Yoshitaka Hirota
| Yoshitaka Hirota | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1971 Kyoto, Japan |
| Genres | Industrial |
| Occupations | Composer |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Yoshitaka Hirota (弘田佳孝 Hirota Yoshitaka, born September 1, 1971) is a Japanese video game composer and bass guitarist. His most notable works include the soundtracks to the Shadow Hearts series. Hirota was previously a sound effects programmer having worked on various Square titles. His first work as a video game composer was for the Nintendo 64 game Bomberman 64: The Second Attack.
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[edit] Frequent collaborators
Hirota has a friendship from childhood with fellow composer Yasunori Mitsuda who he has worked with on Bomberman 64: The Second Attack, Biohazard 2 Drama Albums, Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts II.
Kyoko Kishikawa has worked with Hirota on Shadow Hearts, Shadow Hearts II (although not Shadow Hearts: From the New World) and Rogue Galaxy Premium Arrange, providing eerie female scat vocals for a number of his tracks. Also, Hirota frequently performs bass guitar with Kishikawa's band darumaya.[1]
Ryo Fukuda has been the sound manipulator for Hirota on the Shadow Hearts games as well as composing and arranging a few tracks for all three games. He also co-composed with Hirota on Sonic Shuffle.
Kenji Ito worked with Hirota on the soundtrack of Shadow Hearts II. Hirota has performed bass guitar for Ito's live performance of Culdcept music during the Extra Live Concert [2] and for Ito's vocal song for Lux-Pain,[3] Seinaru Itami wo Daite sung by Yoko Takahashi.
[edit] Musical style and influences
Hirota's Shadow Hearts music is notable for its fusion of cultural music with Hirota's personal Industrial style.
[edit] Instruments
Although Hirota is primarily a bass guitarist, he is capable of playing a variety of other instruments:[4]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Video games
- Composition
- Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (1999) – with Yasunori Mitsuda
- Faselei! (1999)
- Dive Alert: Becky's Version (2000)
- Dive Alert: Matt's Version (2000)
- Sonic Shuffle (2000) – with Hidenobu Otsuki, Ryo Fukuda, Takeo Suzuki and Kazumi Mitome.
- Shadow Hearts (2001) – with Yasunori Mitsuda, Masaharu Iwata and Ryo Fukuda
- Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004) – with Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Ito, Ryo Fukuda and Tomoko Kobayashi
- Shadow Hearts: From the New World (2005) – with Tomoko Imoto, Ryo Fukuda and Hirotomi Imoto
- Saint Seiya: Meiou Hades Juunikyuu Hen (2007)
- Hana Saku DS Gardening Life (2007)
- DK Jungle Climber (2007) – with Takashi Kouga and Yuichi Kanno
- Yoga Tipness (2007)
- Glory of Heracles (2008) – with Yuichi Kanno
- D.Gray-Man Sousya no Shigaku (2008)
- Saint Seiya Senki (2011)
- Sound design
- Final Fantasy VI (1994)
- Live A Live (1994)
- Chrono Trigger (1995)
- Seiken Densetsu 3 (1995)
- Front Mission: Gun Hazard (1996)
- Bahamut Lagoon (1996)
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Front Mission 2 (1997)
- Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon (1997)
- Parasite Eve (1998)
- Racing Lagoon (1999)
- Chrono Cross (1999)
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
- Koudelka (1999)
[edit] Other works
- Talk While Asleep (1995) Co-remixer with Fumiya Tanaka
- We are not alone ~Mou Hitori Ja Nai~ (1998) Co-composer with Kazumi Mitome
- Biohazard 2 Drama Album: Chiisana Toubousha Sherry (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda
- Biohazard 2 Drama Album: Ikiteita Onna Spy Ada (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda
- Street Fighter Zero 3 Drama Album (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda
- near death experience, SHADOW HEARTS Arrangetracks (2005) Arranger of 5 Tracks
- Angelic Vale Arrange Tracks (2005) Arranger of 2 Tracks
- Tsuki no Uta (2005) (Debut Single of Saki Imozuki) Arranger of all tracks
- Yoruoto Hyouhon (2005) (Debut Album of Noriko Mitose) Composer and arranger of 1 Track
- Rogue Galaxy Premium Arrange (2006) Arranger of 1 Track
- Kinema in the Hole (Rekka Katakiri Album) (2007) Composer and arranger of all tracks
- Cotton (2007) (Noriko Mitose Album) Arranger of 1 Track
- Hareyaka naru Sora no Yukue (2007) (Rekka Katakiri Album) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track
- Struldbruggs ~Majin Kaikou~ (2007) Co-Composer
- Istoria ~Musa~ (Akiko Shikata album) (2007) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Akiko Shikata Single) (2008) Arranger of 1 Track
- Collaboration Album "message" (2008) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track
- Griotte no Nemuri Hime (Haruka Shimotsuki Album) (2009)
- SUZUNO=MIYA Ar tonelico III hymmnos concert side. Red (2010) Composer and Arranger of 2 Tracks
- Guwange Arrange Album + Original Soundtrack (2010) Arranger of 1 Track
- yorlga (2010) (Noriko Mitose album) Composer and Arranger of all tracks
[edit] References
- ^ Jeriaska; Takahiro Yamamoto (translator). "Interview with Darumaya". RPGFan. http://www.rpgfan.com/features/darumaya-interview/index.html. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Concert Information". Extra: Hyper Game Music Event 2007. Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/concerts/extra.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Album Information". Lux-Pain Original Soundtrack. Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/l/luxpain.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Instruments" (in French). Deep in Coma. http://deepincoma.ffdream.com/?cat=yoshitaka_hirota&rub=instruments. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Official website
