Kinuyo Yamashita
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese video game music composer and sound producer. Her best known soundtrack is Konami
's Castlevania
, which was also her debut work. She was credited under the pseudonym James Banana for her work on the Nintendo
Entertainment System version of the game.
, Japan. She began playing the piano at the age of four and took piano lessons as a child. After studying electronic engineering at the two-year college Osaka
Electro-Communication University, she graduated in 1986 and went to work for Konami. After leaving Konami, Yamashita established a career as an independent composer. She moved to the US in 2010 and resides in New Jersey.
, under strict hardware constraints. After her success in composing the Castlevania soundtrack, Yamashita composed for other games with Konami, including Esper Dream
, Arumana no Kiseki
, Stinger, Maze of Galious
, Knightmare III: Shalom and Parodius
. She was part of the original Konami Kukeiha Club
in-house band. In 1989, she left Konami to become a freelance composer.
As an independent composer, Yamashita continued to score soundtracks for video games, including Mega Man X3
, but she also worked on various Natsume
games, including Power Blade
, the Medabot series, Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling series, Bass Masters Classic (Game Boy Color), Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
(GBC), WWF Wrestlemania 2000
(GBC), among others. Yamashita continued to compose independently in the new millennium, working on titles such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(Game Boy Advance), Croc 2
(GBC), Monsters, Inc.
(GBA), WWF Road to WrestleMania
(GBA), Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
(GBA), Keitai Denjū Telefang (GBC) and other games in the Medabot series.
From 1991 to 1995, Yamashita formed a duo ensemble called "Honey Honey" which performed live covers of American Pop and Jazz music. She played the piano, alto saxophone and sang background vocals. Yamashita also composes J-Pop songs for Japanese artists under the independent label Rocketeers and R&B songs independently for American artists.
In 2009, Yamashita completed the arrangement for "Stage 4" on the Dodonpachi Dai-Ō-Jō remix CD released in Japan. She also composed a song for the Wii
game Walk It Out. In September 2009, Yamashita was invited as a special guest to Video Games Live
at their concert event in Tokyo
, where she appeared on stage after a performance of Castlevania produced by Tommy Tallarico
. In 2010 and 2011, she continued to make appearances with Video Games Live performing "Castlevania Rock" with orchestras at venues including NJPAC in New Jersey, the Tilles Center in New York and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
's Castlevania
Castlevania
Castlevania, known as in Japan, is a video game series created and developed by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on September 26, 1986, with the release of for the Family Computer Disk System , followed by an alternate version for the MSX 2 platform on October 30...
, which was also her debut work. She was credited under the pseudonym James Banana for her work on the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Entertainment System version of the game.
Life
Yamashita was born in Amagasaki, HyōgoAmagasaki, Hyogo
is an industrial city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1916. Its population is around 460,000, below its peak of over 554,000 in 1971.-History:...
, Japan. She began playing the piano at the age of four and took piano lessons as a child. After studying electronic engineering at the two-year college Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
Electro-Communication University, she graduated in 1986 and went to work for Konami. After leaving Konami, Yamashita established a career as an independent composer. She moved to the US in 2010 and resides in New Jersey.
Career
In 1986, Yamashita composed her first soundtrack to the video game, CastlevaniaCastlevania
Castlevania, known as in Japan, is a video game series created and developed by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on September 26, 1986, with the release of for the Family Computer Disk System , followed by an alternate version for the MSX 2 platform on October 30...
, under strict hardware constraints. After her success in composing the Castlevania soundtrack, Yamashita composed for other games with Konami, including Esper Dream
Esper Dream
Esper Dream is an action RPG developed for the Famicom Disk System and published by Konami on February 20, 1987. During this time, RPGs had a particular look and feel, primarily utilizing sword and magic motifs...
, Arumana no Kiseki
Arumana no Kiseki
is a platform game by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System. It was only released in Japan on August 17, 1987.-Synopsis:A magic red jewel, known as the Almana, is stolen from an unnamed village. A thief runs off with the jewel and turns the entire village into stone...
, Stinger, Maze of Galious
Maze of Galious
is the sequel to Konami's MSX game Knightmare. While the first game was an overhead, vertical scrolling shooter, The Maze of Galious is a side-view, flick-screen platform game. Starring in The Maze of Galious are Popolon and Aphrodite, entering the evil priest Galious' castle to free their...
