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{{Short description|Japanese musician}}
'''Ryuji Sasai''' (笹井隆司 ''Sasai Ryūji'', born ], ]) is a ] of ]. He is best known for his work with ] on such games as '']'', '']'', and '']''. He also was bass player of Japanese hard rock band ]. This can be an explanation why many of his songs for game soundtracks have a massive rock influence.
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ryuji Sasai
| image =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|12|21}}
|birth_place =], Japan
| instrument = Bass guitar, vocals
| genre = Rock
| occupation = Composer, songwriter
| years_active = 1982-present
| label =
| associated_acts =
}}
{{nihongo|'''Ryuji Sasai'''|笹井隆司|Sasai Ryūji|born December 21, 1961}} is a Japanese ] and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work on '']'', '']'' and '']''. His musical career came about when he was 15 years old, and he formed a band. Before entering the gaming industry, Sasai was involved in the anime department, scoring two television series and a film. After creating music for four games as a freelancer, he was employed at ] from 1991 to 1998, where he worked on five games in total. Sasai often collaborated with fellow composers Tadahiro Nitta and ] during his career. He has also been a member of the rock bands Novela and Action and is currently performing as a bassist.

==Biography==
Born in ], Japan, Sasai began his musical career at the age of 15, playing instruments and forming a band.<ref name="OSV" /> In 1982, he joined the rock band Novela; he was an instrumentalist and songwriter for several albums.<ref name="Biography" /> During his stint with the band, he composed music for the anime series '']'' (1982) and '']'' (1984). After Novela dissolved in 1984, he provided the score for the 1986 film '']'' alongside Satoshi Kadokura. He became a member of the band Action in 1988, where he was a bass guitarist and a backing vocalist; the band was active for a decade.<ref name="Biography" />

His debut as a video game composer came with Crystal Software's ''Mugen No Shinzo III'' in 1989 with ].<ref name="Biography" /> After sending his ] and résumé to every ] and game company listed in the PC-specialized magazines, he got one response from ].<ref name="OSV" /> He then composed music for three ''Xak'' games with Tadahiro Nitta: '']'',<ref name="6dcxj" /> '']'',<ref name="Biography" /> and '']''.<ref name="wuDwf" /> During this time, he was working as a freelance composer under pseudonyms for unspecified titles.<ref name="OSV" /> In 1991, after ] hired Fujioka to be a director, Sasai was invited to join the company as they needed composers to assist ] and ].<ref name="Biography" /> His first assignment was to create the soundtrack to the ] title '']''.<ref name="Biography" /> Sasai composed the majority of the score, with director Fujioka handling four pieces.<ref name="Biography" />

His subsequent work for Square was 1992's '']'' (known as "''Mystic Quest Legend''" in Europe), which he composed with Yasuhiro Kawakami;<ref name="Opm7u" /> it was the first game in the '']'' series not composed by regular series composer Uematsu.<ref name="Biography" /> After a hiatus during the peak of Action's activity, Square assigned Sasai as the sole composer for the Japan-exclusive game '']'' (1996).<ref name="HwkEL" /> Afterward, he contributed the track "Character Select" for the score to the multi-composer game '']''; the games arranged album, ''Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian'', featured the song. The music team GUIDO completed the album's arrangement.<ref name="Biography" /><ref name="85Ylp" />

After completing the score to '']''<ref name="hdmNE" /> and Action dispersed in 1998, Sasai left Square.<ref name="Biography" /> He was initially going to score two ]s after ''Bushido Blade 2'', but it did not come to pass due to circumstances with the company. Since the company had not given him any other assignments, he decided to leave Square. Sasai is currently a bass guitarist for the ] tribute band Queen Mania and the rock band Spiders from Cabaret.<ref name="OSV" />

