiest states in the Caribbean and served as one of the inspirations for the birth of "Music for the Ocean." Chad records the rich acoustic environment of the coral reef using an underwater microphone (hydrophone) and integrates these sounds into his compositions and concert works. (Photo by Quentin Caussin)

In addition to live performances of original works, this tour will feature a special presentation on coral reef conservation by marine biologist and author Juli Berwald. A portion of the proceeds will support the Coral Biobank construction project in Tela Bay, Honduras. This project aims to conserve more than 12 endangered coral species, supporting future coral reef restoration and marine science research.

Juli Berwald, marine biologist, author, and founder of the NPO Tela Coral. Known as a leading figure in coral reef conservation, her books include "Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs" and "Spineless." She will deliver a special lecture on coral reef conservation during the 2026 "Music for the Ocean" Japan Tour. (Photo courtesy of Mann)