Misplaced Pages

Kenji Ito: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 15:43, 3 February 2008 editLiontamer (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,144 editsm updated OC ReMix link← Previous edit Latest revision as of 13:17, 8 December 2024 edit undoPresN (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators79,214 edits undo - per WP:ACCESSibility, we need row headers, and the ! marks them as header cellsTag: Undo 
(287 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Japanese music composer (born 1968)}}
{{nihongo|'''Kenji Ito'''|伊藤 賢治|''Itō Kenji''|born ] ]}} is a ] ]. He is best known for his work on ] and the ] series. In ] he left ] to become a freelance artist, but has since continued to collaborate with the company.
{{for|the Japanese footballer|Kenji Ito (footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kenji Ito
| native_name = 伊藤 賢治
| native_name_lang = ja
| image =
| caption =
| alias = Itoken
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|5}}
| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan
| genre =
| occupation = Composer, musician
| years_active = 1990–present
| employer = ] (1990–2001)
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| instrument = Piano, ], ]
| label =
}}}}
{{nihongo|'''Kenji Ito'''|伊藤 賢治|''Itō Kenji''|born July 5, 1968}}, also known by the nickname {{nihongo|'''Itoken'''|イトケン}},<ref name="ITOsite"/>{{refn|group=nb|Not to be confused with the multi-instrumentalist Itoken of Harpy, zuppa di pesce, Itoken Trio, Kuricorder Pops Orchestra, and others.<ref name="itoken"/>}} is a Japanese ] and musician. He is best known for his work on the '']'' and '']'' series, though he has worked on over 30 video games throughout his career as well as composed or arranged music for over 15 other albums, concerts, and plays. He learned to play several instruments at a young age, and joined ] directly out of college as a composer in 1990 at the advice of a professor. He worked there for over a decade, composing many of his best-known scores. In 2001, he left Square to become a freelance composer, but has since continued to collaborate with the company.


Since leaving Square, Ito has composed soundtracks to over a dozen games, and has branched out into composition and production of music for plays and albums for other performers. Ito's work has been performed in a concert dedicated to his pieces as well as general video game music events, and he has played the piano in additional concerts. Pieces of his from the ''SaGa'' and ''Mana'' series have been arranged as piano solos and published in sheet music books.
==History==
Born ] ] in Tokyo, Ito became interested in music at the early age of 4. By the time he began composing at the age of 10, he had learned to play alto saxophone, clarinet, and piano. During March 1990, Ito was recruited by ].


==Biography==
His first project was a co-effort between himself and ] for the Game Boy title, ] (SaGa 2). Shortly after in 1991, he composed the complete soundtrack for ] (Seiken Densetsu), another Game Boy title. Beginning in 1992, Ito would have the Super Nintendo's 8 channel sound chip to rely on as he began composing music for the SaGa trilogy. This includes all of the music for Romancing SaGa 1, 2, and 3, as well as SaGa Frontier (a PlayStation title).
===Early life===
Born in Tokyo, Japan, on July 5, 1968, Ito became interested in music at the age of four.<ref name="ITOsite"/> He began to learn to play the piano, becoming interested in it after hearing piano music coming from a classroom he passed by daily with his mother. He was also interested in ] music, but was discouraged from learning it by a piano teacher.<ref name="ITOCBint"/> By the time he began composing at the age of ten, he had learned to play alto saxophone, clarinet, and piano, and was interested in becoming a singer/songwriter.<ref name="ITOsite"/> When he was close to graduating from college, he decided to pursue a career in composing music; when he asked a professor for advice, the professor recommended becoming a video game music composer, given the recent success in Japan of '']''. During March 1990, after applying to several video game companies including ], Ito began working at ].<ref name="Interview1"/><ref name="GAMAint"/>


===Career===
1997 marks the beginning of several smaller contributions to video game music made by Ito. Two tracks were contributed to ], as well as the opening and closing themes of '']''. An original vocal track along with some arrangements of Nobuo Uematsu's older works were made by Ito in 1999 for '']''. He left Square in 2001 to become a freelance composer. Shortly after, he composed his magnum opus for the dreamcast title, '']'', along with various other works for ''Dark Chronicle Premium Arrange'' and '']''.
His first project was a co-effort that same year between himself and ] for the ] title '']'' (''SaGa 2'').<ref name="ITOdisc"/> It led the following year to the first album release of his music, '']'', which was a combination album of '']'', ''Final Fantasy Legend II'', and '']''; all of Ito's work on ''Legend II'' appeared on the album.<ref name="RPGFASOS"/> Shortly after in 1991, he composed his first solo work, the soundtrack for '']'' (''Seiken Densetsu''), another Game Boy title. He then returned to the ''SaGa'' series for the next few years, composing the soundtracks to the ]'s '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="ITOdisc"/> These soundtracks sparked Ito's first arranged albums; the first game was arranged in a French musical style by Masaaki Mizuguchi, while the other two were arranged by Ryou Fukui and Taro Iwashiro, respectively, into orchestral pieces.<ref name="RPGFRSLR"/><ref name="RPGFRS2ER"/><ref name="RPGFRS3WT"/> Ito was originally scheduled to continue on with the ] and compose the soundtrack to ''Seiken Densetsu 2'' ('']''), but was forced to hand the project off to ] as his first score due to the demand on his time for scoring ''Romancing SaGa''.<ref name="SHint2"/>


1995 marked the first time since he started composing that he worked on a title outside the ''Mana'' or ]; he composed the music for ''Koi wa Balance'' and was a member of an eight-person team for '']''. He returned to the ''SaGa'' series in 1997 with '']'', and finished out the decade with '']'' and '']''; for ''Chocobo Racing'' he only arranged previous works from the '']'' and ''Final Fantasy'' series, and contributed only a few tracks to ''Chocobo's Dungeon 2''.<ref name="ITOdisc"/> He left Square in 2001 to become a freelance composer. He has said that this move was in order to give him the flexibility to work on more than just video game music.<ref name="Interview1"/>
In 2002, Ito announced that he'd received work from Square again, updating his compositions for ] for its remake on the ], '']''. Ito's recent works with ] include the latest SaGa title, ''], and '']., as well as '']'' and '']''.


