Shunsuke Kikuchi
Encyclopedia
is a prolific Japanese
composer
from Hirosaki
. He specializes in incidental music
for media such as television
and film
.
Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu
and anime
productions for children, as well as violent action films, jidaigeki
and dorama. His works are comparatively more common in Toei
-related productions. , he is still active.
Kikuchi's compositions characteristically have a 16-beat blues
and pentatonic
basis. Up-tempo
works like those in Kamen Rider
and Abarenbo Shogun
form the majority of his works, while the 12/8 theme of Doraemon
and the slow background music from long-running series have become some of his best-known works.
As anime and tokusatsu like Doraemon, Kamen Rider, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, jidaigeki such as Abarenbo Shogun and Chōshichirō Edo Nikki
, and TBS
Saturday-night productions ranging from Key Hunter
to G-Men '75
became long-running hit series, people began to say that "if Kikuchi Shunsuke is in charge of the music, the show will be a hit."
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
from Hirosaki
Hirosaki, Aomori
is a city located in southwest Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is a castle town and was the Tsugaru clan ruled the 100,000 koku tozama han Hirosaki Domain from Hirosaki Castle during the Edo period. The city is currently a regional commercial center and the largest producer of apples in Japan...
. He specializes in incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
for media such as television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
.
Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
productions for children, as well as violent action films, jidaigeki
Jidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
and dorama. His works are comparatively more common in Toei
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
-related productions. , he is still active.
Kikuchi's compositions characteristically have a 16-beat blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and pentatonic
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
basis. Up-tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
works like those in Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider
, is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV . A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine...
and Abarenbo Shogun
Abarenbo Shogun
is a Japanese television program on the TV Asahi network. Set in the eighteenth century, it showed fictitious events in the life of Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa shogun. The program started in 1978 under the title Yoshimune Hyōbanki: Abarenbō Shōgun...
form the majority of his works, while the 12/8 theme of Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
and the slow background music from long-running series have become some of his best-known works.
As anime and tokusatsu like Doraemon, Kamen Rider, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, jidaigeki such as Abarenbo Shogun and Chōshichirō Edo Nikki
Choshichiro Edo Nikki
or Chōshichirō's Edo Diaries was a long-running prime-time television series in Japan. The title character was Matsudaira Chōshichirō Nagayori, the son of Tokugawa Tadanaga. The premise of the show focuses on Tadanaga having been killed because of alleged plotting to overthrow his elder brother,...
, and TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
Saturday-night productions ranging from Key Hunter
Key Hunter
was a prime-time television detective series in Japan. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:56 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network from April 6, 1968 to April 7, 1973...
to G-Men '75
G-Men '75
was a long-running prime-time television detective series in Japan. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:54 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network from May 24, 1975 to April 3, 1982. A sequel, G-Men '82, followed, as did various specials. With several updates and cast...
became long-running hit series, people began to say that "if Kikuchi Shunsuke is in charge of the music, the show will be a hit."
Selected works
- Abare Hasshū Goyō TabiAbare Hasshu Goyo Tabiwas a network prime-time television jidaigeki series in Japan from 1991 to 1994. It starred Teruhiko Saigō.The series began in 1991 in the 9:00 p.m. time slot on the TV Tokyo network. Saigō created the role of Tōdō Heihachirō. The character was a , a law-enforcement official of the Tokugawa...
- Abarenbō ShōgunAbarenbo Shogunis a Japanese television program on the TV Asahi network. Set in the eighteenth century, it showed fictitious events in the life of Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa shogun. The program started in 1978 under the title Yoshimune Hyōbanki: Abarenbō Shōgun...
- Babel IIBabel IIis a 1971 manga series by Mitsuteru Yokoyama.Yokoyama's manga has been animated three times: in 1973 as a television series, in 1992 as an original video animation series, and in 2001 as a 13 episode television series....
- CasshanCasshanCasshan also known as in Japan, is an anime series created by animation studio Tatsunoko Productions in 1973, which was based on a serialization in Kodansha’s Terebi Magazine and Akita Shoten’s “Boken Oh” ....
- Chōshichirō Edo NikkiChoshichiro Edo Nikkior Chōshichirō's Edo Diaries was a long-running prime-time television series in Japan. The title character was Matsudaira Chōshichirō Nagayori, the son of Tokugawa Tadanaga. The premise of the show focuses on Tadanaga having been killed because of alleged plotting to overthrow his elder brother,...
- DaimosDaimosis a Japanese anime television series produced by Nihon Sunrise. Daimos is the third installment of the "Romantic Trilogy", following Chōdenji Robo Combattler V and Chōdenji Machine Voltes V. It ran from 1 April 1978 to 27 January 1979 and consisted of 44 episodes...
- Danguard Ace
- DoraemonDoraemonis a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
(Nobuyo Ōyama series, up to March 18, 2005) - Denjin ZaborgerDenjin Zaborger, translated as Electroid Zaborger 7, was a Japanese tokusatsu television series that aired in 1974, produced by P Productions, it was their last Tokusatsu series of the 1970s....
- Dr. Slump and Arare-chanDr. Slumpis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was serialized in Shueisha's anthology comic Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1980 to 1984 which were collected into 18 tankōbon volumes...
- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z
- Dragon PrincessDragon Princessis a Japanese karate film about a girl who wishes to avenge her father.-Plot:The film begins with a man and his daughter being attacked by a rival karate master who wants the man's job as top karate master. After cowardly teaming up with four other masters they manage to disable one of the man's...
