Motoi Sakuraba
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| Motoi Sakuraba | |
|---|---|
 Motoi Sakuraba speaking at the Trusty Bell press conference. |
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 5, 1965 Akita Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | Video game music, Progressive Rock, New Age, Baroque |
| Occupations | Musician, keyboardist, composer, arranger |
| Instruments | Keyboard, Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Mellotron, Drum kit, Ocarina, Harp |
| Years active | 1985–present[1] |
| Labels | TEAM Entertainment Square Enix Namco Bandai Games Konami Digital Entertainment DigiCube |
Motoi Sakuraba (桜庭 統 Sakuraba Motoi, born August 5, 1965) is a Japanese composer of video games, anime series, and television dramas as well as independent progressive rock albums.[2]
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Biography [edit]
Motoi Sakuraba was born in Akita Prefecture, Japan. He is married to Yuko Sakuraba and has a daughter, Mio Sakuraba. Sakuraba broke into the music scene as composer and keyboard player of the progressive rock band Deja Vu, which he formed in 1985.[3] They later released an album called "Baroque in the Future", in 1988. The band later disbanded, and Sakuraba went on to release a solo progressive rock album, "Gikyokuonsou", in 1991. During his work as video game composer he continued to produce heavily extended arrangements of his compositions.
In late 1989, Sakuraba began work as main composer for Wolf Team, a subsidiary of Telenet Japan. While this team eventually splintered into several others, the professional friendships formed here have resulted in a great demand for Sakuraba's composing abilities, as seen in the following:
- In 1994, former Wolf Team director and composer Masaaki Uno started working at Camelot Software Planning as coordinator and sound director, developing games for Sony, Sega and Nintendo. Sakuraba was called upon as a composer for various Camelot games, including the Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Golden Sun series.
- In 1995, Wolf Team developed the breakthrough game Tales of Phantasia for Namco. This and other games in the Tales series primarily feature Sakuraba and fellow Wolf Team composer Shinji Tamura as composers (the exception so far has been Tales of Legendia, composed by Go Shiina). Eventually the remnants of Wolfteam morphed into the Namco Telenet joint subsidiary Namco Tales Studio in 2003.
- Also in 1995, former Wolf Team director and producer Jun Asanuma, as well as Tales of Phantasia writer and programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda, founded tri-Ace with financial backing from Enix. The Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile games have been their keystone productions. Again, Sakuraba has been the composer for all their games, with the exception of the Noriyuki Iwadare-scored Radiata Stories (which included arrangements of a few choice Sakuraba tracks).
- In 1999, long-time Sakuraba sound designer and programmer Hiroya Hatsushiba, a former member of Wolf Team and tri-Ace, founded tri-Crescendo. While initially continuing to contribute sound work to tri-Ace games, tri-Crescendo began game development in 2001. Together with Monolith Soft, tri-Crescendo started working on Baten Kaitos; Namco provided the financial backing. Hatsushiba, as director and main programmer of the project, again called upon Sakuraba's composing services. This has extended to the sequel (Baten Kaitos Origins) and Eternal Sonata.
- In 2007, Sakuraba was selected to join a long list of video-game composers to contribute music to Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He was selected to arrange the famous "Menu Theme" from the game's predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Melee. He also arranged "Gourmet Race" from Kirby Super Star, "Jungle Level Ver.2" from Donkey Kong Country, "Mario Tennis / Mario Golf" from Mario Tennis / Mario Golf, "Victory Road" from Pokémon Ruby / Pokémon Sapphire, "Airship Theme" from Super Mario Bros. 3, the "Battlefield Theme" and "Final Destination". In addition, the track "Battle Scene / Final Boss (Golden Sun)" was based on his music from Golden Sun: The Lost Age.
In addition to all this, Sakuraba is regularly contracted for composing work in other media through his own TEAM Entertainment, a company founded in 1999 to promote and license the work of artists.
Live performances [edit]
During July 2003, Sakuraba held a live concert in Tokyo, Japan. He performed progressive rock interpretations of music from the PlayStation games Star Ocean: The Second Story and Valkyrie Profile. His bandmates for this concert were bassist Atsushi Hasegawa (a member of the band Gerard) and drummer Toshihiko Nakamura. As noted, this concert was released on DVD and CD; many Sakuraba fans worldwide were delighted by the news that the DVD was region-free.
At the same time as they were rehearsing for the concert, Hasegawa and Nakamura assisted in recording new material for the Director's Cut of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time.