The first work that Ito composed after leaving Square was the soundtrack to '']'', which he regards as his best work. He attributes this feeling both to the fact that it was his first freelance piece and that he handled all aspects of the music production, from composition through arrangement and sound production.<ref name="ITOCBint"/> From there he returned to working with Square and the ''Mana'' series with the remake of his second soundtrack, ''Final Fantasy Adventure'', into the soundtrack of '']''. It was an act he would repeat two years later for Square, now Square Enix, with the remake of ''Romancing SaGa'', ''Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song''. He has since returned to the ''Mana'' series twice, with the soundtracks to '']'' and '']''. All of the video game soundtracks that he has composed since the third expansion pack for '']'' in 2004 have been with the assistance of other composers except for 2007's '']'', though during those years he has branched out from video games into composing and producing albums and singles for performers as well as composing music for plays and concerts.<ref name="ITOdisc"/> He has also released an album of piano pieces that he has composed; only two of the eight tracks are from his video game works.<ref name="Japdisc"/>
Ito was selected to join a long list of video-game composers to contribute music to '']'' in 2007. He was selected to arrange the ''Space Armada'' theme from the ] for the game.


==Legacy==
"Kenji Ito" is also credited in '']'', but not as sound composer. This may or may not be the same person as the one described elsewhere in this article.
Ito performed piano live during September 22, 2006 ''Press Start 2006 -Symphony of Games-'' live concert, at which several of his pieces were performed by an orchestra.<ref name="GAMAint"/> This concert followed a concert of August 26, 2006 ''Manami Kiyota x Kenji Ito Collaboration Live'' in which he played the piano for songs composed by him for the event and sung by Manami Kiyota; he has also played the piano at concerts given by '']'', a band composed of current or former Square musicians, before they expanded to include a full-time pianist.<ref name="COCOEnews"/> Music composed by Ito has also been performed at the ''Extra -Hyper Game Music Event 2007'' and ''Christmas Live 2008 "gentleecho -prelude-"'' concerts.<ref name="Japdisc"/>


Music composed by Ito was performed at a concert devoted to his music on February 21, 2009 titled "gentle echo meeting" at the Uchisaiwaicho Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo. A group of five musicians performed eight of his songs, interspersed with performances by Ito and discussions about his music between himself and ]. The event began as a concert due to Ito's wish to host one based on his music, but after the space the organizing company, Harmonics International, rented turned out to be run by a high school classmate of Ito, at the classmate's insistence the discussions of Ito's music were added to the program.<ref name="GAMAint"/>
==Style==
Kenji Ito is most well-known for his epic, rock-based battle themes and use of ] in ] and ]. Strings, in some form, are present in a vast majority of Ito's music. Although usually not part of the ], two to four string voices are often present in his music at lower pitches to harmonize and define ]s. These strings often move with the main melody in a form of counterpoint.


Music from the original soundtracks of ''Dawn of Mana'' and ''Sword of Mana'' has been arranged for the piano and published by DOREMI Music Publishing.<ref name="DOREMI"/> Two compilation books of music from the series as a whole have also been published as ''Seiken Densetsu Best Collection Piano Solo Sheet Music'' first and second editions, with the first edition including tracks by Ito from ''Final Fantasy Adventure'' while the second added tracks he composed from ''Dawn of Mana''. All songs in each book have been rewritten by Asako Niwa as beginning to intermediate level piano solos, though they are meant to sound as much like the originals as possible.<ref name="SEMOsheet"/> Additionally, KMP Music Publishing has published a book of the piano music included in the ''Sword of Mana'' soundtrack album, which Ito arranged from his original compositions.<ref name="SEMOSOMsheet"/> DOREMI Music Publishing also published music from the original soundtracks of some of the ''SaGa'' games that Ito composed as piano sheet music book; music from ''Romancing SaGa 3'', ''Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song'', and ''SaGa Frontier'' were written by Asako Niwa for piano solos of beginning to intermediate difficulty.<ref name="DOREMI"/><ref name="SEMOsheetS"/>
Also widely-used by Ito in his battle tracks is the ]. It is used in every Super Nintendo SaGa battle theme, and in many SaGa tracks onward. The slap bass ] controls the song's ] and defines its chord progression at the ]. A common slap technique applied by Ito is ] "popping", where the original bass tone halts to make way for the same note an octave higher. When this technique is repeated (usually in eighth notes), the bass becomes more {{audio|SNES_slap_bass.ogg|percussive}}.


==Musical style and influences==
==Video game soundtracks==
Ito's music is mainly inspired by images from the game rather than outside influences; however, he never played the games themselves. The only video games that he plays are ]s; he has only seen up to the introductory movie for most of the role-playing games that he has written music for.<ref name="ITOCBint"/><ref name="Interview1"/> While many of his pieces are orchestral, he enjoys working in a recording studio and enjoys composing "normal songs" as much as his orchestral works.<ref name="Interview1"/> His favorite video game music from other composers include the music from '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Non-video game music that has inspired him includes Japanese popular music and soundtracks to ] works, as well as easy listening music such as ] or ], especially ].<ref name="Interview1"/> These influences have led him to wish to create music "that you can listen to while you relax". He also wishes to expand his compositions outside video game music and into ballads.<ref name="GAMAint"/>
* (]) '']'' (aka SaGa 2 Hihou Densetsu)''
* (]) '']'' (aka Seiken Densetsu)
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']'' (aka Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu)
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']
* (]) '']
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''
* (]) '']''


==External links== ==Works==
===Video games===
* (official site)
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" width="auto"
*
|+{{sronly|Video games scores composed by Kenji Ito}}
*
! scope="col"|Year
* at ]
! scope="col"|Game
* at
! scope="col"|Notes
! scope="col"|Ref.
|-
!scope=row|1990
|'']''
|Music with ]
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2"|1991
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
|'']''
|Sound effects
|
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2"|1992
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
|'']''
|Sound effects
|
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |1993
|'']''
|Sound effects
|
|-
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup |1995
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |1996
|''Koi wa Balance: Battle of Lovers''
|Music
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
|Music with various others
|<ref name=tonal>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/kenjiito/|publisher=Video Game Music Online|access-date=June 30, 2020|title=Kenji Ito Profile|author=Greening, Chris|date=December 30, 2012|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808090734/http://www.vgmonline.net/kenjiito/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row|1997
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=row|1998
|'']''
|Music with ], Yasuhiro Kawakami, and ]
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=row |1999
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=row|2000
|''Gekikuukan Pro Baseball: The End of the Century 1999''
|Music
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="3" |2001
|'']''
|Music
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
!scope=row|2003
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=row|2004
|'']''
| Music with ], Yasunori Mitsuda, and Tomoko Kobayashi
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |2005
|'']''
| Music with Tsuyoshi Sekito
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with many others
|<ref name="Interview1"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="4" |2006
|'']''
| Music with many others
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with ] and Takayuki Aihara
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
|"Battle XIII"
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with Tsuyoshi Sekito, ], and ]
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |2007
|'']''
| Music with ]
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="5" |2008
|'']''
| Arrangements
|<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
|-
|'']''
|Arrangements{{efn|"Space Armada", "Attack", and "Title (''Kid Icarus'')"}}
|
|-
|'']''
| Music with Yasuyuki Suzuki
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
|"Dance to Blue"
|<ref name=vgmo>{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/artist/138|publisher=Video Game Music Database|access-date=May 30, 2020|date=January 1, 2020|title=Kenji Ito|archive-date=June 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622074544/https://vgmdb.net/artist/138|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name=culd>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/114048/Interview_Smash_Bros_Sakurai_Kenji_Ito_Talk_RPG_Musical_Repertoire.php|publisher=Gamasutra|access-date=July 16, 2020|date=April 15, 2009|title=Interview: Smash Bros' Sakurai, Kenji Ito Talk RPG Musical Repertoire|author=Jeriaska|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716193848/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/114048/Interview_Smash_Bros_Sakurai_Kenji_Ito_Talk_RPG_Musical_Repertoire.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="3"|2009
|'']''
| Music with several others
|
|-
|'']''
| Arrangements
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with many others
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |2011
|'']''
| Music with ] sound team
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
|"One Winged Hero ~ Theme of Yusha"
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="4" |2012
|'']''
| Music with Yukio Nakajima
|<ref name=dragons>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/nintendo-and-the-console-depreciation-of-japan|publisher=US Gamer|access-date=July 17, 2020|date=February 26, 2016|title=Nintendo and the Console Depreciation of Japan|author=Williams, Mike|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717212550/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/nintendo-and-the-console-depreciation-of-japan|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|''Culdcept'' (3DS)
| Music
|
|-
|'']''
| Music with Kenji Kaneko and ]
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnzjMUA7tIo |title=Hyperdimension Neptunia V (神次元ゲイムネプテューヌV) Credits - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=] |access-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413103248/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnzjMUA7tIo |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|'']''
|"Requiem from Lilith"
|
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="3" |2013
|'']''
| Music with Kalle Ylitalo and Nobuo Uematsu
|
|-
|''Getsuei Gakuen''
| Music with ]
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with Yukio Nakajima
|<ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 29, 2020|publisher=Gematsu|date=September 21, 2013|title=Tokyo Game Show 2013 live stream schedule|author=Romano, Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/tokyo-game-show-2013-live-stream-schedule|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630230825/https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/tokyo-game-show-2013-live-stream-schedule|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="4" |2014
|'']''
|"Fear the Messenger"
|
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with several others
|
|-
|'']''
|Arrangements{{efn|"Mute City Ver. 3", "Super Hoop", and "Culdcept"}}
|
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="3" |2015
|''Chronos Ring''
| Music with Yoko Shimomura and ]
|<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greening|first1=Chris|title=Hamauzu, Shimomura, Ito, and Sakimoto attached to new RPG projects|date=September 27, 2014|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/hamauzu-shimomura-ito-and-sakimoto-attached-to-new-rpg-projects/|publisher=Game Music Online|access-date=September 30, 2014|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002000120/http://www.vgmonline.net/hamauzu-shimomura-ito-and-sakimoto-attached-to-new-rpg-projects/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|''Chunithm: Seelisch Tact''
|"Gustav Battle"
|<ref name=heavy>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/chunithm/|publisher=Video Game Music Online|access-date=June 12, 2020|title=CHUNITHM Original Soundtrack -Seelisch Tact-|date=June 22, 2016|author=Greening, Chris|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612232810/http://www.vgmonline.net/chunithm/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|''Shinyaku Arcana Slayer''
| Music
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Shinyaku Arcana Slayer|url=http://tactics.mirai80.net/2015/11/shinyaku-arcana-slayer/|publisher=tactics SRPG Database|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001258/http://tactics.mirai80.net/2015/11/shinyaku-arcana-slayer/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="5" |2016
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name=fight>{{cite web|url=https://rpgamer.com/review/hero-must-die-again-review/|publisher=RPGamer|access-date=June 11, 2020|date=February 26, 2020|title=Hero Must Die. Again Review|author=Fuller, Alex|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720120722/https://rpgamer.com/review/hero-must-die-again-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
| Music with ], ], and Keigo Ozaki
|<ref name=vgmo/>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greening|first1=Chris|title=Kenji Ito and Hidenori Iwasaki for SaGa Scarlet Grace|date=September 16, 2015|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/kenji-ito-and-hidenori-iwasaki-for-saga-scarlet-grace/|publisher=Video Game Music Online|access-date=September 17, 2015|archive-date=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918171806/http://www.vgmonline.net/kenji-ito-and-hidenori-iwasaki-for-saga-scarlet-grace/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|'']''
| Music
|<ref name=manamana>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/28/final-fantasy-adventure-remake-adventures-of-mana-now-on-ps-vita|access-date=July 13, 2020|title=Final Fantasy Adventure Remake Adventures of Mana Now on PS Vita|publisher=IGN|date=June 28, 2016|author=Osborn, Alex|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715120717/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/28/final-fantasy-adventure-remake-adventures-of-mana-now-on-ps-vita|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=rowgroup rowspan="2" |2018
|'']''
|Arrangements{{efn|"Beginning"}}
|
|-
|''Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe''
|Music
|
|-
!scope=row|2019
|''Rakugaki Kingdom''
|"Indomitable Soul"
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title="ラクガキ"がコンセプトのRPG『ラクガキ キングダム』正式発表。自分の描いた絵が立体化して動き出す『ラクガキ王国』を進化させた新機軸【先出し週刊ファミ通】|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201907/11179295.html|magazine=]|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=March 23, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323175431/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201907/11179295.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row|2022
| '']''
|"Last Determination"
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=October 1, 2021|title=Sega announces 'choose your own ending RPG' Sin Chronicle for iOS, Android|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/10/sega-announces-choose-your-own-ending-rpg-sin-chronicle-for-ios-android|website=Gematsu|access-date=October 3, 2021|archive-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003023439/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/10/sega-announces-choose-your-own-ending-rpg-sin-chronicle-for-ios-android|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row|2024
| '']''
| Music
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/14814-square-enix-reveals-saga-emerald-beyond-for-playstation-5-playstation-4-nintendo-switch-pc-and-mobile|title=Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile|author=Torres, Jason|website=RPG Site|date=2023-09-15|access-date=2023-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916105825/https://www.rpgsite.net/news/14814-square-enix-reveals-saga-emerald-beyond-for-playstation-5-playstation-4-nintendo-switch-pc-and-mobile|archive-date=2023-09-16|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

