Joe Hisaishi

Mamoru Fujisawa (藤澤守, Fujisawa Mamoru^?), known professionally as Joe Hisaishi (久石 譲, Hisaishi Jō^?) (Nagano, Japan, December 6, 1950), is a prolific Japanese composer and conductor. Creator of an extensive work since his debut in 1981, he stands out for having composed more than 100 soundtracks for Japanese film directors such as Takeshi Kitano or Yōjirō Takita and, especially, for various Studio Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

His work is characterized by the harmonious fusion of European classicism and Japanese tradition, minimalism and experimental electronic music. Throughout his career he has obtained 25 nominations and 26 awards, including awards from the Japanese Film Academy.

Biography

Hisaishi was born on December 6, 1950 in Nagano (Japan). He began violin lessons at the age of 5, discovering his passion for music. Later he studied composition at Kunitachi. His debut took place in 1981 with the publication of his album MKWAJU, composed for percussion ensemble, keyboards and electronic programming. The following year he signed his second album, Information (1982), credited under the pseudonym Wonder City Orchestra, a name that he used to also encompass the rest of his collaborators. His stage name 'Joe Hisaishi' refers to his idol, the American musician and composer Quincy Jones: the kanji 久 is pronounced hisa or kyū ; Thus, the name 久石 譲 can be read both Hisaishi Jō and Kyūishi Jō, which in turn sounds similar to Quincy Jones (in Japanese < i>Quincy Jones is spelled クインシー・ジョーンズ, kuinshī jōnzu).

In 1983 Hisaishi composed the first of his soundtracks for the Studio Ghibli production company and, specifically, for the films of the animation director Hayao Miyazaki. In addition to obtaining numerous awards, the cooperation between Hishaishi and Miyazaki would continue for several decades and would achieve a notable impact on both the Japanese and international public. The soundtracks for the films Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ, Kaze no Tani no Naushika) (1984), My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro^?) (1988), Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫, Mononoke Hime^?) (1997), Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) (2001), Howl no Ugoku Shiro (ハウルの動く城) (2004) or Kaze Tachinu (風立ちぬ) (2003) are among the most notable.

"Accompanies Miyazaki, as always, Joe Hisaishi, the composer who is able to multiply the beauty and emotions that transmit the images. "One Summer Day", with those initial chords that know water, is one of the most beautiful songs of the Japanese musician."

Rebeca Gimeno (Niusdiario.es, 22-05-2021) [1]

He also tackled the composition of soundtracks for other directors and genres. His collaborations with director Takeshi Kitano are notable, in The Summer of Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏 Kikujiro No Natsu) (1999) and Outrage (アウトレイジ, Autoreiji) (2010), or with director Yōjirō Takita and the winning film Farewells (おくりびと, Okuribito) of the 2009 Oscar Award for best foreign language film.

"We have to agree that Dismissed It is a solid drama of second chances, which touches a topic very of today – that of certain professionals to whom life pushes to change work – and which shows, with entomological precision, the entire ritual of death still present in the old Niponan tradition of transit. It is wise, at times even beautiful and allows a very broad view of Japan's social relations today."

Mirito Torreiro (Revista Fotogramas, 29-06-2009) [2]

In 2009 he received the Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor from the Government of Japan.

Since 2013 Hisaishi has taken a break from creating soundtracks for films, focusing his work on other types of compositions, such as those made for video games, working as a musical arranger and touring as an orchestra director in Asia, America and Europe.

Discography

Albums

1980s

1990s

2000s

DVD