Mamoru Fujisawa, known professionally as Joe Hisaishi (born December 6, 1950), is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.
Possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalism, atonal music, experimental electronic, European classical, and Japanese classical. Lesser known are the other musical roles he plays; he is also a conductor, typesetter, author, arranger, and head of an orchestra. He is famous for his melodies using pentatonic scales and melodic chord progressions.
He is best known for his work with animator Hayao Miyazaki, having composed many scores for many of his films including Spirited Away (2001), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Princess Mononoke (1997), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). He is also recognized for the soundtracks he has provided for filmmaker 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, including Dolls (2002), Kikujiro (1999), Hana-bi (1997), Kids Return (1996), and Sonatine (1993).
Joe Hisaishi was born in Nakano, Nagano, Japan as Mamoru Fujisawa. When he started to take violin lessons at age five, Hisaishi discovered his passion for music. Realizing his love, he attended the Kunitachi College of Music in 1969 to major in music composition. Hisaishi collaborated with minimalist artists as a typesetter, furthering his experience in the musical world.
As his works were becoming well known, Hisaishi formulated an alias inspired by Quincy Jones, an African-American musician and producer.
Hans ZimmerView profile
Danny ElfmanView profile