===Other===
;Composition
{{div col}}
*''Kokoro no Takarabako'' (1999) – single by ]<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Seishun no Fu / Midarete Atsuki Wagami niwa'' (2002) – concert<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''~Canaria~'' (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Touson Dairoku Shishu'' (2002) – album by Ikuyo Ueda<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Muneyuki Sato All Songs Collection'' (2003) – album by Muneyuki Satoh<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Hajimari no Daichi'' (2006) – album by Manami Kiyota<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Our Endless Night -The spring time of life'' (2006) – concert by Manami Kiyota; with many others<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Manami Kiyota x Kenji Ito Collaboration Live'' (2006) – concert by Manami Kiyota<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Maou Kourin {{'}}Live SIDE & Evil SIDE{{'}}'' (2006) – play with many others<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Kenji Ito Piano Works Collection ~Everlasting Melodies~'' (2006) – includes one piece from ''Romancing SaGa 2'', and one from ''Chocobo Racing''<ref name=vgmo/>
*'']'' (2007) – anime<ref name=vgmo/>
*'']'' (2011) – anime ep 5<ref name=vgmo/>
*'']'' (2018) – anime; main theme<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-21/animax-reveals-20th-anniversary-tv-anime-game-app-akanesasu-shojo/.129320|title=Animax Reveals 20th Anniversary TV Anime/Game App Akanesasu Shōjo|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=March 21, 2018|website=]|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322081250/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-21/animax-reveals-20th-anniversary-tv-anime-game-app-akanesasu-shojo/.129320|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''Braverthday'' (2018) – album by ]; "Tsugi wa Kimi ga Shuyaku no Ban da"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lantis.jp/release-item/LACA-35745.html|title=Braverthday【豪華盤】|publisher=]|access-date=July 18, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=July 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718065411/https://www.lantis.jp/release-item/LACA-35745.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'']'' (2020) – anime
{{div col end}}