- Female Convict 701: ScorpionFemale Convict 701: Scorpionis a film based on a manga by Tōru Shinohara in the "Women in Prison" sub-genre of Pinky violence Pink films made by Toei Company in 1972. The first in a series, the film starred Meiko Kaji and was Shunya Itō's directorial debut.-Plot:...
- GaikingGaikingwas a Japanese Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation.It ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super...
- GameraGamerais a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
series, including Gamera vs. GuironGamera vs. Guiron, is a 1969 kaiju film, the fifth entry in the original Gamera series. It was one of five Gamera films to be featured as episodes of movie-mocking television show Mystery Science Theater 3000.-Plot:...
, Gamera vs. JigerGamera vs. Jigeris a 1970 kaiju film by the Daiei Motion Picture Company. It is the sixth entry in the original Gamera series.-Plot:In Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera has his hands full right from the very beginning. Japan is preparing for the 1970 World's Fair, to be held in Osaka. Construction of the various buildings...
, Gamera vs. ZigraGamera vs. Zigrais a 1971 kaiju film starring Gamera created by Daiei Motion Picture Company. Unlike previous Gamera sequels, Gamera vs. Zigra was not released by AIP-TV. Sandy Frank released the film to television and home video in the 1980s. It is one of five Gamera films featured on Mystery Science Theater...
and Gamera: Super MonsterGamera: Super Monster, a 1980 kaiju film, was the belated final entry in the Shōwa Gamera series, and the last Gamera film written by Nisan Takahashi and directed by Noriaki Yuasa. It relied heavily on stock footage from previous Gamera films. This movie was made when Daiei was brought out of bankruptcy by the Tokuma...
, - Getter RoboGetter Robois a Super Robot manga series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, as well as an anime series produced by Toei Animation. The series was broadcast on Fuji TV from April 4, 1974 to May 8, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes.- Plot :...
and Getter Robo GGetter Robo Gis a super robot anime series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa and produced by Toei Animation. This direct sequel to Getter Robo was broadcast on Fuji TV from May 15, 1975 to March 25, 1976, with a total of 39 episodes .People familiar with Mattel's popular Shogun Warriors toy... - Goke, Body Snatcher from HellGoke, Body Snatcher from Hellis a 1968 Japanese science fiction/horror film directed by Hajime Sato and released by Shochiku studios.-Plot:Air Japan flight JA307 is en route from Tokyo's Haneda airport south to Itami Airport in Osaka...
- GrendizerGrendizeris a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It is the third entry in the Mazinger trilogy. It was broadcasted on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes...
- Highschool! Kimen-gumi
- Hurricane Polymer
- Jumborg AceJumborg Aceis the title superhero of a tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the show was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System from January 17 to December 29, 1973, with a total of 50 episodes...
- Kamen RiderKamen Rider, is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV . A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine...
(first series through -ZX; only New Kamen Rider excepted) - Kiteretsu DaihyakkaKiteretsu Daihyakkais a science fiction manga series by Fujiko Fujio which ran in the children's magazine Kodomo no Hikari from April 1974 through July 1977...
- Kure Kure TakoraKure Kure Takorais a tokusatsu children's comedy show from Japan. Produced by Toho Company Ltd., the show aired on Fuji TV and it's made from October 1, 1973 to September 27, 1974 with a total of 260 episodes. Kure Kure Takora—the main character of the show wants everything he sees and says "Kure! Kure! " all the...
- La Seine no HoshiLa Seine no Hoshiis an anime series by Sunrise, which premiered in Japan on Fuji TV from April 4, 1975 and finished its run on December 26, 1975, spanning a total of 39 episodes...
- Mazinger ZMazinger Z, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
and Great MazingerGreat Mazingeris a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series... - Message from SpaceMessage from Spaceis a film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Released in 1978, the film is seen by many critics as a Japanese mockbuster of Star Wars The film was produced by Toei and cost $6 million dollars, the most expensive movie made in Japan up to that date...
- Q-tarō (Fusako Amachi series)
- Robotto KeijiRobotto Keijiis a tokusatsu superhero TV series. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, the series was produced by Toei Company Ltd., and broadcast on Fuji TV from April 5 to September 27, 1973, with a total of 26 episodes....
- Ronin of the Wilderness
- Sister Street FighterSister Street Fighteris a spin off of The Street Fighter . The plot revolves around Lǐ Hóng-Lóng , the female martial artist of the title. When her brother Lǐ Wàn-Qīng is kidnapped by drug lords, she seeks revenge. The drug lord's colorful collection of "killers" includes a toga-clad group of Thai Boxers called the...
- StarzingerStarzingeris an anime series aired in Japan from 1978 to 1979. It translates literally to "Science Fiction Journey to the West Starzinger". In the United States it is referred to as Spaceketeers and is part of Jim Terry's Force Five series...
- Tenchi in TokyoTenchi in Tokyo, is a 26-episode Japanese cartoon series produced by AIC in 1997. It is the third series from the Tenchi Muyo! series.-Overview:...
(also known as New Tenchi Muyo) - Terror beneath the Sea
- Tiger MaskTiger Maskis a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine from 1968 to 1969 and was later published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1970 to 1971...
- Tōyama no Kin-sanToyama no Kin-sanis a popular character based on the historical Tōyama Kagemoto, a samurai and official of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period of Japanese history. In kabuki and kōdan, he was celebrated under his childhood name, Kinshirō, shortened to Kin-san. He was said to have left home as a young man,...
(with Ryōtarō SugiRyotaro Sugiis a Japanese singer and actor. He was born in Kobe. He is the father of actor Jundai Yamada.Among Sugi's roles is a role in Sukima Kaze, which sold over a million copies. His acting credits include eighteen films...
) - Yojimbo of the Wilderness
- Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs