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{{Short description|Japanese composer (born 1969)}} {{Short description|Japanese composer (born 1969)}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox person
| name = Hitoshi Sakimoto | name = Hitoshi Sakimoto
| image = Hitoshi Sakimoto.jpg | image = Hitoshi Sakimoto.jpg
| caption = Sakimoto in 2004 | caption = Sakimoto in 2004
| background = non_performing_personnel
| native_name=崎元 仁 | native_name=崎元 仁
| native_name_lang=jpn | native_name_lang=jpn
| alias = YmoH.S | alias = YmoH.S
| organization = Basiscape
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|2|26}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|2|26}}
| birth_place = ], Japan | birth_place = ], Japan

| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Composer
* sound producer
}}
| years_active = 1988–present
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| instrument = {{flatlist| | instrument = {{flatlist|
* ] * ]
Line 19: Line 26:
* electronica * electronica
}} }}
}}}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
{{nihongo|'''Hitoshi Sakimoto'''|崎元 仁|Sakimoto Hitoshi|born February 26, 1969}} is a Japanese composer and sound producer. He is best known for scoring the video games '']'' and '']'', though he has composed soundtracks for numerous other games. Sakimoto first played music and video games in elementary school and began composing music professionally in 1988. He worked at the video game company ] from 1998 to 2000, before founding the music and sound production company Basiscape in 2002.
* Composer
* arranger
* producer
}}
| years_active = 1988–present
| label = Basiscape
| associated_acts = ]
}}
{{nihongo|'''Hitoshi Sakimoto'''|崎元 仁|Sakimoto Hitoshi|born February 26, 1969}} is a Japanese composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the video games '']'' and '']'', though he has composed soundtracks for over 80 other games. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began composing video game music for money by the time he was 16. Sakimoto's professional career began a few years later in 1988 when he started composing music professionally as a freelancer, as well as programming sound drivers for games.

In 1997, he joined ] and composed for his first international success, the score to ''Final Fantasy Tactics''. In 2002, he resigned from Square to form his own music production company, Basiscape, through which he continues to compose music for games as well as anime. His music has been played at numerous music concerts and published as sheet music.


==Biography== ==Biography==
Line 37: Line 34:
Sakimoto was born on February 26, 1969, in ], ]. He began developing an interest in music beginning in elementary school, when he taught himself to play the piano and ] and participated in some brass and rock bands.<ref name="VGMO"/> A fan of video games, he began creating his own games in junior high school with some friends.<ref name="CocoeBiz"/> While in his senior high school years, Sakimoto wrote for the computer magazine ''Oh!FM'' and compiled data about pieces of music he liked, becoming a self-professed "computer, games, and music geek".<ref name="VGMO"/> Sakimoto was born on February 26, 1969, in ], ]. He began developing an interest in music beginning in elementary school, when he taught himself to play the piano and ] and participated in some brass and rock bands.<ref name="VGMO"/> A fan of video games, he began creating his own games in junior high school with some friends.<ref name="CocoeBiz"/> While in his senior high school years, Sakimoto wrote for the computer magazine ''Oh!FM'' and compiled data about pieces of music he liked, becoming a self-professed "computer, games, and music geek".<ref name="VGMO"/>


Sakimoto started composing for games when he was 16, and was paid to both create the music and the program to play it for several games.<ref name="officialprofile"/> Composing for these games was the first time he had ever composed music for any instrument.<ref name="1UPint"/> His debut as a professional gaming composer came in 1988, when he and his friend ], whom he has worked with on numerous later titles, scored the ] ''Revolter'', published by ASCGroup for the ]. Sakimoto also created the ] driver "Terpsichorean" to enhance the sound quality of the game's music; the synthesizer driver has been implemented into many games throughout the Japanese game market in the early 1990s. Despite ''Revolter''{{'}}s success, he continued with his previous goal to become a video game programmer rather than a composer; however, his friends and colleagues encouraged him to continue composing game music. The recognition he gained within the gaming industry jump-started his career.<ref name="officialprofile"/><ref name="OfficialDisc"/> Sakimoto started composing for games when he was 16, and was paid to both create the music and the program to play it for several games.<ref name="officialprofile"/> Composing for these games was the first time he had ever composed music for any instrument.<ref name="1UPint"/> His debut as a professional gaming composer came in 1988, when he and his friend ], whom he has worked with on numerous later titles, scored the ] ''Revolter'', published by ASCGroup for the ]. Sakimoto also created the ] driver "Terpsichorean" to enhance the sound quality of the game's music; the synthesizer driver has been implemented into many games throughout the Japanese game market in the early 1990s. Despite ''Revolter''{{'}}s success, he continued with his previous goal to become a video game programmer rather than a composer; however, his friends and colleagues encouraged him to continue composing game music. The recognition he gained within the gaming industry jump-started his career.<ref name="officialprofile"/><ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>


===Career=== ===Career===
{{See also|Music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series|Music of Final Fantasy XII}}
After ''Revolter'', Sakimoto's music and synthesizer driver earned him immediate recognition in the industry, resulting in him being asked to score several ] and ] games such as ''Starship Rendezvous'' and '']'', as well as use his driver both in the scores he wrote and for other games.<ref name="VGMO"/> Between 1990 and 1992, Sakimoto worked on over 20 different video games for several different companies such as ], Artec, and ].<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> It was during this time that he composed his first solo score in 1990 for ''Bubble Ghost''.<ref name="VGMO"/>
After ''Revolter'', Sakimoto's music and synthesizer driver earned him immediate recognition in the industry, resulting in him being asked to score several ] and ] games such as ''Starship Rendezvous'' and '']'', as well as use his driver both in the scores he wrote and for other games.<ref name="VGMO"/> Between 1990 and 1992, Sakimoto worked on over 20 different video games for several different companies such as ], Artec, and ].<ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/> It was during this time that he composed his first solo score in 1990 for ''Bubble Ghost''.<ref name="VGMO"/>


