Susumu Yokota

Susumu Yokota (横田 進 Yokota Susumu, or ススム・ヨコタ Susumu Yokota; 22 April 1960 – 27 March 2015) was a Japanese record producer and composer. He released several albums under pseudonyms including Stevia, Ebi, and others. Yokota was well known in the English-speaking independent music scene for his albums of experimental ambient music, including albums like Acid Mt. Fuji and Sakura. He also had a long career as a house music DJ and released several highly regarded albums of house music. Before beginning his career as a DJ and producer, Yokota studied economics at university alongside graphic design. After an extended period of travelling in India, he returned to Tokyo to establish himself as a designer, with works ranging from interior design to book covers. Yokota's musical debut was a three-track EP titled Brainthump, released under the pseudonym TENSHIN alongside his friend Makoto on German label No Respect Records. Following this, his first solo record was released on German techno label Harthouse under the pseudonym Frankfurt-Tokyo-Connection. Yokota founded the label Skintone in 1998, named after the deep house night he organised in Ebisu, Tokyo. Susumu Yokota died on 27 March 2015, aged 54, after a long period of illness. "Susumu Yokota Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2024. "Influential ambient musician Susumu Yokota has died aged 54". FACT magazine. 14 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015. Martin, Lauren (31 July 2018). "The month's best mixes: Gigsta, Susumu Yokota and 25 years of Dutch dynamo Clone". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021. Noda, Tsutomu; Pepperell, Martyn; Hidaka, Kensuke; Hodgson, Ben; O’Sullivan, Derek. "Yokota". Susumu Yokota. Lo Recordings. Retrieved 11 August 2025. "Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 August 2025. Noda, Tsutomu; Pepperell, Martyn; Hidaka, Kensuke; Hodgson, Ben; O’Sullivan, Derek. "Yokota". Susumu Yokota. Lo Recordings. Retrieved 11 August 2025. "Susumu Yokotaが逝去". natalie.mu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015. Morley, Tony. "Susumu Yokota RIP". The Leaf Label Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015. Susumu Yokota on The Leaf Label Susumu Yokota discography at Discogs Susumu Yokota discography at MusicBrainz Susumu Yokota at Exceptional Records