Last year we requested Joe Hisaishi to compose the theme music for the spectacular opening for the first CoFesta.
Joe Hisaishi is one of famous composers in Japan. Mr. Hisaishi has been engaged in production soundtracks and albums for over 50 movies since he took part in production the sound track of “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” in 1984. He is known for his works with animator Hayao Miyazaki, including the soundtracks for “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”, ”My Neighbor Totoro” and “Princess Mononoke” and so on. Also he is known for his works with Takeshi Kitano including soundtracks for “Hana-Bi” and “Kikujiro”. Furthermore Mr. Hisaishi had taken part in production of the soundtrack for Korean drama “The Story of the First King’s Four Gods”. His works are highly regarded at home and abroad.
Joe Hisaishi is not only a composer but also an arranger, a head of orchestra, a performer and a producer. He plays an active part in the modern music field as a music and film director of big hit movies.
“I have a feeling that something happens. I will compose a theme music with eager expectation for CoFesta” -- Joe Hisaishi
The theme music “LINKS” was performed by Joe Hisaishi and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra composed of 90 performers on the opening ceremony last year.
This theme music does not be performed except at CoFesta.
Joe Hisaishi
During his days in Kunitachi College of Music, Joe HISAISHI started his career as a musical composer and began to make, play, and produce contemporary music for a number of concerts. In 1982, he gave his first album Information to the world as a solo artist. Since then, he has released Piano Stories, My Lost City, Chijo No Rakuen, WORKS 1, Shoot the Violist, and many other solo-albums and established his own style, which is free from traditional boundaries of music genres.
After releasing Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, he has composed over 50 film soundtracks. Titles include Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao MIYAZAKI, and HANA－BI, Kikujiro, and other films by Takeshi KITANO. He has won many awards, including five Japanese Academy Awards for Best Music, the 48th Newcomer Award from the Ministry of Education (Public Entertainment Section), and others. Today he is regarded as one of the most influential composers in the Japanese film industry.
In addition to his recent works for much publicized films such as Brother and Spirited Away, Joe HISAISHI enjoys a worldwide reputation with his works, including a soundtrack for a French film, Le Petit Poucet, in which he was the only production member from Japan. He has been very productive internationally.
In 2001, he made his debut as a film director, by writing, producing, and directing Quartet. This film was not only released in Japan as the first full-scale music film, but also was officially selected for World Competition section in Montreal Film Festival and has been highly acclaimed internationally.
As an event producer, in 1998, he directed the opening ceremony and cultural events of Winter Paralympics in Nagano. In 2001, he worked as the general director of the main event in Japan Expo in Fukushima. He directed and presented the first full-digital film in Japan, 4 MOVEMENT, which was combined with stage performances. With this his second film, he exhibited his genius as a producer, director, and composer, and evoked a massive response.
In recent years, he has been touring actively, performing in a variety of styles, such as piano solo, ensemble, and orchestra. In the symphonic concert with orchestra, which took place in 2001 in Seoul in South Korea, as well as in Japan, he received overwhelming support from the audience.
By composing music for Spirited Away, he received the 56th Mainichi Film Competition Awards for Best Music, Tokyo International Anime Fair 2001 Best music Award for Theater Movie Category, and the 16th Japan Gold Disk Award for Animation Album of the Year. Also, his vast contribution to and achievements in the Japanese Film Industry and the variety of his works and activity have been recognized. He also won the 11th Nagaharu Yodogawa Award in 2002.
In March of 2002, ENCORE was released, in which his original compositions were arranged into piano solo. Then, he played in concerts for various age groups presented by NTT DoCoMo Tohoku, and enjoyed a favorable reception from the public.
In January 2003, He took on the music for Mibugishiden, in his first collaboration with the film director, Yojiro TAKITA. In March of the same year, brooded over two years, he released the much-awaited original piano solo album, ETUDE-a Wish to the Moon. From March to April, he gave a unique national concert tour as a pianist with nine cellists. In May, he received 2003 JASRAC Gold Award. In June, his first live concert DVD, -a Wish to the Moon- Joe HISAISHI & 9 Cellos 2003 ETUDE & ENCORE was released.
In 2004, he took a position as the first head director of Music in New Japan Phil World Dream Orchestra, which was organized by New Japan Philharmonic. Since then, he holds concerts with the orchestra every year and three World Dream Orchestra albums had been released. The latest one was Psycho Horror Night in December 2006 and also a DVD, a collection of World Dream Orchestra titled W.D.O. was released.
After he worked as the musical director of Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's moving Castle, which was the smash hit worldwide, in 2005, he released his solo album, Freedom - Piano Stories 4, and another solo album, Works III.
Also in 2005, his first Korean Film for which he worked as the musical director, Welcome to Dongmakgol became the most grossing film in Korea of the year, and he became the first foreigner to win MBC film award. In Jan. 2006, he also received The Los Angeles Film Critic Association (LAFCA) best music Award for Howl's moving Castle.
He then composed music for Yamato, a Japanese war epic film by Junya Sato, A Chinese Tall Story, a Hong Kong Action-Fantasy-Comedy film by Jeff Lau in late 2005, and The post-modern life of my aunt, a film by Ann Hui in 2006.
His latest solo album, Asian X.T.C. was released in Oct. 2006. With its release, he toured nationally and went on an Asia tour and held concerts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Osaka. Its final concert was held in Suntory Hall, Tokyo in March 2007.
In 2007, he would compose music for The Sun Also Rises, a Chinese Drama film by Jiang Wen, Taioushijinki, a Korean TV epic drama by Kim Jonghak, and Japanese films. In May, he received 2007 JASRAC Gold Award by Howl's moving Castle BGM.