;Arrangement
*''"Ai no Sumika"~"Hyouhaku no Toki /Komoro Nikki -Touson no Fuyuko" Stage Music Collection~'' (1999) – album by Kyoko Fujimoto
*''Hyouhaku no Toki/ Touson to Fuyuko'' (2001) – concert
*''Katakoi'' (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh
*''Soredemo Kisetsu wa'' (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh<ref name="ITOdisc"/>
*''Tougenkyo -Masashi Sada Chromatic Harmonica Music Collection-'' (2002) – album by Etsuko Kitani
*''Mirai'' (2003) – album by Yusuke Matsumoto

==See also==
*]
*]
*]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|refs=
*

<ref name="ITOsite">{{cite web |url=http://ito.cocoebiz.com/ |title=Kenji Ito's Official English Website |publisher=Cocoebiz.com |access-date=2008-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819195132/http://ito.cocoebiz.com/ |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="itoken">{{cite web |last1=Itoken |title=itoken_web |url=http://itoken-web.com/mt/works/ |publisher=Itoken |access-date=2014-12-08 |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405023335/http://itoken-web.com/mt/works/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Interview1">{{cite web | author=Winkler, Chris | year=2005 | title=RPGFan Exclusive Interview #5: Kenji Itou, composer | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/interviews2005/index5.html | publisher=RPGFan | access-date=2008-12-13 | archive-date=September 2, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902022041/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/interviews2005/index5.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="GAMAint">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23104|title=Interview: Smash Bros' Sakurai, Kenji Ito Talk RPG Musical Repertoire|last=Jeriaska|date=April 15, 2009|publisher=]|access-date=2009-11-12|archive-date=September 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915225421/https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23104|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ITOdisc">{{cite web |url=http://ito.cocoebiz.com/discography/index.php |title=Kenji Ito's Official English Website – Discography |publisher=Cocoebiz.com |access-date=2009-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226141113/http://ito.cocoebiz.com/discography/index.php |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="RPGFASOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/saga-aso/index.html|title=All Sounds of SaGa|last=Gann|first=Patrick|date=March 23, 2001|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-05-18|archive-date=August 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809083600/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/saga-aso/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ITOCBint">{{cite web| url=http://ito.cocoebiz.com/interviews/interview1.php| title=Interview with CocoeBiz in December 2004| access-date=2007-06-15|date=December 2004| author=Ezaki, Kahori|author2=McCawley, James |publisher= CocoeBiz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819203649/http://ito.cocoebiz.com/interviews/interview1.php |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="RPGFRSLR">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs-lr/index.html|title=Romancing SaGa: La Romance|last=Gann|first=Patrick|author2=C., Eve|date=February 9, 2002|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-05-18|archive-date=September 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923121842/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs-lr/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RPGFRS2ER">{{cite web|url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs2-er/index.html|title=Romancing SaGa 2: Eternal Romance|last=Gann|first=Patrick|date=August 6, 2000|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-05-21|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513031953/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs2-er/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RPGFRS3WT">{{cite web|url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs3-wt/index.html|title=Romancing SaGa 3 OSV|last=Farand|first=Eric|date=October 15, 2000|publisher=RPGFan|access-date=2009-05-21|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513014940/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rs3-wt/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SHint2">{{cite web|url=http://squarehaven.com/news/2007/06/16/Hiroki-Kikuta-Lost-Files-Regained/|title=Hiroki Kikuta: Lost Files Regained|last=Jeriaska|author2=Kikuta, Hiroki|date=June 16, 2007|publisher=Square Haven|access-date=2009-11-17|archive-date=January 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117055140/http://squarehaven.com/news/2007/06/16/Hiroki-Kikuta-Lost-Files-Regained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Japdisc">{{cite web|url=http://www.gentleecho.net/works.html|title=Gentle Echo – Works|last=Ito|first=Kenji|publisher=Gentle Echo|language=ja|access-date=2009-11-16|archive-date=August 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829231034/http://www.gentleecho.net/works.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="COCOEnews">{{cite web|url=http://ito.cocoebiz.com/news/index.php |title=Kenji Ito's Official English Website – News |publisher=CocoeBiz |access-date=2009-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516091853/http://ito.cocoebiz.com/news/index.php |archive-date=May 16, 2007 }}</ref>

<ref name="DOREMI">{{cite web |url=http://www.doremi.co.jp/Doremi/ATC01.do |title=Doremi Music Web Site |publisher=DOREMI Music Publishing |access-date=2008-09-14 |language=ja |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815205458/http://www.doremi.co.jp/Doremi/ATC01.do |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="SEMOsheet">{{cite web |title=Mana Series :: Sheet Music Books |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/series/mana/sheetmusic.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=2009-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515190611/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/series/mana/sheetmusic.shtml |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="SEMOSOMsheet">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/sheetmusic/pianocollection/swordofmanapc.shtml |title=Sword of Mana Piano Sound Version Sheet Music |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=2009-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204025712/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/sheetmusic/pianocollection/swordofmanapc.shtml |archive-date=February 4, 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="SEMOsheetS">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/series/saga/sheetmusic.shtml|title=SaGa Series :: Sheet Music Books|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=2009-08-05|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815134515/https://www.squareenixmusic.com/series/saga/sheetmusic.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.gentleecho.net}} {{in lang|ja}}
*{{Twitter|itoken0705}}

{{Good article}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ito, Kenji}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ito, Kenji}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

] ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 13:17, 8 December 2024

Japanese music composer (born 1968) For the Japanese footballer, see Kenji Ito (footballer).

