Joe Hisaishi

Full biography Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi, whose real name is Mamoru Fujisawa, is a renowned Japanese composer known for his scores in films, TV series, video games, and anime. He was born on December 6, 1950, in Nakano, Japan. He began his musical career in 1974 when he composed the music for the anime series Gyatoruzu , which earned him a lot of acclaim.

However, he gained broader recognition for his work with Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio. He has composed the scores for many of their films, including My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. Hisaishi's collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, are particularly notable. His scores have helped to make Studio Ghibli films memorable and emotionally resonant.

Besides his work with Studio Ghibli , Hisaishi has composed scores for other films such as Hana-bi, Kikujiro, and Departures, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. He also collaborated with renowned film directors like Takeshi Kitano, Ryuichi Hiroki, and Yoji Yamada.

Hisaishi has been active in the music industry for several decades, and during this time, he has composed over 100 film scores. He is widely recognized as one of Japan's most talented and respected composers. His music is often characterized by its fusion of Western classical music with Japanese folk and popular music.

In addition to his work as a composer, Hisaishi is also a conductor and pianist. He has released many albums of his music and has performed in numerous concerts around the world. In 2023, he led a triptych of premieres with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra , showcasing his expertise in classical music.

Overall, Joe Hisaishi is a prolific and accomplished composer whose work has had a significant impact on the music industry. His music has inspired and moved audiences around the world and continues to be widely admired and celebrated.