Hisaishi Joe

Hisaishi Joe is a very famous musician. Probably there is no one in Japan who doesn't know him . Especially, he attracts attention from people in the field of movie music.

In 1984, he served as musical director of a movie "Kaze No Tani Nonaushika" that Miyazaki Hayao directed. He succeeded in expanding the world of animation with his beautiful music. After that he became an essential person for making Miyazaki movies. He served as music supervision of all of seven of Miyazaki's movies and other 5 movies.

His music is very elaborate and intellectual, as if perfect calculation was done. He said "the real beautiful music which touches a heart doesn't become old even after many years".

He won a Japan Academy Music Award for his soundtrack. Now, his activities are not only as a musical director but also as an event producer. He took on the challenge of the head producer of ceremonies of the Para-Olympics in Nagano, too.

He has performed many concerts in Japan. Especially, I remember the temple Daigo concert. I'll tell you a bit about it. On Sept. 5th, 1998, he gave the concert in Kyoto at Daigo Temple. He played in the concert with many musicians. For example, Deep Forest, Yuriko Kamitani who played marimba, Bareness Charted who played a violin and so on. And Eve Natania, a ballerina in the New York City Ballet, danced on stage in front of the Condo (Buddha Hall) of Daigo Temple. He played in it with them his songs, as well as those of his friends, kids, Hana-bi, and Deep Forest song. It was very interesting and new.

His music is very soft but strong. He makes sad songs but sometimes funny songs as like "Totoro". I like his songs and I think he is one of the greatest musicians in Japan.

References: http://www.joehisaishi.com/

This article compliments of Michael Shawback's Internet class at Ryukoku University, Kyoto

Reported by: Suzuki Fumiko
Data verified by: Yasufuku Miya
Date of Report: October 1998

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