Kenji Ito
伊藤 賢治
Born (1968-07-05) July 5, 1968 (age 56)
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesItoken
Occupation(s)Composer, musician
Years active1990–present
EmployerSquare (1990–2001)
Musical career
Instrument(s)Piano, clarinet, alto saxophone
Musical artist

Kenji Ito (伊藤 賢治, Itō Kenji, born July 5, 1968), also known by the nickname Itoken (イトケン), is a Japanese video game composer and musician. He is best known for his work on the Mana and SaGa series, though he has worked on over 30 video games throughout his career as well as composed or arranged music for over 15 other albums, concerts, and plays. He learned to play several instruments at a young age, and joined Square directly out of college as a composer in 1990 at the advice of a professor. He worked there for over a decade, composing many of his best-known scores. In 2001, he left Square to become a freelance composer, but has since continued to collaborate with the company.

Since leaving Square, Ito has composed soundtracks to over a dozen games, and has branched out into composition and production of music for plays and albums for other performers. Ito's work has been performed in a concert dedicated to his pieces as well as general video game music events, and he has played the piano in additional concerts. Pieces of his from the SaGa and Mana series have been arranged as piano solos and published in sheet music books.

Biography

Early life

Born in Tokyo, Japan, on July 5, 1968, Ito became interested in music at the age of four. He began to learn to play the piano, becoming interested in it after hearing piano music coming from a classroom he passed by daily with his mother. He was also interested in Electone music, but was discouraged from learning it by a piano teacher. By the time he began composing at the age of ten, he had learned to play alto saxophone, clarinet, and piano, and was interested in becoming a singer/songwriter. When he was close to graduating from college, he decided to pursue a career in composing music; when he asked a professor for advice, the professor recommended becoming a video game music composer, given the recent success in Japan of Dragon Quest III. During March 1990, after applying to several video game companies including HAL Laboratory, Ito began working at Square.

Career

His first project was a co-effort that same year between himself and Nobuo Uematsu for the Game Boy title Final Fantasy Legend II (SaGa 2). It led the following year to the first album release of his music, All Sounds of SaGa, which was a combination album of The Final Fantasy Legend, Final Fantasy Legend II, and Final Fantasy Legend III; all of Ito's work on Legend II appeared on the album. Shortly after in 1991, he composed his first solo work, the soundtrack for Final Fantasy Adventure (Seiken Densetsu), another Game Boy title. He then returned to the SaGa series for the next few years, composing the soundtracks to the Super Famicom's Romancing SaGa, Romancing SaGa 2, and Romancing SaGa 3. These soundtracks sparked Ito's first arranged albums; the first game was arranged in a French musical style by Masaaki Mizuguchi, while the other two were arranged by Ryou Fukui and Taro Iwashiro, respectively, into orchestral pieces. Ito was originally scheduled to continue on with the Mana series and compose the soundtrack to Seiken Densetsu 2 (Secret of Mana), but was forced to hand the project off to Hiroki Kikuta as his first score due to the demand on his time for scoring Romancing SaGa.

1995 marked the first time since he started composing that he worked on a title outside the Mana or SaGa series; he composed the music for Koi wa Balance and was a member of an eight-person team for Tobal No. 1. He returned to the SaGa series in 1997 with SaGa Frontier, and finished out the decade with Chocobo Racing and Chocobo's Dungeon 2; for Chocobo Racing he only arranged previous works from the Chocobo and Final Fantasy series, and contributed only a few tracks to Chocobo's Dungeon 2. He left Square in 2001 to become a freelance composer. He has said that this move was in order to give him the flexibility to work on more than just video game music.

The first work that Ito composed after leaving Square was the soundtrack to Culdcept II, which he regards as his best work. He attributes this feeling both to the fact that it was his first freelance piece and that he handled all aspects of the music production, from composition through arrangement and sound production. From there he returned to working with Square and the Mana series with the remake of his second soundtrack, Final Fantasy Adventure, into the soundtrack of Sword of Mana. It was an act he would repeat two years later for Square, now Square Enix, with the remake of Romancing SaGa, Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song. He has since returned to the Mana series twice, with the soundtracks to Children of Mana and Dawn of Mana. All of the video game soundtracks that he has composed since the third expansion pack for Cross Gate in 2004 have been with the assistance of other composers except for 2007's Hero Must Die, though during those years he has branched out from video games into composing and producing albums and singles for performers as well as composing music for plays and concerts. He has also released an album of piano pieces that he has composed; only two of the eight tracks are from his video game works.

Legacy

Ito performed piano live during September 22, 2006 Press Start 2006 -Symphony of Games- live concert, at which several of his pieces were performed by an orchestra. This concert followed a concert of August 26, 2006 Manami Kiyota x Kenji Ito Collaboration Live in which he played the piano for songs composed by him for the event and sung by Manami Kiyota; he has also played the piano at concerts given by The Black Mages, a band composed of current or former Square musicians, before they expanded to include a full-time pianist. Music composed by Ito has also been performed at the Extra -Hyper Game Music Event 2007 and Christmas Live 2008 "gentleecho -prelude-" concerts.

Music composed by Ito was performed at a concert devoted to his music on February 21, 2009 titled "gentle echo meeting" at the Uchisaiwaicho Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo. A group of five musicians performed eight of his songs, interspersed with performances by Ito and discussions about his music between himself and Masahiro Sakurai. The event began as a concert due to Ito's wish to host one based on his music, but after the space the organizing company, Harmonics International, rented turned out to be run by a high school classmate of Ito, at the classmate's insistence the discussions of Ito's music were added to the program.