, Knightmare III: Shalom and Parodius
Parodius
, or just Parodius, is a scrolling shooter video game developed by Konami for the MSX computer and was released in Japan. The game is notable for being the first title in the Parodius series, although it is often confused with its sequel Parodius Da! －Shinwa kara Owarai e－ in that respect, which...
. She was part of the original Konami Kukeiha Club
KONAMI KuKeiHa CLUB
is Konami's sound team. It is often confused with 矩形波倶楽部 , Konami's in-house band that has released albums consisting of their studio performances. They are primarily responsible for the sound and music in the majority of Konami video games...
in-house band. In 1989, she left Konami to become a freelance composer.
As an independent composer, Yamashita continued to score soundtracks for video games, including Mega Man X3
Mega Man X3
Mega Man X3, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The game was originally released in Japan on December 1, 1995 and later in North American and PAL regions in 1996. It is the third game in the Mega Man X series and the last to appear...
, but she also worked on various Natsume
Natsume
can refer to:* the Jujube fruit* A type of chaki used in Japanese tea ceremony* Natsume , a Japanese video game developer* Natsume Sōseki, a famous 19th century Japanese novelist* Masako Natsume, a Japanese actor...
games, including Power Blade
Power Blade
Power Blade, known in Japan as , is an action platform video game developed by Natsume and published by Taito for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in March and in Europe on...
, the Medabot series, Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling series, Bass Masters Classic (Game Boy Color), Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue is the 2000 incarnation of the Power Rangers TV franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive....
(GBC), WWF Wrestlemania 2000
WWF WrestleMania 2000
WWF WrestleMania 2000 is a professional wrestling video game released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64 console. It was based on the World Wrestling Federation's annual pay-per-view, WrestleMania. Released at the height of the WWF's Attitude Era, WrestleMania 2000 marked the start of THQ's relationship...
(GBC), among others. Yamashita continued to compose independently in the new millennium, working on titles such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King is a 2003 Game Boy Advance video game and the third video game based on the Buffy franchise.-Story:...
(Game Boy Advance), Croc 2
Croc 2
Croc 2, called Croc Adventure in Japan , is a video game released in 1999, is the sequel to Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, developed by Argonaut Software between 1998 and 1999, and published by Fox Interactive. Croc 2 was released on Game Boy Color, Windows, and PlayStation...
(GBC), Monsters, Inc.
Monsters, Inc.
Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 American computer-animated film and the fourth feature-length film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It was directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Lee Unkrich and David Silverman, and written by Jill Culton, Peter Docter, Ralph Eggleston, Dan Gerson, Jeff Pidgeon, Rhett...
(GBA), WWF Road to WrestleMania
WWF Road to WrestleMania
WWF Road to WrestleMania is a video game released on the Game Boy Advance handheld console by THQ, based on the World Wrestling Federation's pay-per-view of the same name. It was the first WWF game to be released on the Game Boy Advance...
(GBA), Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
Power Rangers Dino Thunder is an American children's television series, an incarnation of the Power Rangers franchise. As with all Power Rangers series, it was adapted from a series from the long running, Japanese Super Sentai franchise, in this case the twenty-seventh, Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger...
(GBA), Keitai Denjū Telefang (GBC) and other games in the Medabot series.
From 1991 to 1995, Yamashita formed a duo ensemble called "Honey Honey" which performed live covers of American Pop and Jazz music. She played the piano, alto saxophone and sang background vocals. Yamashita also composes J-Pop songs for Japanese artists under the independent label Rocketeers and R&B songs independently for American artists.
In 2009, Yamashita completed the arrangement for "Stage 4" on the Dodonpachi Dai-Ō-Jō remix CD released in Japan. She also composed a song for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
game Walk It Out. In September 2009, Yamashita was invited as a special guest to Video Games Live
Video Games Live
Video Games Live is a concert series created and produced by industry veterans and video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized lighting and effects, as well as several...
at their concert event in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where she appeared on stage after a performance of Castlevania produced by Tommy Tallarico
Tommy Tallarico
Tommy Tallarico is an American video game music composer and musician. He is best known as the co-creator of the concert series Video Games Live...