==Musical style and influences==
Sasai's ''Bushido Blade 2'' soundtrack consists of ] music and traditional Japanese instruments and harmonies.<ref name="Kkpip" /> A member of the tribute band Queen Mania, Sasai cites ] as a significant musical influence.<ref name="Biography" /> Preferring the musical genres heavy metal and ], his favorite bands are ], ], and ]. He has said that he also listens to hard rock and ]. When he started working in the game industry, he immersed himself in film and classical music.<ref name="OSV" />

==Works==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" width="auto"
|-
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Game
! scope="col"|Notes
! scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row"| 1982
| '']'' || anime with ] and ]|| rowspan="11" | <ref name="Biography" />
|-
! scope="row"| 1984
| '']'' || anime
|-
! scope="row"| 1986
| '']'' || anime with Satoshi Kadokura
|-
! scope="row" | 1989
| '']'' || rowspan="3" | Tadahiro Nitta
|-
! scope="row" | 1990
| '']''
|-
! scope="row" | 1990
| '']''
|-
! scope="row" | 1991
| '']''|| Chihiro Fujioka
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| '']''|| Yasuhiro Kawakami
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 1996
| '']''||
|-
| '']''|| with several others
|-
! scope="row" | 1998
| '']''||
|}

==References==
{{reflist|1=2|refs=
<ref name="OSV">{{Cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Jayson |date=September 9, 2009 |title=School of Rock: Interview with Squaresoft Composer Ryuji Sasai |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=4072 |publisher=Original Sound Version |accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="Biography">{{Cite web |last=Chris Greening |date=September 10, 2007 |title=Ryuji Sasai Profile |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/ryujisasai |publisher=Game Music Online |accessdate=September 22, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="6dcxj">{{Cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Jayson |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Coolest Game Subtitle Ever: Xak ~ The Art of Visual Stage (Review) |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=355 |publisher=Original Sound Version |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="wuDwf">{{Cite web |last=Napolitano |first=Jayson |date=October 29, 2008 |title=Xak is Back: Xak II, An Action Game Without The Action Music (Review) |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=922 |publisher=Original Sound Version |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="Opm7u">{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Tech Info |url=http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasymysticquest/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="HwkEL">{{Cite web |last=Gann |first=Patrick |title=Rudora no Hihou OSV |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rudranh/index.html |publisher=RPGFan |accessdate=January 13, 2010 |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924112207/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/rudranh/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="85Ylp">{{Cite web |last=Harry; Dave |title=Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian :: Review by Harry and Dave |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/daveharry/tobal1remixes.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="hdmNE">{{Cite web |title=Bushido Blade 2 Tech Info |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/bushidoblade2/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="Kkpip">{{Cite web |last=Kero Hazel |title=Bushido Blade 2 Original Soundtrack :: Review by Kero Hazel |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/kerohazel/bushidoblade2.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
}}


==External links== ==External links==
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* at ]

*{{musicbrainz artist|id=ec9393ac-d079-44e9-bf0f-cc6841189d10|name=Ryuji Sasai}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sasai, Ryuji}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sasai, Ryuji}}
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Latest revision as of 15:57, 21 April 2024

Japanese musician

Ryuji Sasai
Born (1961-12-21) December 21, 1961 (age 63)
Osaka Prefecture, Japan
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Composer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals
Years active1982-present
Musical artist

Ryuji Sasai (笹井隆司, Sasai Ryūji, born December 21, 1961) is a Japanese video game composer and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work on Xak, Final Fantasy Legend III and Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. His musical career came about when he was 15 years old, and he formed a band. Before entering the gaming industry, Sasai was involved in the anime department, scoring two television series and a film. After creating music for four games as a freelancer, he was employed at Square from 1991 to 1998, where he worked on five games in total. Sasai often collaborated with fellow composers Tadahiro Nitta and Chihiro Fujioka during his career. He has also been a member of the rock bands Novela and Action and is currently performing as a bassist.

Biography

Born in Osaka, Japan, Sasai began his musical career at the age of 15, playing instruments and forming a band. In 1982, he joined the rock band Novela; he was an instrumentalist and songwriter for several albums. During his stint with the band, he composed music for the anime series The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982) and Adventures of the Little Koala (1984). After Novela dissolved in 1984, he provided the score for the 1986 film Windaria alongside Satoshi Kadokura. He became a member of the band Action in 1988, where he was a bass guitarist and a backing vocalist; the band was active for a decade.

His debut as a video game composer came with Crystal Software's Mugen No Shinzo III in 1989 with Chihiro Fujioka. After sending his demo tapes and résumé to every software house and game company listed in the PC-specialized magazines, he got one response from Micro Cabin. He then composed music for three Xak games with Tadahiro Nitta: Xak: The Art of Visual Stage, Fray in Magical Adventure, and Xak II: The Rising of the Red Moon. During this time, he was working as a freelance composer under pseudonyms for unspecified titles. In 1991, after Square hired Fujioka to be a director, Sasai was invited to join the company as they needed composers to assist Nobuo Uematsu and Kenji Ito. His first assignment was to create the soundtrack to the Game Boy title Final Fantasy Legend III. Sasai composed the majority of the score, with director Fujioka handling four pieces.

His subsequent work for Square was 1992's Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (known as "Mystic Quest Legend" in Europe), which he composed with Yasuhiro Kawakami; it was the first game in the Final Fantasy series not composed by regular series composer Uematsu. After a hiatus during the peak of Action's activity, Square assigned Sasai as the sole composer for the Japan-exclusive game Rudra no Hihō (1996). Afterward, he contributed the track "Character Select" for the score to the multi-composer game Tobal No. 1; the games arranged album, Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian, featured the song. The music team GUIDO completed the album's arrangement.

After completing the score to Bushido Blade 2 and Action dispersed in 1998, Sasai left Square. He was initially going to score two role-playing games after Bushido Blade 2, but it did not come to pass due to circumstances with the company. Since the company had not given him any other assignments, he decided to leave Square. Sasai is currently a bass guitarist for the Queen tribute band Queen Mania and the rock band Spiders from Cabaret.

Musical style and influences

Sasai's Bushido Blade 2 soundtrack consists of hard rock music and traditional Japanese instruments and harmonies. A member of the tribute band Queen Mania, Sasai cites Queen as a significant musical influence. Preferring the musical genres heavy metal and alternative rock, his favorite bands are Extreme, Judas Priest, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has said that he also listens to hard rock and progressive rock. When he started working in the game industry, he immersed himself in film and classical music.

Works

Year Game Notes Ref.
1982 The Mysterious Cities of Gold anime with Haim Saban and Shuki Levy
1984 Adventures of the Little Koala anime
1986 Windaria anime with Satoshi Kadokura
1989 Xak: The Art of Visual Stage Tadahiro Nitta
1990 Fray in Magical Adventure
1990 Xak II: The Rising of the Red Moon
1991 Final Fantasy Legend III Chihiro Fujioka
1992 Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Yasuhiro Kawakami
1996 Rudra no Hihō
Tobal No. 1 with several others
1998 Bushido Blade 2

References

  1. ^ Napolitano, Jayson (September 9, 2009). "School of Rock: Interview with Squaresoft Composer Ryuji Sasai". Original Sound Version. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  2. ^ Chris Greening (September 10, 2007). "Ryuji Sasai Profile". Game Music Online. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  3. Napolitano, Jayson (September 11, 2008). "Coolest Game Subtitle Ever: Xak ~ The Art of Visual Stage (Review)". Original Sound Version. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  4. Napolitano, Jayson (October 29, 2008). "Xak is Back: Xak II, An Action Game Without The Action Music (Review)". Original Sound Version. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  5. "Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  6. Gann, Patrick. "Rudora no Hihou OSV". RPGFan. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  7. Harry; Dave. "Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian :: Review by Harry and Dave". Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved January 8, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Bushido Blade 2 Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  9. Kero Hazel. "Bushido Blade 2 Original Soundtrack :: Review by Kero Hazel". Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved January 13, 2010.

External links

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