Sakimoto's first encounter with mainstream success in Japan came about in 1993 when he composed '']''. The game was directed by ], and since the release of the title, he has chosen Sakimoto as a regular for his development team at ] and later ]. Sakimoto also worked on 14 other titles that year, including '']'' and '']''. Over the next few years, he would go on to compose for or work on over 40 more titles such as '']'' and '']''.<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> In 1997, Sakimoto joined Square and composed the score for '']'', which made him internationally famous, and was the score he was best known for outside Japan until at least 2006.<ref name="officialprofile"/><ref name="IGN12days1"/> Although he worked on a handful of titles by other companies over the next few years, his next work for Square did not come until 2000, with the successful '']''.<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> It was his last score as an employee of Square; although he went on to first compose '']'' and '']'' for ] and ], after a couple of years of planning he resigned from Square to form his own music production company, Basiscape, in October 2002.<ref name="VGMO"/> Sakimoto's first encounter with mainstream success in Japan came about in 1993 when he composed '']''. The game was directed by ], and since the release of the title, he has chosen Sakimoto as a regular for his development team at ] and later ]. Sakimoto also worked on 14 other titles that year, including '']'' and '']''. Over the next few years, he would go on to compose for or work on over 40 more titles such as '']''.<ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/> In 1997, Sakimoto composed the score for '']'', which made him internationally famous, and was the score he was best known for outside Japan until at least 2006.<ref name="officialprofile"/><ref name="IGN12days1"/> This led to him joining Square as an employee, where he worked on '']'',<ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/> his only score as an employee of Square.<ref name="RPGFint"/> After leaving in 2000 he became freelance and went on to compose '']'' and '']'' for ] and ] respectively. After a couple of years of planning he formed his own music production company, Basiscape, in October 2002.<ref name="VGMO"/>


===Basiscape=== ===Basiscape===
Basiscape composes and produces music and sound effects for various types of interactive media, most notably video games. Sakimoto says that he left Square to found the company because he did not feel that he had enough "freedom" as an employee of a game company, though he notes that the cost of that freedom is the difficulty in remaining close to the development team.<ref name="RPGFint"/> At its founding, it comprised only three members: Sakimoto, Iwata, and ]. Through Basiscape, Sakimoto continued to compose for several different companies, including Square—now ]—with '']''. The company expanded in 2005 with the addition of composers Mitsuhiro Kaneda and Kimihiro Abe. After the huge success of 2006's '']'', which he scored, demand for Sakimoto's compositions grew stronger with gaming companies and he decided to expand Basiscape again by hiring Noriyuki Kamikura, Yoshimi Kudo, and Azusa Chiba.<ref name="SEMOBasiscape"/><ref name="SEMOBasComp"/> It is currently the largest independent video game music production company, and continues to work on large titles such as '']'' and '']''.<ref name="officialprofile"/> The composers for the company are able to procure individual work for themselves as members of Basiscape, as well as collaborate with other staff members on projects that are hired out to Basiscape as a company rather than any one composer, which allows the composers to remain freelancers while having the steady work of a full-time job.<ref name="OSVint"/> The company also handles sound effects and narration in addition to soundtracks for the projects that it works on, and at the end of 2009 expanded to start its own record label.<ref name="VGMO2010Int"/> '''Basiscape''' is a music and sound production studio founded by Sakimoto in 2002. The company has contributed to video games, anime, and films. Sakimoto says that he left Square to found the company because he wanted more freedom in choosing his projects.<ref name="RPGFint"/> At its founding, it had only three members: Sakimoto, Iwata, and ]. Through Basiscape, Sakimoto continued to compose for several different companies, including ]. The company expanded in the mid-2000s with the addition of Mitsuhiro Kaneda, Kimihiro Abe, Noriyuki Kamikura, Yoshimi Kudo, and Azusa Chiba.<ref name="SEMOBasiscape"/><ref name="SEMOBasComp"/><ref name="officialprofile"/> Members of the company are free to procure personal work as well as collaborate with other members on projects.<ref name="OSVint"/> The company launched a record label in 2009.<ref name="VGMO2010Int"/>


===Other projects===
Sakimoto has also been involved in non-gaming projects during his career.<ref name="VGMO"/> He contributed one track each to the albums ''Ten Plants'' (1998) and ''2197'' (1999), which feature music from various well-known artists.<ref name="10plants"/><ref name="2197album"/> Sakimoto collaborated with singer ] in 2005 to create the music for the album ''Colors of Life''.<ref name="VGMO"/> He composed the music for two ] series; '']'' (2007) and '']'' (2008); as well as the ] (OVA) '']'' in 2005.<ref name="officialprofile"/>
Sakimoto has also been involved in non-gaming projects during his career.<ref name="VGMO"/> He contributed one track each to the albums ''Ten Plants'' (1998) and ''2197'' (1999), which feature music from various well-known artists.<ref name="10plants"/><ref name="2197album"/> Sakimoto collaborated with singer ] in 2005 to create the music for the album ''Colors of Life''.<ref name="VGMO"/> He composed the music for two ] series; '']'' (2007) and '']'' (2008); as well as the ] (OVA) '']'' in 2005.<ref name="officialprofile"/>