The following year, the trio performed another concert. The venue was smaller, but included music from Baten Kaitos and a couple of new, non-game-related pieces. Unfortunately, this concert was not officially recorded.
However, in 2006, a new concert was given in celebration of tri-Ace's new Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria title. This concert has been released on CD.
On September 17 and September 18, 2011 at Club Citta in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Sakuraba and his band joined up with the Earthbound Papas, led by famous video game composer Nobuo Uematsu, to perform at Fantasy Rock Fest 2011. This event featured video game music performance along with new progressive rock pieces from both composers. The first six tracks that Sakuraba and his band played are confirmed to be new pieces and were sold at the event as a preview CD for his then upcoming solo album After all... which was officially released by Strange Days Records on October 19, 2011. It is unknown, however, whether or not there is a recording of these performances.
Musical style [edit]
Motoi Sakuraba takes the baroque and melodic Japanese progressive rock of the 1980s and expands it with his own trademark complex rhythms, emotional flutes, use of male choir and heavy reverb. The lighter side of his style is a crossover between symphonic progressive rock, cinematic orchestra and new age. Sakuraba is also known for introducing many jazz-like improvisations to his music style. In recent years he has made a serious effort toward expanding his style even further.[4]
Discography [edit]
| Video games | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Co-composer |
| 1989 | Zan: Kagerou no Toki | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno |
| Arcus II: Silent Symphony | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono | |
| Arcusyu | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono | |
| 1990 | Granada | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno |
| D: European Mirage | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono | |
| Zan: Yasha Enbukyoku | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Ryu: Koku Ki no Ryuu Yori | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono | |
| Final Zone | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno | |
| Zan Gear | Composition | Masaaki Uno | |
| Sol-Feace | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 1991 | Daitoua Mokujiroku Goh | Composition/arrangement | |
| Arcus Odyssey | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Crystal Chaser | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno and Ryota Furuya | |
| El Viento | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Zan: Kagerou no Jidai | Composition/arrangement | Masaaki Uno | |
| Arcus III | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Shinsengumi: Bakumatsu Genshi Gyou | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Niko² | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Earnest Evans | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tenbu: Sangokushi Seishi | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| 1992 | Sol-Deace | Composition/arrangement | |
| Seirei Shinseiki Fhey Area | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Suzaku | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Zan II: Towns Special | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tenbu Limited | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Aisle Lord | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Zan II Spirits | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Hiouden | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Diamond Players | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Cobra Command | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tenbu: Mankan Zenseki | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Time Gal | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura (Main Theme) | |
| Earnest Evans (Mega Drive) | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Road Avenger | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Apros | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| 1993 | Annet Futatabi | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura (Main Theme) |
| Devastator | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya | |
| Arcus Spirits | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Hiouden II | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, and Hiroya Hatsushiba | |
| Zan III: Tenun Ware ni Ari | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Ace wo Nerae! | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 1994 | Hiouden: Mamono-tachi to no Chikai | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, and Hiroya Hatsushiba |
| Zan III Spirits | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Cosmic Fantasy 4 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Tenshi no Uta: Shiroki Tsubasa no Inori | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya | |
| Hiouden II' HD | Composition/arrangement | Ryota Furuya | |
| Sankyo Fever! Fever! | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| The Grail Hunter | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, and Hiroya Hatsushiba | |
| 1995 | Kyoraku Sanyo Toyomaru Parlor Parlor! | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura |
| Tokyo Twilight Busters | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya, and Hiroya Hatsushiba | |
| Kyoraku Sanyo Toyomaru Daiichi Maruhon Parlor Parlor! 2 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Beyond the Beyond | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Phantasia | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Kyoraku Sanyo Toyomaru Okumura Daiichi Maruhon Parlor Parlor! 4 CR | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 1996 | Kyoraku Sanyo Toyomaru Okumura Taiyou Parlor Parlor! 3 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura |
| Kyoraku Sanyo Maruhon Parlor Parlor! 5 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Parlor! Mini | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Parlor! Mini 2 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Star Ocean | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Parlor! Mini 3 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Parlor! Mini 4 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Shining the Holy Ark | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 1997 | Parlor! Mini 5 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura |
| Parlor! Mini 6 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Hot Shots Golf | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Parlor! Mini 7 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Shining Force III | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Destiny | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 1998 | Heiwa Parlor! Mini 8 Pachinko Jikki Simulation | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura |
| Star Ocean: The Second Story | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 1999 | Mario Golf | Composition/arrangement | |
| Cybernetic Empire | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura and Atsushi Horiguchi | |
| Mario Golf GB | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Valkyrie Profile | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2000 | Mario Tennis | Composition/arrangement | |
| Mario Tennis GB | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Tales of Eternia | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2001 | Mobile Golf | Composition/arrangement | |
| Star Ocean: Blue Sphere | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Golden Sun | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2002 | Tales of Fandom Vol.1 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura |
| Golden Sun: The Lost Age | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Destiny 2 | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2003 | Star Ocean: Till the End of Time | Composition/arrangement | |
| Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Symphonia | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2004 | Mario Golf: Advance Tour | Composition/arrangement | |
| Star Ocean: Till the End of Time: Director's Cut | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Mario Power Tennis | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Rebirth | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2005 | Duel Masters: Birth of Super Dragon | Composition/arrangement | |
| Mario Tennis: Power Tour | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of the Abyss | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2006 | Baten Kaitos Origins | Composition/arrangement | |
| Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Eternia Online | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of the Tempest | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tenshou Gakuen Gekkouroku | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology | Composition/arrangement | Takuya Yasuda and Go Shiina | |
| 2007 | Eternal Sonata | Composition/arrangement | |
| Drone Tactics | Composition/arrangement | ||
| We Love Golf! | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Star Ocean: First Departure | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2008 | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Arrangement | Various others |
| Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Tales of Vesperia | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Infinite Undiscovery | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Otomedius G | Composition/arrangement | Various others | |
| Tales of Hearts | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura and Hiroshi Tamura | |
| 2009 | Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 | Composition/arrangement | Various others |
| Star Ocean: The Last Hope | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Half-Minute Hero | Composition/arrangement | Various others | |
| Tales of VS. | Composition/arrangement | Various others | |
| Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Graces | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2010 | Resonance of Fate | Composition/arrangement | Kohei Tanaka |
| Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Golden Sun: Dark Dawn | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Graces f | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| 2011 | Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 | Composition/arrangement | Various others |
| Otomedius Excellent | Composition/arrangement | Various others | |
| Half-Minute Hero II | Composition/arrangement | Various others | |
| Tales of Xillia | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Dark Souls | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Shinra Bansho Frontier | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2012 | Beyond the Labyrinth | Composition/arrangement | |
| GuitarFreaks XG3 | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | Various others | |
| Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave | Composition/arrangement | Go Shiina | |
| Kid Icarus: Uprising | Composition/arrangement | Yuzo Koshiro, Masafumi Takada, Noriyuki Iwadare, Takahiro Nishi, and Yasunori Mitsuda | |
| Samurai Empire | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Mario Tennis Open | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Tales of Xillia 2 | Composition/arrangement | ||
| 2013 | Valkyrie Crusade | Composition/arrangement | |
| Tales of Hearts R | Composition/arrangement | Shinji Tamura | |
| Valhalla Knights 3 | Composition/arrangement | ||
| Anime/Drama/TV | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Co-composer |
| 1998 | Cyber Bishoujo Telomere | Composition/arrangement | |
| 1999 | Vanny Knights | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2000 | Gensomaden Saiyuki | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2001 | Star Ocean EX | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2002 | Weiß Kreuz Glühen | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2003 | Pluster World | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2004 | Umigame to Shonen | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2008 | Tales of the Abyss | Composition/arrangement | |
| Films | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Co-composer |
| 2001 | Blue Remains | Composition/arrangement | Yuko Fukushima |
| Solo works | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Co-composer |
| 1988 | Baroque in the Future | Composition/arrangement | |
| 1989 | Pazzo Fanfano di Musica | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | Various others |
| 1991 | Gikyokuonsou | Composition/arrangement | |
| 1996 | @MIDI's summer | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | |
| 1998 | @MIDI's dance | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | |
| 1999 | @MIDI's battle | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | |
| 2000 | @MIDI's freedom | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | |
| 2006 | FM Sound Module Maniax | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | Various others |
| 2008 | Forest of Glass | Composition/arrangement | |
| Message | Composition/arrangement (1 song) | Various others | |
| 2011 | After all... | Composition/arrangement | |
| 2013 | What's up? | Composition/arrangement | |
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Official website
- TEAM Entertainment: Motoi Sakuraba Official Japanese Website
- Motoi Sakuraba Unofficial English Website
- VGMdb.net Artist Page: Motoi Sakuraba
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