Joe Hisaishi, born in Nagano, Japan in 1950, is the composer behind the Studio Ghibli scores, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) through The Boy and the Heron (2023). The Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away soundtracks are the classic entry points; A Symphonic Celebration (2023) works too. Shop Joe Hisaishi vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Joe Hisaishi (the recording name of Mamoru Fujisawa, a Japanese transliteration of Quincy Jones, his early influence) was born in Nagano, Japan on December 6, 1950. He studied at Kunitachi College of Music. He began his career in electronic music and minimalism before becoming established as a film composer in the 1980s. His collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki began with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and has continued across more than a dozen films through The Boy and the Heron (2023). His parallel work with Takeshi Kitano produced scores for Sonatine (1993), Kids Return (1996), Hana-bi (1997), and Brother (2000). His Deutsche Grammophon signing in the 2020s produced concert recordings A Symphonic Celebration (2023) and his ongoing classical work.
Joe Hisaishi's sound combines film score, contemporary classical, minimalism, orchestral, Japanese popular music, and ambient with extensive piano-based composition, full orchestral arrangements, and Japanese folk influence.
Studio Ghibli Records pressings of the Hisaishi/Ghibli soundtrack catalog have been issued in extensive color variant editions. Multiple anniversary editions and Deutsche Grammophon contemporary releases have been issued.
Listeners new to Joe Hisaishi typically start with the Princess Mononoke (1997) or Spirited Away (2001) soundtracks, or A Symphonic Celebration (2023).
