Takeharu Ishimoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese video game composer, synthesizer programmer
, and musician currently working at Square Enix
. He joined Square Enix in 1999 as a synthesizer programmer on Legend of Mana
, and worked for them on several games. In 2002 he moved to become a composer, beginning with World Fantastista. He has since composed for several large-budget games, such as The World Ends with You and Dissidia: Final Fantasy
. In addition to his work for Square Enix he is a composer and guitar player for the band SAWA, which he formed with Sawa Koto in 2008, and with which he has released the album 333.
. Several games later, he began to also work as a composer with the PlayStation 2
soccer game World Fantasista. In 2004 he began to compose for games in the Final Fantasy
series, which he had previously worked with as a synthesizer programmer on Final Fantasy X
. His last work as a synthesizer programmer was for Kingdom Hearts II
in 2005; since then he has worked exclusively for Square Enix as a composer. He is currently working on two Final Fantasy games, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
and Final Fantasy Type-0.
Ishimoto is also a member of the Japanese musical group SAWA, with which he performs under the name HIZMI. He formed the band along with Sawa Kato in October 2008. Koto sang some of the songs and wrote the lyrics for Ishimoto's The World Ends with You soundtrack. The band has released one album, 333, in 2008.
as number ten in their top ten JRPG composers list in 2008. Ishimito composes songs in many different genres, including hip-hop, electronica, pop, and experimental for The World Ends with You alone.
Composer
Synthesizer programmer
In video game music, a synthesizer programmer - or a manipulator - helps a composer by choosing the right instruments to play the music inside the video game....
, and musician currently working at Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. He joined Square Enix in 1999 as a synthesizer programmer on Legend of Mana
Legend of Mana
Legend of Mana, known in Japan as , is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada...
, and worked for them on several games. In 2002 he moved to become a composer, beginning with World Fantastista. He has since composed for several large-budget games, such as The World Ends with You and Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
is an action RPG/fighting game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the campaign of the Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary. Information on the game was first released during the "Square Enix Party" event of May 2008...
. In addition to his work for Square Enix he is a composer and guitar player for the band SAWA, which he formed with Sawa Koto in 2008, and with which he has released the album 333.
Biography
Takeharu Ishimoto first got into music as, according to him, he lived in the country and there was nothing else to do. He first worked as a synthesizer programmer before becoming a composer; he began working as such in 1999 with Legend of ManaLegend of Mana
Legend of Mana, known in Japan as , is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada...
. Several games later, he began to also work as a composer with the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
soccer game World Fantasista. In 2004 he began to compose for games in the Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
series, which he had previously worked with as a synthesizer programmer on Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
. His last work as a synthesizer programmer was for Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
in 2005; since then he has worked exclusively for Square Enix as a composer. He is currently working on two Final Fantasy games, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
is a 2011 fighting game published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the Final Fantasy series. It was developed by the company's 1st Production Department...
and Final Fantasy Type-0.
Ishimoto is also a member of the Japanese musical group SAWA, with which he performs under the name HIZMI. He formed the band along with Sawa Kato in October 2008. Koto sang some of the songs and wrote the lyrics for Ishimoto's The World Ends with You soundtrack. The band has released one album, 333, in 2008.
Style and legacy
He was named by IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
as number ten in their top ten JRPG composers list in 2008. Ishimito composes songs in many different genres, including hip-hop, electronica, pop, and experimental for The World Ends with You alone.
Discography
Synthesizer programmer- Legend of ManaLegend of ManaLegend of Mana, known in Japan as , is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada...
(1999) – with Hidenori IwasakiHidenori Iwasakiis a Japanese synthesizer programmer and video game composer currently working at Square Enix. He studied at the Tokyo International University before joining Square in 1998. He first worked as a synthesizer programmer before becoming a composer. His first work as a solo composer is Front Mission 4...
, Hirosato Noda, and Ryo YamazakiRyo Yamazakiis a Japanese synthesizer programmer and occasional composer of video game music currently working at Square Enix.-Biography:Yamazaki has created several compositions for Front Mission 4, Front Mission Online, and Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII... - Vagrant StoryVagrant Storyis a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
(2000) – with Hidenori Iwasaki and Hirosato Noda - All Star Pro-WrestlingAll Star Pro-Wrestlingis a Japan-exclusive professional wrestling video game developed and published by Square on June 8, 2000 for the PlayStation 2. It was the first wrestling game published on this platform....
(2000) - Final Fantasy XFinal Fantasy Xis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
(2001) – with Keiji Kawamori and Ryo Yamazaki - All Star Pro-Wrestling II (2001)
- All Star Pro-Wrestling III (2003)
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts: Chain of Memoriesis an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Japanese studio Jupiter and published by Square Enix in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to...
(2004) - Kingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts IIis an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
(2005)
Composer
- World Fantastista (2002) - with Masayoshi SokenMasayoshi Sokenis a Japanese video game composer and sound editor who has worked for Square Enix since 2001. He is best known for scoring the Nintendo DS game Mario Hoops 3-on-3...
- Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VIIBefore Crisis: Final Fantasy VIIis a Japanese action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in 2004. It was the first original game to be produced by Square Enix exclusively for mobile phones, and was released on NTT DoCoMo's FOMA iMode line of phones on a monthly subscription basis...
(2004) - Last Order: Final Fantasy VIILast Order: Final Fantasy VII, also abbreviated as Last Order or LO, is a 2005 Japanese anime original video animation produced by Madhouse and released by Square Enix. It was directed by Morio Asaka and produced by Masao Maruyama, Jungo Maruta, and Akio Ofuji. Tetsuya Nomura acted as the supervising director...
(2005) - Monotone (2007)
- The World Ends with You (2007)
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VIICrisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIis an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable. First released in 2007, the game is a prequel to the video game Final Fantasy VII and is also the sixth installment in metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII which includes products related to the game...
(2007) - Dissidia: Final FantasyDissidia: Final Fantasyis an action RPG/fighting game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the campaign of the Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary. Information on the game was first released during the "Square Enix Party" event of May 2008...
(2008) - Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (2010) - with Yoko ShimomuraYoko Shimomurais a Japanese video game composer. She has been described as "the most famous female video game music composer in the world". She has worked in the video game music industry since graduating from Osaka College of Music in 1988...
and Tsuyoshi SekitoTsuyoshi Sekitois a Japanese video game composer, arranger, and musician who has been employed at Square Enix since 1995. As a composer, he is best known for scoring the video games Brave Fencer Musashi and The Last Remnant... - Dissidia 012 Final FantasyDissidia 012 Final Fantasyis a 2011 fighting game published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the Final Fantasy series. It was developed by the company's 1st Production Department...
(2011) - Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011)
- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)