==Performances== ==Performances==
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Sakimoto composes his music by playing the pieces "briefly on the piano", and then working on a computer for more detailed arrangements.<ref name="IGN12days1"/> The style of Sakimoto's compositions is mostly ]l; he creates the orchestral sound by playing the music through a ] instead of using a real orchestra due to the high cost. When composing a soundtrack for a video game, Sakimoto first sits down with the director or producer of the game and works out what emotions they want the game to evoke in the player, and after making a demo for them, sets out to create music that fits that feeling.<ref name="1UPint"/> He claims that his style of composition does not change when he works on non-game works such as ] series, saying that only the tone of the pieces is different.<ref name="IGNAUint"/> He attributes any changes in his style over the years to his desire to constantly keep growing and learning new styles and techniques, saying that if you have not moved forward in your skill and style over time, "you've wasted your time".<ref name="1UPint"/> Sakimoto composes his music by playing the pieces "briefly on the piano", and then working on a computer for more detailed arrangements.<ref name="IGN12days1"/> The style of Sakimoto's compositions is mostly ]l; he creates the orchestral sound by playing the music through a ] instead of using a real orchestra due to the high cost. When composing a soundtrack for a video game, Sakimoto first sits down with the director or producer of the game and works out what emotions they want the game to evoke in the player, and after making a demo for them, sets out to create music that fits that feeling.<ref name="1UPint"/> He claims that his style of composition does not change when he works on non-game works such as ] series, saying that only the tone of the pieces is different.<ref name="IGNAUint"/> He attributes any changes in his style over the years to his desire to constantly keep growing and learning new styles and techniques, saying that if you have not moved forward in your skill and style over time, "you've wasted your time".<ref name="1UPint"/>


He has stated that his biggest musical influences are "old techno and progressive rock" groups such as the Japanese ] group ].<ref name="PALGNint"/><ref name="IGNAUint"/> When he was starting out in the field of music, he went under the pseudonym "YmoH.S", a reference to Yellow Magic Orchestra. He also cites the American ] musician ] as a major influence.<ref name="VGMO"/> While creating the music for ''Final Fantasy XII'', however, his biggest musical inspiration was former regular series composer ]. Sakimoto enjoys listening to ] and ] in his spare time.<ref name="IGN12days2"/> While he sometimes gets inspiration while relaxing at home, Sakimoto feels that his best ideas come to him while he is at his studio concentrating. One of his favorite soundtracks he composed was the one for ''Vagrant Story''.<ref name="1UPint"/> He has stated that his biggest musical influences are "old techno and progressive rock" groups such as the Japanese ] group ].<ref name="PALGNint"/><ref name="IGNAUint"/> When he was starting out in the field of music, he went under the pseudonym "YmoH.S", a reference to Yellow Magic Orchestra. He also cites the American ] musician ] as a major influence.<ref name="VGMO"/> While creating the music for ''Final Fantasy XII'', however, his biggest musical inspiration was former regular series composer ]. Sakimoto enjoys listening to ] and ] in his spare time.<ref name="IGN12days2"/> While he sometimes gets inspiration while relaxing at home, Sakimoto feels that his best ideas come to him while he is at his studio concentrating. He cited ''Vagrant Story'' as one of his favorite soundtracks.<ref name="1UPint"/>


==Works== ==Notable works==
===Video games=== ===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
{{div col}}
|+{{sronly|Video game works}}
*''Revolter'' (1988) – with ]<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope="col"|Year
*'']'' (1990)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope="col"|Title
*''Carat'' (1990) – with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope="col"|Role(s)
*''Starship Rendezvous'' (1990) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
*'']'' (1991)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (1991) – with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope=row rowspan="3" | 1991
*''King Breeder'' (1991) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (1991) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music
*''Cyber Block Metal Orange'' (1991) – with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
*'']'' (1992)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> | <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
*'']'' (1993) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (1993)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
*'']'' (1993) – with Masaharu Iwata and ]<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> | Music with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (1994) – with Hayato Matsuo<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (1994) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*''Moldorian: Hikari to Yami no Sister'' (1994)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
*'']'' (1995) – with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
*''Chick's Tale'' (1995)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/> | <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
*''Dragon Master Silk II'' (1995)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 1993
*'']'' (1996) – with several others<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (1996)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
*''Hourai Gakuen no Bouken!'' (1996)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (1996) – with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (1997) – with ], Kenichi Koyano, ], and Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (1997) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata and ]
*'']'' (1998)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (1998) – with Kenichi Koyano and Manabu Namiki<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (1999) – with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo<ref name=vgmdb/>
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 1994
*'']'' (2000)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2001) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with Hayato Matsuo
*''Kuusen'' (2001)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2001) – with ] and ]<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (2001) – with Atsuhiro Motoyama<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2002)<ref name=vgmdb/>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
*''Perfect Prince'' (2002) – with ] and Ayako Saso<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valentine |first1=Dave |title=Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/perfectprince/ |website=Video Game Music Online |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2003) – with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, and ]<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (2004)<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! 1995
*'']'' (2004) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2004) – with ], Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, and Shoichiro Sakamoto
| Music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
*'']'' (2005) – with Masaharu Iwata, Mitsuhiro Kaneda, and Kenichi Koyano<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2005) – with Basiscape
|-
*'']'' (2005) – with Basiscape
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 1996
*'']'' (2006) – with several others<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2006) – with Masaharu Iwata, Manabu Namiki, and Kenichi Koyano<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with several others
*'']'' (2006) – with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*''Digimon Battle Terminal'' (2006) – with Basiscape
|-
*'']'' (2006) – with Basiscape<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2006) – with Basiscape
| Music
*'']'' (2007) – with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2007) – with Basiscape<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
|-
*'']'' (2007) – with ]<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 1997
*'']'' (2007) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2007) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| Music with several others
*'']'' (2007) – with Masaharu Iwata<ref name=vgmdb/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2007) – with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, Mitsuhiro Kaneda, and Nobuo Uematsu<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*'']'' (2007) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2007) – with Basiscape<ref name="OfficialDisc"/>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
*''L no Kisetsu 2: Invisible Memories'' (2008) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2008)
|-
*'']'' (2008) – with Kimihiro Abe, Masaharu Iwata, and ]<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 1998
*'']'' (2008) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2008) – with Basiscape
| Music
*'']'' (2009)<ref name=vgmdb/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2009) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*'']'' (2009) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|'']''
*'']'' (2009)<ref name=vgmdb/>
| Music with Kenichi Koyano and ]
*'']'' (2010)
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2010) – remake, with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*''Rikishi: Legend of Paper Wrestling'' (2011)
! scope=row| 1999
*'']'' (2011)<ref name=vgmdb/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2012) – with Basiscape
| Music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
*'']'' (2012) – with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*'']'' (2012) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*''World Zero'' (2012)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2013/10/07/70970.html|title=『拡散性ミリオンアーサー』のローカライズ現場に初潜入！日本と繋がりを深める中国最大手「盛大ゲームス」|website=インサイド}}</ref>
! scope=row| 2000
*'']'' (2013)<ref name=vgmdb/>
| '']''
*'']'' (2013) – with Basiscape
| Music
*''The Denpa Men Free!'' (2014) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*''Age of Ishtaria'' (2014) – with Masaharu Iwata
|-
*'']'' (2014) – 3rd anniversary soundtrack
! scope=row rowspan="3" | 2001
*'']'' (2014) – with Nobuo Uematsu, ], ], and Yasunori Mitsuda
| '']''
*''Battle Champs'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shea|first1=Cam|title=Battle Champs Reunites a JRPG Dream Team|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/07/18/battle-champs-reunites-a-jrpg-dream-team|website=IGN|access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref>
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
*''The World End Eclipse'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sega Announces Free-to-Play Online RPG For Smartphones, PC, Vita|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/09/09/sega-announces-free-play-online-rpg-smartphones-pc-vita/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=12 September 2014}}</ref>
*'']'' (2015)<ref name=vgmdb/> | <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
*'']'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moriarty|first1=Colin|title=TGS 2014: Introducing Zodiac, a New JRPG for PS Vita|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/19/tgs-2014-introducing-zodiac-a-new-jrpg-for-ps-vita|website=IGN|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
|'']''
*'']'' (2016) – with Basiscape
| Music with ] and ]
*''Tiger Knight'' (2016)<ref name="2016games">{{cite web|author=Sam Hughes|title=Interview With Dragon's Crown Composer, Hitoshi Sakimoto!|url=http://www.thesoundarchitect.co.uk/hitoshisakimoto/|date=25 June 2016|website=The Sound Architect|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
*''Valiant Force'' (2016)<ref name="2016games"/> | <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
*'']'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sato|title=Revisit Ivalice In Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Original Soundtrack Trailer|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/13/revisit-ivalice-final-fantasy-xii-zodiac-age-original-soundtrack-trailer/|website=siliconera.com|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>
|'']''
*''Shinnazuki'' (2018)<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Basiscape_En|author=Basiscape|title="Shinnazuki"(MorningTec Japan/iOS and Android) released online from 9th of April 2018! Music direction, composition and arrangement by Sakimoto. Lylics by Chiba,Orchestration by Chiba, Kudo, Higashihara and Watanabe.Mixing by Kaneko.|number=983920160279965696|date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>
| Music with Atsuhiro Motoyama
*'']'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mathew|first1=Gallagher|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto to compose Valkyria Chronicles 4|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/hitoshi-sakimoto-to-compose-valkyria-chronicles-4/|website=Video Game Music Online|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
*''Tales of Demons and Gods'' (2018) – with Basiscape<ref>{{cite web |author1=YuushaExa |title=Tales of Demons and Gods Mobile Game - Chinese Server Pre-Registration |url=https://www.mmorpg.news/2019/05/tales-of-demons-and-gods-mobile-game.html |website=MMORPG.news |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
*''Project Babel'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web |author1=Sato |title=Colopl Announces Project Babel A New Smartphone RPG By Final Fantasy VII Writer |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2018/11/27/colopl-announces-project-babel-a-new-smartphone-rpg-by-final-fantasy-vii-writer/ |website=Siliconera |access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref>
! scope=row| 2002
*'']'' (2019) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
| '']''
*''Shining Beyond'' (2020) – with Basiscape<ref>{{cite web |title=Works 2020 |url=http://www.basiscape.com/works2020.html#shiningbeyond |website=basiscape.com |access-date=5 April 2021 |language=Japanese}}</ref>
| Music
*'']'' (2021) – with several others<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vitale |first1=Adam |title=Traditionally styled RPG Astria Ascending set to release for consoles and PC in 2021 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/10932-traditionally-styled-rpg-astria-ascending-set-to-release-for-consoles-and-pc-in-2021 |website=RPG Site |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
* '']'' (2022)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lada |first1=Jenni |title=Review: Little Noah has a Winning Formula |url=https://www.siliconera.com/review-little-noah-has-a-winning-formula-switch/ |website=Siliconera |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
* '']'' (2022) – with Basiscape<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Tactics Ogre: Reborn announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/tactics-ogre-reborn-announced-for-ps5-ps4-switch-and-pc |website=Gematsu |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>
! scope=row| 2003
*'']'' (early access)<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Lucas |title=Hitoshi Sakimoto's Unsung Story Soundtrack is Finished, and You can Listen to a Sample |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/01/02/unsung-story-tale-of-the-guardians-soundtrack-finished/#/slide/1 |website=PlayStation Lifestyle |access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref>
| '']''
*''Sword of Convallaria'' (TBA)<ref>{{cite web |author1=IGN Global Studios |title=TapTap Presents 2022: Everything Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/taptap-presents-2022-everything-announced |website=IGN |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>
| Music with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, and ]
*''Valiant Force 2'' (TBD)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Robert |title=Valiant Force 2 - Pre-registration begins on Google Play for strategy RPG sequel - MMO Culture |url=https://mmoculture.com/2022/09/valiant-force-2-pre-registration-begins-on-google-play-for-strategy-rpg-sequel/ |website=MMO Culture |access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>