Music from the original soundtracks of Dawn of Mana and Sword of Mana has been arranged for the piano and published by DOREMI Music Publishing. Two compilation books of music from the series as a whole have also been published as Seiken Densetsu Best Collection Piano Solo Sheet Music first and second editions, with the first edition including tracks by Ito from Final Fantasy Adventure while the second added tracks he composed from Dawn of Mana. All songs in each book have been rewritten by Asako Niwa as beginning to intermediate level piano solos, though they are meant to sound as much like the originals as possible. Additionally, KMP Music Publishing has published a book of the piano music included in the Sword of Mana soundtrack album, which Ito arranged from his original compositions. DOREMI Music Publishing also published music from the original soundtracks of some of the SaGa games that Ito composed as piano sheet music book; music from Romancing SaGa 3, Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song, and SaGa Frontier were written by Asako Niwa for piano solos of beginning to intermediate difficulty.

Musical style and influences

Ito's music is mainly inspired by images from the game rather than outside influences; however, he never played the games themselves. The only video games that he plays are sports games; he has only seen up to the introductory movie for most of the role-playing games that he has written music for. While many of his pieces are orchestral, he enjoys working in a recording studio and enjoys composing "normal songs" as much as his orchestral works. His favorite video game music from other composers include the music from Star Fox, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Wizardry and Nobunaga's Ambition. Non-video game music that has inspired him includes Japanese popular music and soundtracks to anime works, as well as easy listening music such as Paul Mauriat or Richard Clayderman, especially string music. These influences have led him to wish to create music "that you can listen to while you relax". He also wishes to expand his compositions outside video game music and into ballads.

Works

Video games

Video games scores composed by Kenji Ito
Year Game Notes Ref.
1990 Final Fantasy Legend II Music with Nobuo Uematsu
1991 Final Fantasy Adventure Music
Final Fantasy IV Sound effects
1992 Romancing SaGa Music
Final Fantasy V Sound effects
1993 Secret of Mana Sound effects
Romancing SaGa 2 Music
1995 Romancing SaGa 3 Music
1996 Koi wa Balance: Battle of Lovers Music
Tobal No. 1 Music with various others
1997 SaGa Frontier Music
1998 Chocobo's Dungeon 2 Music with Tsuyoshi Sekito, Yasuhiro Kawakami, and Kumi Tanioka
1999 Chocobo Racing Music
2000 Gekikuukan Pro Baseball: The End of the Century 1999 Music
2001 Wild Card Music
Culdcept Second Music
Cross Gate Music
2003 Sword of Mana Music
2004 Shadow Hearts: Covenant Music with Yoshitaka Hirota, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Tomoko Kobayashi
2005 Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Music with Tsuyoshi Sekito
Hanjuku Hero 4: 7-Jin no Hanjuku Hero Music with many others
2006 Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner Music with many others
Children of Mana Music with Masaharu Iwata and Takayuki Aihara
Pop'n Music 13 Carnival "Battle XIII"
Dawn of Mana Music with Tsuyoshi Sekito, Masayoshi Soken, and Ryuichi Sakamoto
2007 Concerto Gate Music with Hiroki Kikuta
Hero Must Die Music
2008 Mabinogi Arrangements
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Arrangements
Lux-Pain Music with Yasuyuki Suzuki
Pop'n Music 16 Party "Dance to Blue"
Culdcept Saga Music
2009 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team Music with several others
SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu Arrangements
GuitarFreaks & DrumMania V6 Blazing Music with many others
2011 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Music with Atlus sound team
Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming "One Winged Hero ~ Theme of Yusha"
2012 Puzzle & Dragons Music with Yukio Nakajima
Culdcept (3DS) Music
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory Music with Kenji Kaneko and Nobuo Uematsu
Demons' Score "Requiem from Lilith"
2013 Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas Music with Kalle Ylitalo and Nobuo Uematsu
Getsuei Gakuen Music with Daisuke Ishiwatari
Puzzle & Dragons Z Music with Yukio Nakajima
2014 Rise of Mana "Fear the Messenger"
Puzzle & Dragons Battle Tournament Music
Terra Battle Music with several others
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Arrangements
2015 Chronos Ring Music with Yoko Shimomura and Evan Call
Chunithm: Seelisch Tact "Gustav Battle"
Shinyaku Arcana Slayer Music
2016 Hero Must Die. Again Music
Culdcept Revolt Music
Puzzle & Dragons X Music with Yuzo Koshiro, Akira Yamaoka, and Keigo Ozaki
SaGa: Scarlet Grace Music
Adventures of Mana Music
2018 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Arrangements
Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe Music
2019 Rakugaki Kingdom "Indomitable Soul"
2022 Sin Chronicle "Last Determination"
2024 SaGa: Emerald Beyond Music

