Joe Hisaishi Joe Hisaishi

Born: 6 December 1950, Nagano, Japan

Biography:
Hugely popular and well-respected Japanese composer, widely regarded as the “Japanese John Williams”. Hisaishi – whose real name is Mamoru Fujisawa – took violin lessons at age five, and attended the Kunitachi College of Music in 1969, majoring in music composition. He began writing original music in the mid-1970s under his given name, scoring a series of animated shorts, and also began touring around Japan, playing piano in small concert halls. He released his first solo album, “MKWAJU”, in 1981, and then released a follow-up, “Information” being released a year later. Around this time, he began using the stage name Joe Hisaishi, which he took created by taking the name of the legendary composer and producer Quincy Jones, and re-transcribing using Japanese kanji. Having been introduced to animator Hayao Miyazaki by a mutual friend, Hisaishi composed his first major feature score in 1984, for the film "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". Since then, Hisaishi has risen to be the leading light in Japanese film music, and is world renowned for his collaborations with actor/director Takeshi Kitano (“Boiling Point”, “A Scene at the Sea”, “Kids Return”, “Hana-Bi”, “Kikujiro”), and his continuing association with Miyazaki on films such as “Princess Mononoke”, “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle”. In recent years, Hisaishi has become increasingly well known in North America and elsewhere, especially amongst fans of the Anime or ‘manga’ genre. In addition to his film work, Hisaishi has also written several classical pieces, notably "Piano Stories", "My Lost City" and "Shoot the Violist". He was also music the director at the 1998 Winter Olympics in his home city of Nagano. Hisaishi has won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Music five times, in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999 and 2000. He also received the 48th Newcomer Award in 1997 from the Ministry of Education (Public Entertainment Section) among numerous other awards, and is widely recognized as an influential figure in the Japanese film industry. Most recently, Hisaishi has branched out into other aspects of filmmaking, and directed his first movie, entitled "Quartet", in 2003.

Reviews
Departures, I Want to Be a Shellfish, Ponyo on the Cliff, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.

Filmography:
A Cloud on the Slope (2009), I Want to Be a Shellfish (2009), Departures (2008), Ponyo on the Cliff (2008), Sunny et l’Elephant (2008), The Story of the Great King and the Four Gods (2007), The Sun Also Rises (2007), The Postmodern Life of My Aunt (2006), A Chinese Tall Story (2005), Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005), Yamato (2005), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2003), Dolls (2002), The Invention of Destruction in the Imaginary Machines (2002), Le Petit Poucet (2001), Mei and the Kitten Bus (2002), Quartet (2001), Spirited Away (2001), Brother (2000), First Love (2000), Kawa No Nagare No You Ni (2000), Kikujiro (1999), Diary of Early Winter Shower (1998), Hana-Bi (1997), Parasaito Ivu (1997), Princess Mononoke (1997), Kids Return (1996), Onna Zakari (1994), Haruka Nosutarujii (1993), Samurai Kids (1993), Sonatine (1993), Porco Rosso (1992), Seishun Dendekedekedeke (1992), Fukuzawa Yukichi (1991), Futari (1991), Kojika Monogatari (1991), A Scene at the Sea (1991), Kanbakku (1990), Peesuke: Gatapishi Monogatari (1990), Tasumania Monogatari (1990), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Tsuribaka Nisshi 2 (1989), Vinasu Senki (1989), Don Matsugoro No Daiboken (1988), Guriin Rekuiemu (1988), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Yakuza Tosei No Sutekina Menmen (1988), Hyôryu Kyôshitsu (1987), Koibitotachino Jikoku (1987), Kono Aino Monogatari (1987), Robotto Kânibaru (1987), Arion (1986), Atami Satsujin Jiken (1986), Castle in the Sky (1986), Maison Ikkoku (1986), Genesis Climber Mospeada: Love Live Alive (1985), Haru No Kane (1985), Soushun Monogatari (1985), Bâsu (1984), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), W No Higeki (1984), Kikô Sôseiki Mospeada (1983), Ozu No Mahôtsukai (1982), Techno Police 21c (1982).

Highest Grossing Films at end of 2008 (adjusted for inflation):
Ponyo on the Cliff ($12.9m), Spirited Away ($12.5m), Howl’s Moving Castle ($4.8m), Princess Mononoke ($3.4m), Departures ($0.7m), Dolls ($0.5m).

Links
Official Site

Departures Dolls Hana-Bi Howl’s Moving Castle I Want to Be a Shellfish Kiki’s Delivery Service Kikujiro Laputa: Castle in the Sky Le Petit Poucet My Neighbor Totoro Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind Ponyo on the Cliff Porco Rosso Princess Mononoke Sonatine Spirited Away The Story of the Great King and the Four Gods Sunny et l’Elephant


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