|-

! scope=row rowspan="2" | 2004
{{div col end}}
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="5" | 2006
| '']''
| Music with several others
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Masaharu Iwata, Manabu Namiki, and Kenichi Koyano
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="8" | 2007
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with ]
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Masaharu Iwata
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Mitsuhiro Kaneda
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="3" | 2008
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Kimihiro Abe, Masaharu Iwata, and ]
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="3" | 2009
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape and others
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 2010
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
| '']''
| Remake; music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2011
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2012
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2013
| '']''
| Music
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2014
| '']''
| Music with several others
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2015
| '']''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web|last1=Moriarty|first1=Colin|title=TGS 2014: Introducing Zodiac, a New JRPG for PS Vita|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/19/tgs-2014-introducing-zodiac-a-new-jrpg-for-ps-vita|website=IGN|date=19 September 2014 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row| 2016
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2017
| '']''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web|author1=Sato|title=Revisit Ivalice In Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Original Soundtrack Trailer|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/13/revisit-ivalice-final-fantasy-xii-zodiac-age-original-soundtrack-trailer/|website=siliconera.com|date=13 April 2017 |access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row| 2018
| '']''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web|last1=Mathew|first1=Gallagher|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto to compose Valkyria Chronicles 4|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/hitoshi-sakimoto-to-compose-valkyria-chronicles-4/|website=Video Game Music Online|date=20 November 2017 |access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row| 2019
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist"/>
|-
! scope=row| 2020
| '']''
| Music; early access release
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Lucas |title=Hitoshi Sakimoto's Unsung Story Soundtrack is Finished, and You can Listen to a Sample |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/01/02/unsung-story-tale-of-the-guardians-soundtrack-finished/#/slide/1 |website=PlayStation Lifestyle |date=2 January 2019 |access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row| 2021
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Vitale |first1=Adam |title=Traditionally styled RPG Astria Ascending set to release for consoles and PC in 2021 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/10932-traditionally-styled-rpg-astria-ascending-set-to-release-for-consoles-and-pc-in-2021 |website=RPG Site |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 2022
| '']''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Lada |first1=Jenni |title=Review: Little Noah has a Winning Formula |url=https://www.siliconera.com/review-little-noah-has-a-winning-formula-switch/ |website=Siliconera |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
| '']''
| Music with Basiscape
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Tactics Ogre: Reborn announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/tactics-ogre-reborn-announced-for-ps5-ps4-switch-and-pc |website=Gematsu |date=4 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row rowspan="2" | 2024
| ''Sword of Convallaria''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Vitale |first1=Adam |title=Free-to-play pixel-art tactical RPG Sword of Convallaria launches on July 31 for mobile devices and PC |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/15961-free-to-play-pixel-art-tactical-rpg-sword-convallaria-launches-on-july-31-for-mobile-devices-pc |website=RPG Site |access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
| '']''
| Music
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=V |first=Amber |date=2024-08-15 |title=Wizardry series' latest title will get a Steam release and OST by legendary Final Fantasy composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. Mobile pre-registrations now open |url=https://automaton-media.com/en/news/wizardry-series-latest-title-will-get-a-steam-release-and-ost-by-legendary-final-fantasy-composer-hitoshi-sakimoto-mobile-pre-registrations-now-open/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=AUTOMATON WEST |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row| 2025
| ''Lost Hellden''
| Music
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Vitale |first1=Adam |title=Artisan Studios announces Lost Hellden, a 'hand painted' JRPG set to release for consoles and PC in 2025 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/15463-artisan-studios-announces-lost-hellden-hand-painted-jrpg-set-to-release-for-consoles-pc-in-2025 |website=RPG Site |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref>
|}


===Other=== ===Other===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
{{div col}}
! scope="col" |Year
*''MCMXCI'' (1991) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope="col" |Title
*''MYSTERY CASE in HI! SCHOOL!'' (1992) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope="col" |Role(s)
*''Be filled with feeling'' (1992) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
*''Great Wall'' (1993) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*''G.T.R'' (1993) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope="row" | 2005
*''T•O•U•R•S'' (1994) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|'']''
*''Ten Plants'' (1998) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|Ending theme
*''2197'' (1999) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|
*''ArtePizza.com'' (2005) – Home Page Theme
|-
*''Colors of Life'' (2005) – with ]<ref name=vgmdb/>
! scope="row" | 2007
*'']'' (2005)
*'']'' (2007)<ref name=vgmdb>{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/artist/112|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto|access-date=May 31, 2020|date=January 1, 2020|publisher=Video Game Music Database}}</ref> |'']''
|Music
|<ref name=vgmdb>{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/artist/112|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto|access-date=May 31, 2020|date=January 1, 2020|publisher=Video Game Music Database}}</ref>
|-
*''COLORS'' (2008)
!2008
*'']'' (2008)<ref name=vgmdb/>
*'']'' (2009)<ref name=vgmdb/> |'']''
|Music
|<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*''Iron Vendetta'' (2011)
!2009
*''Oto Gift'' (2011) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
|'']''
*'']'' (2011) – with Basiscape<ref name=vgmdb/>
|Music
*''Red Dragon'' (2012)<ref name=vgmdb/>
|<ref name=vgmdb/>
*''THE LEGEND ARTISTS Otakara Hakken!'' (2014) – with several others<ref name=vgmdb/>
|-
*'']'' (2015)<ref name=vgmdb/>
!2011
{{div col end}}
|'']''

|Music with Basiscape
==See also==
|<ref name=vgmdb/>
*]
|-
*]
!2015
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name=vgmdb/>
|}