Other

Composition
  • Kokoro no Takarabako (1999) – single by Hiromi Ōta
  • Seishun no Fu / Midarete Atsuki Wagami niwa (2002) – concert
  • ~Canaria~ (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh
  • Touson Dairoku Shishu (2002) – album by Ikuyo Ueda
  • Muneyuki Sato All Songs Collection (2003) – album by Muneyuki Satoh
  • Hajimari no Daichi (2006) – album by Manami Kiyota
  • Our Endless Night -The spring time of life (2006) – concert by Manami Kiyota; with many others
  • Manami Kiyota x Kenji Ito Collaboration Live (2006) – concert by Manami Kiyota
  • Maou Kourin 'Live SIDE & Evil SIDE' (2006) – play with many others
  • Kenji Ito Piano Works Collection ~Everlasting Melodies~ (2006) – includes one piece from Romancing SaGa 2, and one from Chocobo Racing
  • Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku o (2007) – anime
  • Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011) – anime ep 5
  • The Girl in Twilight (2018) – anime; main theme
  • Braverthday (2018) – album by Nobuhiko Okamoto; "Tsugi wa Kimi ga Shuyaku no Ban da"
  • Arad Senki: The Wheel of Reversal (2020) – anime
Arrangement
  • "Ai no Sumika"~"Hyouhaku no Toki /Komoro Nikki -Touson no Fuyuko" Stage Music Collection~ (1999) – album by Kyoko Fujimoto
  • Hyouhaku no Toki/ Touson to Fuyuko (2001) – concert
  • Katakoi (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh
  • Soredemo Kisetsu wa (2002) – single by Muneyuki Satoh
  • Tougenkyo -Masashi Sada Chromatic Harmonica Music Collection- (2002) – album by Etsuko Kitani
  • Mirai (2003) – album by Yusuke Matsumoto

See also

Notes

  1. Not to be confused with the multi-instrumentalist Itoken of Harpy, zuppa di pesce, Itoken Trio, Kuricorder Pops Orchestra, and others.
  1. "Space Armada", "Attack", and "Title (Kid Icarus)"
  2. "Mute City Ver. 3", "Super Hoop", and "Culdcept"
  3. "Beginning"

References

  1. ^ "Kenji Ito's Official English Website". Cocoebiz.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  2. Itoken. "itoken_web". Itoken. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. ^ Ezaki, Kahori; McCawley, James (December 2004). "Interview with CocoeBiz in December 2004". CocoeBiz. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  4. ^ Winkler, Chris (2005). "RPGFan Exclusive Interview #5: Kenji Itou, composer". RPGFan. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
  5. ^ Jeriaska (April 15, 2009). "Interview: Smash Bros' Sakurai, Kenji Ito Talk RPG Musical Repertoire". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  6. ^ "Kenji Ito's Official English Website – Discography". Cocoebiz.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  7. Gann, Patrick (March 23, 2001). "All Sounds of SaGa". RPGFan. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  8. Gann, Patrick; C., Eve (February 9, 2002). "Romancing SaGa: La Romance". RPGFan. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  9. Gann, Patrick (August 6, 2000). "Romancing SaGa 2: Eternal Romance". RPGFan. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  10. Farand, Eric (October 15, 2000). "Romancing SaGa 3 OSV". RPGFan. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  11. Jeriaska; Kikuta, Hiroki (June 16, 2007). "Hiroki Kikuta: Lost Files Regained". Square Haven. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  12. ^ Ito, Kenji. "Gentle Echo – Works" (in Japanese). Gentle Echo. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  13. "Kenji Ito's Official English Website – News". CocoeBiz. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  14. ^ "Doremi Music Web Site" (in Japanese). DOREMI Music Publishing. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  15. "Mana Series :: Sheet Music Books". Square Enix Music Online. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  16. "Sword of Mana Piano Sound Version Sheet Music". Square Enix Music Online. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  17. "SaGa Series :: Sheet Music Books". Square Enix Music Online. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  18. Greening, Chris (December 30, 2012). "Kenji Ito Profile". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  19. ^ "Kenji Ito". Video Game Music Database. January 1, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  20. Jeriaska (April 15, 2009). "Interview: Smash Bros' Sakurai, Kenji Ito Talk RPG Musical Repertoire". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  21. Williams, Mike (February 26, 2016). "Nintendo and the Console Depreciation of Japan". US Gamer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  22. "Hyperdimension Neptunia V (神次元ゲイムネプテューヌV) Credits - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  23. Romano, Sal (September 21, 2013). "Tokyo Game Show 2013 live stream schedule". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  24. Greening, Chris (September 27, 2014). "Hamauzu, Shimomura, Ito, and Sakimoto attached to new RPG projects". Game Music Online. Archived from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  25. Greening, Chris (June 22, 2016). "CHUNITHM Original Soundtrack -Seelisch Tact-". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  26. "Shinyaku Arcana Slayer". tactics SRPG Database. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  27. Fuller, Alex (February 26, 2020). "Hero Must Die. Again Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  28. Greening, Chris (September 16, 2015). "Kenji Ito and Hidenori Iwasaki for SaGa Scarlet Grace". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  29. Osborn, Alex (June 28, 2016). "Final Fantasy Adventure Remake Adventures of Mana Now on PS Vita". IGN. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  30. ""ラクガキ"がコンセプトのRPG『ラクガキ キングダム』正式発表。自分の描いた絵が立体化して動き出す『ラクガキ王国』を進化させた新機軸【先出し週刊ファミ通】". Famitsu (in Japanese). July 11, 2019. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  31. Romano, Sal (October 1, 2021). "Sega announces 'choose your own ending RPG' Sin Chronicle for iOS, Android". Gematsu. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  32. Torres, Jason (September 15, 2023). "Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile". RPG Site. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  33. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 21, 2018). "Animax Reveals 20th Anniversary TV Anime/Game App Akanesasu Shōjo". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  34. "Braverthday【豪華盤】" (in Japanese). Lantis. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.

External links

Categories: