Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi

Born:December 6, 1950

Place of Birth:Nagano, Japan

Known For:Sound

Biography

Mamoru Fujisawa, professionally known as Joe Hisaishi, is a prolific Japanese composer, musical director, conductor, and pianist. Born on December 6, 1950, Hisaishi has left an indelible mark on the world of film with his extensive repertoire of over 100 film scores and solo albums that span several decades. His musical genius transcends boundaries, seamlessly blending various genres such as minimalist, experimental electronic, Western classical, and Japanese classical into his compositions.

One of Hisaishi's most notable collaborations has been with the renowned director and animator, Hayao Miyazaki, which began in 1984. Their partnership has resulted in a harmonious fusion of music and animation, with Hisaishi crafting mesmerizing scores for almost all of Miyazaki's films. His ability to capture the essence of Miyazaki's storytelling through music has solidified their partnership as one of the most iconic in the realm of cinema.

Beyond his work in film, Hisaishi's talents extend to music engraving and arranging, showcasing his versatility and expertise in various facets of music production. His compositions evoke a wide range of emotions, taking listeners on a transcendent journey through soundscapes that are both enchanting and poignant.

Hisaishi's music possesses a timeless quality that resonates with audiences worldwide, earning him a dedicated following of fans who are captivated by the beauty and depth of his work. His melodies have a hauntingly beautiful quality that lingers in the hearts and minds of listeners long after the final notes fade away.

With a career that spans several decades, Hisaishi's influence on the world of music and film is immeasurable. His ability to create evocative and memorable scores has elevated the cinematic experience, breathing life into characters and narratives with his enchanting compositions.

As a conductor, Hisaishi brings a unique energy and passion to his performances, leading orchestras with grace and precision. His mastery of the piano is evident in the intricate and emotive performances that he delivers, showcasing his technical skill and emotional depth as a musician.

Hisaishi's dedication to his craft and his unwavering commitment to musical excellence have earned him a reputation as one of the most respected and revered composers in the industry. His contributions to the world of film music have left an indelible legacy that will continue to inspire and enchant audiences for generations to come.

In addition to his work in film, Hisaishi has also released a number of solo albums that showcase his talent and creativity as a composer and pianist. These albums offer a glimpse into the depth and breadth of Hisaishi's musical prowess, highlighting his ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through his compositions.

Joe Hisaishi's music transcends language and cultural barriers, speaking to the universal human experience with a depth and beauty that is truly unparalleled. His ability to capture the essence of emotion through music has cemented his legacy as a masterful composer whose work will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

Images

Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi

Filmography

Acting

Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron

Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron

Self

2024

A documentary that chronicles the making of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli across an astonishing seven years.
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Self

2013

Follows the behind-the-scenes work of Studio Ghibli, focusing on the notable figures Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki.

Production

Spirited Away

Spirited Away

Original Music Composer

2001

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle

Original Music Composer

2004

Sophie, a young milliner, is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.
My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro

Original Music Composer

1988

Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke

Original Music Composer

1997

Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.
The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron

Conductor

2023

While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Kiki's Delivery Service

Kiki's Delivery Service

Original Music Composer

1989

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.
Ponyo

Ponyo

Original Music Composer

2008

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.
Castle in the Sky

Castle in the Sky

Original Music Composer

1986

A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Original Music Composer

1984

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth.
Porco Rosso

Porco Rosso

Original Music Composer

1992

In Italy in the 1930s, sky pirates in biplanes terrorize wealthy cruise ships as they sail the Adriatic Sea. The only pilot brave enough to stop the scourge is the mysterious Porco Rosso, a former World War I flying ace who was somehow turned into a pig during the war. As he prepares to battle the pirate crew's American ace, Porco Rosso enlists the help of spunky girl mechanic Fio Piccolo and his longtime friend Madame Gina.
The Wind Rises

The Wind Rises

Original Music Composer

2013

A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

Original Music Composer

2013

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate.
Children of the Sea

Children of the Sea

Original Music Composer

2019

Ruka is a young girl whose parents are separated and whose father works in an aquarium. When two boys, Umi and Sora, who were raised in the sea by dugongs, are brought to the aquarium, Ruka feels drawn to them and begins to realize that she has the same sort of supernatural connection to the ocean that they do. Umi and Sora's special power seems to be connected to strange events that have been occurring more and more frequently, such as the appearance of sea creatures far from their home territory and the disappearance of aquarium animals around the world. However, the exact nature of the boys' power and of the abnormal events is unknown, and Ruka gets drawn into investigating the mystery that surrounds her new friends.
Kikujiro

Kikujiro

Original Music Composer

1999

Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro is the unlikely companion for Masao who is determined to see the mother he has never met. The two begin a series of adventures which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and unique characters along the way.
Let the Bullets Fly

Let the Bullets Fly

Original Music Composer

2010

When circumstances force an outlaw to impersonate a county governor and clean up a corrupt town, the Robin Hood figure finds himself in a showdown with the local godfather.
Departures

Departures

Original Music Composer

2008

Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.
Brother

Brother

Original Music Composer

2000

A Japanese Yakuza gangster's deadly existence in his homeland gets him exiled to Los Angeles, where he is taken in by his little brother and his brother's gang.
Sonatine

Sonatine

Original Music Composer

1993

Murakawa, an aging Tokyo yakuza tiring of gangster life, is sent by his boss to Okinawa along with a few of his henchmen to help end a gang war, supposedly as mediators between two warring clans. He finds that the dispute between the clans is insignificant and whilst wondering why he was sent to Okinawa at all, his group is attacked in an ambush. The survivors flee and make a decision to lay low at the beach while they await further instructions.
Kids Return

Kids Return

Original Music Composer

1996

Shinji and Masaru spend most of their school days harassing fellow classmates and playing pranks. They drop out and Shinji becomes a small-time boxer, while Masaru joins up with a local yakuza gang. However, the world is a tough place.
Dolls

Dolls

Original Music Composer

2002

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's parents, who have insisted their son take part in an arranged marriage to his boss' daughter.
Fireworks

Fireworks

Original Music Composer

1997

Beleaguered police detective Nishi takes desperate measures to try and set things right in a world gone wrong. With his wife suffering from leukemia and his business partner paralyzed from a brutal gangster attack, Nishi borrows from a yakuza loan shark and then robs a bank to clear his debt.
Robot Carnival

Robot Carnival

Music

1987

An anthology of various tales told in various styles with robots being the one common element among them.