==References== ==References==
Line 199: Line 382:
<ref name="CocoeBiz">{{cite web | url=http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/index.shtml | title=Hitoshi Sakimoto - Profile | publisher=CocoeBiz | access-date=2008-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084928/http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/index.shtml | archive-date=2008-10-02 | url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="CocoeBiz">{{cite web | url=http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/index.shtml | title=Hitoshi Sakimoto - Profile | publisher=CocoeBiz | access-date=2008-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084928/http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/index.shtml | archive-date=2008-10-02 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


<ref name="VGMO">{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/hitoshisakimoto/|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto Profile|publisher=Video Game Music Online|last1=Greening|first1=Chris|access-date=2015-07-27}}</ref> <ref name="VGMO">{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/hitoshisakimoto/|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto Profile|publisher=Video Game Music Online|last1=Greening|first1=Chris|date=20 January 2013 |access-date=2015-07-27}}</ref>


<ref name="1UPint">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3163748|title=Final Fantasy XII Composer Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview from 1UP.com|last=Sakimoto|first=Hitoshi|author2=Kennedy, Sam|date=2007-10-30|publisher=]|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614172204/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3163748|archive-date=2016-06-14}}</ref> <ref name="1UPint">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3163748|title=Final Fantasy XII Composer Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview from 1UP.com|last=Sakimoto|first=Hitoshi|author2=Kennedy, Sam|date=2007-10-30|publisher=]|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614172204/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3163748|archive-date=2016-06-14}}</ref>


<ref name="OfficialDisc">{{cite web|url=http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/discography/index.shtml|title=Hitoshi Sakimoto - Discography|publisher=CocoeBiz|access-date=2008-12-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002080704/http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/discography/index.shtml|archive-date=2008-10-02}}</ref> <ref name="BasiscapeWorklist">{{cite web |url=https://basiscape.com/arts_sakimoto.html |title=Basiscape Artists - Hitoshi Sakimoto |access-date=12 February 2024|website=Basiscape.com}}</ref>


<ref name="IGN12days1">{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741502p1.html|title=Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview Part I|last=Sakimoto|first=Hitoshi|date=2006-10-24|publisher=]|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212203627/http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741502p1.html|archive-date=2007-02-12}}</ref> <ref name="IGN12days1">{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741502p1.html|title=Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview Part I|last=Sakimoto|first=Hitoshi|date=2006-10-24|publisher=]|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212203627/http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741502p1.html|archive-date=2007-02-12}}</ref>


<ref name="RPGFint">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/interviews2005/index4.html|title=RPGFan Exclusive Interview #4: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Composer, Basiscape|last=Winkler|first=Chris|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-10-15}}</ref> <ref name="RPGFint">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/interviews2005/index4.html|title=RPGFan Exclusive Interview #4: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Composer, Basiscape|last=Winkler|first=Chris|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-10-15|archive-date=2020-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705104641/https://www.rpgfan.com/features/interviews2005/index4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


<ref name="SEMOBasiscape">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/companies/basiscape/index.shtml|title=Basiscape|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=2008-12-06}}</ref> <ref name="SEMOBasiscape">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/companies/basiscape/index.shtml|title=Basiscape|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=2008-12-06}}</ref>
Line 233: Line 416:
<ref name="FANT2007">{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/785/785905p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508214454/http://wii.ign.com/articles/785/785905p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2007|author=Shea, Cam|title=A Night in Fantasia 2007 Photos|publisher=]|date=2007-05-04|access-date=2009-10-15}}</ref> <ref name="FANT2007">{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/785/785905p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508214454/http://wii.ign.com/articles/785/785905p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2007|author=Shea, Cam|title=A Night in Fantasia 2007 Photos|publisher=]|date=2007-05-04|access-date=2009-10-15}}</ref>


<ref name="RPGFMitsudaint">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/mitsuda-interview/index.html|title=Interview with Yasunori Mitsuda|publisher=RPGFan|author1=Kermarrec, Jérémie |author2=Jeriaska |date=2008-10-15|access-date=2008-12-06}}</ref> <ref name="RPGFMitsudaint">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/mitsuda-interview/index.html|title=Interview with Yasunori Mitsuda|publisher=RPGFan|author1=Kermarrec, Jérémie|author2=Jeriaska|date=2008-10-15|access-date=2008-12-06|archive-date=2016-08-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805103827/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/mitsuda-interview/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


<ref name="EMINENCEalbums">{{cite web|url=http://eminenceonline.com/site/eminence-portfolio.php|title=Portfolio|publisher=Eminence Symphony Orchestra|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730180844/http://eminenceonline.com/site/eminence-portfolio.php|archive-date=2009-07-30}}</ref> <ref name="EMINENCEalbums">{{cite web|url=http://eminenceonline.com/site/eminence-portfolio.php|title=Portfolio|publisher=Eminence Symphony Orchestra|access-date=2009-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730180844/http://eminenceonline.com/site/eminence-portfolio.php|archive-date=2009-07-30}}</ref>
Line 245: Line 428:
==External links== ==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.sakimoto.jp/}} *{{Official website|http://www.sakimoto.jp/}}
* {{in lang|ja}} * {{in lang|ja}}
*{{IMDb name|0757080|Hitoshi Sakimoto}} *{{IMDb name|0757080|Hitoshi Sakimoto}}