. In 2010 and 2011, she continued to make appearances with Video Games Live performing "Castlevania Rock" with orchestras at venues including NJPAC in New Jersey, the Tilles Center in New York and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Discography
| Video games | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Co-worker |
| 1986 | Castlevania Castlevania (video game) Castlevania, known as in Japan, is a console video game developed and published by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan in September 1986. A year later, in May 1987 it was ported to cartridge format and released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System followed by a... |
Composition | S. Terashima |
| Stinger | Composition | ||
| King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch is a 1986 Family Computer action adventure game by Konami. It was released only in Japan and based on the movie of the same year, King Kong Lives .-Storyline:... |
Composition | Shinya Sakamoto, Hevimeta Satoe, and Kyouhei Sada | |
| 1987 | Esper Dream Esper Dream Esper Dream is an action RPG developed for the Famicom Disk System and published by Konami on February 20, 1987. During this time, RPGs had a particular look and feel, primarily utilizing sword and magic motifs... |
Composition/sound effects/sound programming | |
| Arumana no Kiseki Arumana no Kiseki is a platform game by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System. It was only released in Japan on August 17, 1987.-Synopsis:A magic red jewel, known as the Almana, is stolen from an unnamed village. A thief runs off with the jewel and turns the entire village into stone... |
Composition/sound effects/sound programming | ||
| Nemesis 2 | Composition/arrangement | Motoaki Furukawa and Masahiro Ikariko | |
| Maze of Galious Maze of Galious is the sequel to Konami's MSX game Knightmare. While the first game was an overhead, vertical scrolling shooter, The Maze of Galious is a side-view, flick-screen platform game. Starring in The Maze of Galious are Popolon and Aphrodite, entering the evil priest Galious' castle to free their... |
Composition | several others | |
| Uşas Usas is a side-view platform game released by Konami for the MSX2 computer platform in .Each of the game's five stages is divided into four sub-stages and a boss area . All four ruins need to be completed and their respective sub-bosses defeated before the shrine can be entered and the level's boss beat... |
Composition | ||
| Hinotori Hinotori Hinotori may refer to:* Hinotori , an astronomical satellite developed by Japan's ISAS* Phoenix , a manga series made by Osamu Tezuka... |
Composition | ||
| 1988 | King's Valley II King's Valley II King's Valley II: The Seal of El Giza is a computer game for the MSX platform by Konami. It is a sequel to the popular puzzle/action game King's Valley.The game was released both for the MSX1 and MSX2 systems.... |
Composition/arrangement | Kazuhiko Uehara, Masahiro Ikariko, and Motoaki Furukawa |
| Parodius Parodius , or just Parodius, is a scrolling shooter video game developed by Konami for the MSX computer and was released in Japan. The game is notable for being the first title in the Parodius series, although it is often confused with its sequel Parodius Da! －Shinwa kara Owarai e－ in that respect, which... |
Composition | ||
| Konami no Uranai Sensation | Composition | ||
| 1991 | Power Blade Power Blade Power Blade, known in Japan as , is an action platform video game developed by Natsume and published by Taito for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in March and in Europe on... |
Composition | |
| Hana Taaka Daka!? | Composition | ||
| 1992 | Power Blade 2 Power Blade 2 Power Blade 2, known in Japan as , is an action platform video game developed by Natsume and published by Taito for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in September and in Europe on... |
Composition | |
| Pocky & Rocky Pocky & Rocky Pocky & Rocky, known in Japan as , is a scrolling shooter video game with action elements licensed by Taito to Natsume, who developed and published the game for release in Japan in 1992 and the rest of the world in 1993... |
Composition | Hiroyuki Iwatsuki Hiroyuki Iwatsuki Hiroyuki Iwatsuki is a Japanese video game music composer who has contributed to the soundtracks of Ninja Warriors, Pocky & Rocky, and Omega Five... |
|
| 1993 | Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi ha Nice Body Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi ha Nice Body is a Japan-exclusive action video game based on the manga and anime Ghost Sweeper Mikami. It was developed by Natsume and published by Banalex, which was released in 1993.-Gameplay:... |
Composition | |
| Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling (series) is a series of wrestling video games based on the professional wrestling promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling. The games were developed by Natsume and released for the Super Famicom and Game Boy. The second game in the series was localized for Western markets and released under the name Natsume... series |
Composition | Hiroyuki Iwatsuki Hiroyuki Iwatsuki Hiroyuki Iwatsuki is a Japanese video game music composer who has contributed to the soundtracks of Ninja Warriors, Pocky & Rocky, and Omega Five... and others |
|
| Natsume Championship Wrestling Natsume Championship Wrestling Natsume Championship Wrestling is a 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game that was released in North America.This game is widely based on a conversion of , a Japanese video game for the Super Famicom.... |
|||
| 1994 | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (video game) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the title of five different video games based on the television series of the same name, which were released for the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Game Gear, and Sega CD... (SNES) |
Composition | Iku Mizutani |
| 1995 | Mark Davis' The Fishing Master | Composition | |
| Mega Man X3 Mega Man X3 Mega Man X3, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The game was originally released in Japan on December 1, 1995 and later in North American and PAL regions in 1996. It is the third game in the Mega Man X series and the last to appear... |
Composition | ||
| 1997 | Casper Casper (video game) There have been different versions of video games based on the film Casper. Two of those games were released in 1996 and 1997 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, one different from each other, by different publishers, and released in different regions... (SFC Japanese version) |
Composition | |
| 1997 | Medarot | Composition | |
| 1998 | Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbō: Jigoku Yūuuen Satsujin Jiken | Composition | |
| Digital Figure Iina | Composition | ||
| Dragon Dance | Composition | ||
| Big Mountain 2000 Big Mountain 2000 Big Mountain 2000 , published by Imagineer and SouthPeak Interactive, is a skiing and snowboarding racing game released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000.-Gameplay:... |
Composition | ||
| 1999 | Medarot 2 | Composition | |
| Bass Masters Classic (GBC) | Composition | ||
| WWF WrestleMania 2000 WWF WrestleMania 2000 WWF WrestleMania 2000 is a professional wrestling video game released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64 console. It was based on the World Wrestling Federation's annual pay-per-view, WrestleMania. Released at the height of the WWF's Attitude Era, WrestleMania 2000 marked the start of THQ's relationship... (GBC) |
Composition | ||
| 2000 | Medarot 3 | Composition | |
| Keitai Denjū Telefang | Composition | ||
| 2001 | Croc 2 Croc 2 Croc 2, called Croc Adventure in Japan , is a video game released in 1999, is the sequel to Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, developed by Argonaut Software between 1998 and 1999, and published by Fox Interactive. Croc 2 was released on Game Boy Color, Windows, and PlayStation... (GBC) |
Composition | |
| Medarot 4 | Composition | ||
| Medarot 5 | Composition | ||
| Disney/Pixar Monsters, Inc. | Composition | Iku Mizutani and Tetsuari Watanabe | |
| 2002 | Medarot G | Composition | |
| 2003 | Medarot Nii Core | Composition | |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King is a 2003 Game Boy Advance video game and the third video game based on the Buffy franchise.-Story:... |
Composition | Iku Mizutani and Tetsuari Watanabe | |
| Medabots Infinity Medabots Infinity Medabots Infinity is a role-playing video game published in 2003 by Natsume, and developed by Victor Interactive. The game is based on the Medabots series.... |
Composition | ||
| 2004 | Cinnamon: Yume no Daibouken | Composition | |
| Shinkata Medarot | Composition | ||
| 2007 | Hello Kitty no Gotōchi Collection: Koi no DokiDoki Trouble | Composition | |
| Cinnamon Ball: Kurukuru Sweets Paradise | Composition | ||
| Kikansha Thomas: Kokugo Sansū Eigo | Composition | ||
| Osumitsuki Series: Shokusai Roman Katei de Dekiru! Chōmeijin - Yūmei Ryōrinin no Original Recipe |
Composition | ||
| Katei no Igaku: DS de Kitaeru Shokuzai Kenkō Training | Composition | ||
| 2008 | Akagawa Jirō Mystery: Yasōkyoku | Composition | |
| Shugo Chara! 3-tsu no Tamagoto Koisuru Joker | Composition | ||
| Yokojiku de Manabu Sekai no Rekishi: Yoko-Gaku DS | Composition | ||
| Kikansha Thomas DS 2: Asonde Manabu DS Yōchien | Composition | ||
| 2009 | Kisō Ryōhei Gunhound | Composition | |
| 2010 | Walk It Out | Composition | |
| Mr. Balloon's Wonderful Trip | Sound effects/voice acting | ||
| Other works | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Co-worker |
| 2009 | DoDonPachi Dai-Ō-Jō Premium Arrange Album | Arrangement | many others |