Line 264: Line 447:
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 15 October 2024

Japanese composer (born 1969)
Hitoshi Sakimoto
崎元 仁
Sakimoto in 2004
Born (1969-02-26) February 26, 1969 (age 55)
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesYmoH.S
Occupations
  • Composer
  • sound producer
Years active1988–present
OrganizationBasiscape
Musical career
Genres
  • Symphonic
  • electronica
Instruments
Musical artist

Hitoshi Sakimoto (崎元 仁, Sakimoto Hitoshi, born February 26, 1969) is a Japanese composer and sound producer. He is best known for scoring the video games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for numerous other games. Sakimoto first played music and video games in elementary school and began composing music professionally in 1988. He worked at the video game company Square from 1998 to 2000, before founding the music and sound production company Basiscape in 2002.

Biography

Early life

Sakimoto was born on February 26, 1969, in Tokyo, Japan. He began developing an interest in music beginning in elementary school, when he taught himself to play the piano and electronic organ and participated in some brass and rock bands. A fan of video games, he began creating his own games in junior high school with some friends. While in his senior high school years, Sakimoto wrote for the computer magazine Oh!FM and compiled data about pieces of music he liked, becoming a self-professed "computer, games, and music geek".

Sakimoto started composing for games when he was 16, and was paid to both create the music and the program to play it for several games. Composing for these games was the first time he had ever composed music for any instrument. His debut as a professional gaming composer came in 1988, when he and his friend Masaharu Iwata, whom he has worked with on numerous later titles, scored the shooter game Revolter, published by ASCGroup for the NEC PC-8801. Sakimoto also created the synthesizer driver "Terpsichorean" to enhance the sound quality of the game's music; the synthesizer driver has been implemented into many games throughout the Japanese game market in the early 1990s. Despite Revolter's success, he continued with his previous goal to become a video game programmer rather than a composer; however, his friends and colleagues encouraged him to continue composing game music. The recognition he gained within the gaming industry jump-started his career.

Career

See also: Music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and Music of Final Fantasy XII

After Revolter, Sakimoto's music and synthesizer driver earned him immediate recognition in the industry, resulting in him being asked to score several PC-9801 and Mega Drive games such as Starship Rendezvous and Gauntlet IV, as well as use his driver both in the scores he wrote and for other games. Between 1990 and 1992, Sakimoto worked on over 20 different video games for several different companies such as Toshiba EMI, Artec, and Data East. It was during this time that he composed his first solo score in 1990 for Bubble Ghost.

Sakimoto's first encounter with mainstream success in Japan came about in 1993 when he composed Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. The game was directed by Yasumi Matsuno, and since the release of the title, he has chosen Sakimoto as a regular for his development team at Quest and later Square. Sakimoto also worked on 14 other titles that year, including Shin Megami Tensei and Alien vs. Predator. Over the next few years, he would go on to compose for or work on over 40 more titles such as Tactics Ogre. In 1997, Sakimoto composed the score for Final Fantasy Tactics, which made him internationally famous, and was the score he was best known for outside Japan until at least 2006. This led to him joining Square as an employee, where he worked on Vagrant Story, his only score as an employee of Square. After leaving in 2000 he became freelance and went on to compose Breath of Fire V and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis for Capcom and Quest respectively. After a couple of years of planning he formed his own music production company, Basiscape, in October 2002.

Basiscape

Basiscape is a music and sound production studio founded by Sakimoto in 2002. The company has contributed to video games, anime, and films. Sakimoto says that he left Square to found the company because he wanted more freedom in choosing his projects. At its founding, it had only three members: Sakimoto, Iwata, and Manabu Namiki. Through Basiscape, Sakimoto continued to compose for several different companies, including Square Enix. The company expanded in the mid-2000s with the addition of Mitsuhiro Kaneda, Kimihiro Abe, Noriyuki Kamikura, Yoshimi Kudo, and Azusa Chiba. Members of the company are free to procure personal work as well as collaborate with other members on projects. The company launched a record label in 2009.

Other projects

Sakimoto has also been involved in non-gaming projects during his career. He contributed one track each to the albums Ten Plants (1998) and 2197 (1999), which feature music from various well-known artists. Sakimoto collaborated with singer Lia in 2005 to create the music for the album Colors of Life. He composed the music for two anime series; Romeo x Juliet (2007) and The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk (2008); as well as the original video animation (OVA) Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ in 2005.

Performances

Yasunori Mitsuda and Sakimoto in 2007

Sakimoto has made numerous appearances at video game concerts that have performed his compositions. He, along with Yoko Shimomura and Michael Salvatori, were special guests at a July 2006 Play! A Video Game Symphony event at the Orchestra Hall in Detroit. He has developed a strong relationship with the Australian-based Eminence Symphony Orchestra. Sakimoto and Yasunori Mitsuda made guest appearances at their Passion event in December 2006. In April 2007, he appeared at Eminence's A Night in Fantasia 2007: Symphonic Games Edition, which featured three of his compositions. Sakimoto and Mitsuda collaborated with Eminence in July the same year to create Destiny: Reunion, a concert held exclusively in Japan. Eminence released Passion (2006) and Destiny: Dreamer's Alliance (2007), two studio recorded albums that feature various compositions from the Passion and Destiny: Reunion concerts respectively. "Penelo's Theme" from Final Fantasy XII and a medley of pieces from Final Fantasy Tactics A2 were played at the Fantasy Comes Alive concert in Singapore in April 2010.

Musical style and influences

Sakimoto composes his music by playing the pieces "briefly on the piano", and then working on a computer for more detailed arrangements. The style of Sakimoto's compositions is mostly orchestral; he creates the orchestral sound by playing the music through a sequencer instead of using a real orchestra due to the high cost. When composing a soundtrack for a video game, Sakimoto first sits down with the director or producer of the game and works out what emotions they want the game to evoke in the player, and after making a demo for them, sets out to create music that fits that feeling. He claims that his style of composition does not change when he works on non-game works such as anime series, saying that only the tone of the pieces is different. He attributes any changes in his style over the years to his desire to constantly keep growing and learning new styles and techniques, saying that if you have not moved forward in your skill and style over time, "you've wasted your time".

He has stated that his biggest musical influences are "old techno and progressive rock" groups such as the Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. When he was starting out in the field of music, he went under the pseudonym "YmoH.S", a reference to Yellow Magic Orchestra. He also cites the American jazz musician Chick Corea as a major influence. While creating the music for Final Fantasy XII, however, his biggest musical inspiration was former regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu. Sakimoto enjoys listening to techno and jazz fusion in his spare time. While he sometimes gets inspiration while relaxing at home, Sakimoto feels that his best ideas come to him while he is at his studio concentrating. He cited Vagrant Story as one of his favorite soundtracks.

Notable works

Video games

Video game works
Year Title Role(s) Ref.
1991 Devilish Music
Verytex Music with Masaharu Iwata and Yoshio Furukawa
Magical Chase Music with Masaharu Iwata
1993 Gauntlet IV Music with Masaharu Iwata
Ogre Battle Music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
1994 X-Kaliber 2097 Music with Hayato Matsuo
Kingdom Grand Prix Music with Masaharu Iwata
1995 Tactics Ogre Music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
1996 Treasure Hunter G Music with several others
Terra Diver Music
1997 Bloody Roar Music with several others
Final Fantasy Tactics Music with Masaharu Iwata
1998 Radiant Silvergun Music
Armed Police Batrider Music with Kenichi Koyano and Manabu Namiki
1999 Ogre Battle 64 Music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
2000 Vagrant Story Music
2001 Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis Music with Masaharu Iwata
Legaia 2: Duel Saga Music with Yasunori Mitsuda and Michiru Oshima
Tekken Advance Music with Atsuhiro Motoyama
2002 Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Music
2003 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Music with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Nobuo Uematsu
2004 Gradius V Music
Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity Music with Masaharu Iwata
2006 Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner Music with several others
Fantasy Earth Zero Music with Masaharu Iwata, Manabu Namiki, and Kenichi Koyano
Final Fantasy XII Music
Battle Stadium D.O.N Music with Basiscape
Digimon World Data Squad Music with Basiscape
2007 GrimGrimoire Music with Basiscape
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Music with Kenichiro Fukui
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions Music with Masaharu Iwata
Odin Sphere Music with Basiscape
ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat Music with Masaharu Iwata
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Music with Ayako Saso, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Mitsuhiro Kaneda
Opoona Music with Basiscape
Deltora Quest: The Seven Gems Music with Basiscape
2008 Valkyria Chronicles Music
The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road Music with Kimihiro Abe, Masaharu Iwata, and Michiko Naruke
Coded Soul Music with Basiscape
2009 Muramasa: The Demon Blade Music with Basiscape
Tekken 6 Music with Basiscape and others
Lord of Vermilion II Music
2010 Valkyria Chronicles II Music
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Remake; music with Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo
2011 Valkyria Chronicles III Music
2012 Crimson Shroud Music with Basiscape
2013 Dragon's Crown Music
2014 Terra Battle Music with several others
2015 Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey Music
2016 Odin Sphere Leifthrasir Music with Basiscape
2017 Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Music
2018 Valkyria Chronicles 4 Music
2019 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Music with Basiscape
2020 Unsung Story Music; early access release
2021 Astria Ascending Music with Basiscape
2022 Little Noah: Scion of Paradise Music
Tactics Ogre: Reborn Music with Basiscape
2024 Sword of Convallaria Music
Wizardry Variants Daphne Music
2025 Lost Hellden Music

Other

Year Title Role(s) Ref.
2005 Kaleido Star: Legend of Phoenix - Layla Hamilton Story Ending theme
2007 Romeo x Juliet Music
2008 The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk Music
2009 The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk Music
2011 Tekken: Blood Vengeance Music with Basiscape
2015 Chaos Dragon Music

References

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  23. Sato (13 April 2017). "Revisit Ivalice In Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Original Soundtrack Trailer". siliconera.com. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  24. Mathew, Gallagher (20 November 2017). "Hitoshi Sakimoto to compose Valkyria Chronicles 4". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  25. White, Lucas (2 January 2019). "Hitoshi Sakimoto's Unsung Story Soundtrack is Finished, and You can Listen to a Sample". PlayStation Lifestyle. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  26. Vitale, Adam. "Traditionally styled RPG Astria Ascending set to release for consoles and PC in 2021". RPG Site. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  27. Lada, Jenni (5 July 2022). "Review: Little Noah has a Winning Formula". Siliconera. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  28. Romano, Sal (4 August 2022). "Tactics Ogre: Reborn announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  29. Vitale, Adam. "Free-to-play pixel-art tactical RPG Sword of Convallaria launches on July 31 for mobile devices and PC". RPG Site. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  30. V, Amber (2024-08-15). "Wizardry series' latest title will get a Steam release and OST by legendary Final Fantasy composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. Mobile pre-registrations now open". AUTOMATON WEST. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  31. Vitale, Adam. "Artisan Studios announces Lost Hellden, a 'hand painted' JRPG set to release for consoles and PC in 2025". RPG Site. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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