Yoshitaka Hirota
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
video game composer and bass guitarist. His most notable works include the soundtracks to the Shadow Hearts
series. Hirota was previously a sound effects programmer having worked on various Square
titles. His first work as a video game composer was for the Nintendo 64
game Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
.
who he has worked with on Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
, Biohazard 2
Drama Albums, Shadow Hearts
and Shadow Hearts II
.
Kyoko Kishikawa has worked with Hirota on Shadow Hearts
, Shadow Hearts II
(although not Shadow Hearts: From the New World
) and Rogue Galaxy
Premium Arrange, providing eerie female scat
vocals for a number of his tracks. Also, Hirota frequently performs bass guitar with Kishikawa's band darumaya.
Ryo Fukuda has been the sound manipulator for Hirota on the Shadow Hearts games as well as composing and arranging a few tracks for all three games. He also co-composed with Hirota on Sonic Shuffle.
Kenji Ito
worked with Hirota on the soundtrack of Shadow Hearts II
. Hirota has performed bass guitar for Ito's live performance of Culdcept
music during the Extra Live Concert and for Ito's vocal song for Lux-Pain
, Seinaru Itami wo Daite sung by Yoko Takahashi
.
style.
Sound design
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...
video game composer and bass guitarist. His most notable works include the soundtracks to the Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts
is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
series. Hirota was previously a sound effects programmer having worked on various Square
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
titles. His first work as a video game composer was for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
game Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
The game received mixed to good reviews. Criticism came toward the graphics and sound by GameSpot saying "Although Bomberman 64: The Second Attack is not at all revolutionary, it is not especially well executed in any particular area, and it suffers noticeably in the graphics and sound departments,...
.
Frequent collaborators
Hirota has a friendship from childhood with fellow composer Yasunori MitsudaYasunori Mitsuda
is a Japanese video game composer, sound programmer, and musician. He has composed music for or worked on over 35 games, and has contributed to over 15 other albums...
who he has worked with on Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack
The game received mixed to good reviews. Criticism came toward the graphics and sound by GameSpot saying "Although Bomberman 64: The Second Attack is not at all revolutionary, it is not especially well executed in any particular area, and it suffers noticeably in the graphics and sound departments,...
, Biohazard 2
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2, known as in Japan, is a survival horror video game originally released for the PlayStation in 1998. Developed by Capcom as the second installment in the Resident Evil series, its story takes place two months after the events of the first game, Resident Evil...
Drama Albums, Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts
is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
and Shadow Hearts II
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,...
.
Kyoko Kishikawa has worked with Hirota on Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts
is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
, Shadow Hearts II
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,...
(although not Shadow Hearts: From the New World
Shadow Hearts: From The New World
is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series....
) and Rogue Galaxy
Rogue Galaxy
is a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007...
Premium Arrange, providing eerie female scat
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
vocals for a number of his tracks. Also, Hirota frequently performs bass guitar with Kishikawa's band darumaya.
Ryo Fukuda has been the sound manipulator for Hirota on the Shadow Hearts games as well as composing and arranging a few tracks for all three games. He also co-composed with Hirota on Sonic Shuffle.
Kenji Ito
Kenji Ito
, also known by the nickname , is a Japanese video game composer and musician. He is best known for his work on the Mana and SaGa series, though he has worked on over 30 video games throughout his career as well as composed or arranged music for over 15 other albums, concerts, and plays...
worked with Hirota on the soundtrack of Shadow Hearts II
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,...
. Hirota has performed bass guitar for Ito's live performance of Culdcept
Culdcept
is a turn-based strategy video game. It has drawn comparisons to other modern strategy titles, and also shares features with non-video games Monopoly and Magic: The Gathering. The first installment to reach North America was the expanded port of Culdcept Second released for the Sony PlayStation 2,...
music during the Extra Live Concert and for Ito's vocal song for Lux-Pain
Lux-Pain
is a visual novel-type adventure video game developed by Killaware and published by Marvelous Entertainment for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released in Japan on March 27, 2008...
, Seinaru Itami wo Daite sung by Yoko Takahashi
Yoko Takahashi
is a Japanese singer from Tokyo, perhaps best known for performing , the opening theme song of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. She also performs the closing theme, an "acid bossa" version of "Fly Me to the Moon" and , the closing theme of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth...
.
Musical style and influences
Hirota's Shadow Hearts music is notable for its fusion of cultural music with Hirota's personal IndustrialIndustrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
style.
Instruments
Although Hirota is primarily a bass guitarist, he is capable of playing a variety of other instruments:- BiwaBiwaThe is a Japanese short-necked fretted lute, often used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is the chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence, poetry, and education in Japanese Shinto....
- Syami
- Alter Ego Figaro
- Saw Wo
- Son
- KheneKheneThe khene is a mouth organ of Lao origin whose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo, are connected with a small, hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown, creating a sound similar to that of the violin...
- Old Drum
- Madaru
- GongGongA gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
- SuzuSuzuis a round and hollow Japanese Shinto Bell that contains pellets that sound when agitated. Suzu come in many sizes, ranging from tiny ones on good luck charms to large ones at shrine entrances.- Role in Shinto :...
- KarimbaKarimbaKarimba is a small village in the Palakkad district of Kerala State in India.Situated on National Highway 213 between the towns of Palakkad and Mannarkkad, Karimba is well connected to three airports of Kozhikode, Coimbatore and Kochi...
Video games
Composition- Bomberman 64: The Second AttackBomberman 64: The Second AttackThe game received mixed to good reviews. Criticism came toward the graphics and sound by GameSpot saying "Although Bomberman 64: The Second Attack is not at all revolutionary, it is not especially well executed in any particular area, and it suffers noticeably in the graphics and sound departments,...
(1999) – with Yasunori Mitsuda - Faselei! (1999)
- Dive Alert: Becky's VersionDive Alert: Becky's VersionDive Alert: Becky's Version is a RPG game released in 1999. There is another version of Dive Alert called...
(2000) - Dive Alert: Matt's VersionDive Alert: Matt's VersionDive Alert: Matt's Version is a role-playing game released in 1999. There is another version of Dive Alert called Dive Alert: Becky's Version withg a different character and storyline.- Storyline :...
(2000) - Sonic ShuffleSonic Shuffleis a video game for the Dreamcast and was Sega's answer to the Nintendo party game, Mario Party. The game was developed by Hudson Soft, who also developed Mario Party, and co-developed by Sonic Team.-Overview:...
(2000) – with Hidenobu Otsuki, Ryo Fukuda, Takeo Suzuki and Kazumi Mitome. - Shadow HeartsShadow Heartsis a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
(2001) – with Yasunori Mitsuda, Masaharu Iwata and Ryo Fukuda - Shadow Hearts: CovenantShadow Hearts: CovenantShadow Hearts: Covenant is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by Midway in 2004. It is a direct continuation of Shadow Hearts and the second official game in the Shadow Hearts series. The game features two DVD-ROM discs instead of the usual one, which provides,...
(2004) – with Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Ito, Ryo Fukuda and Tomoko Kobayashi - Shadow Hearts: From the New WorldShadow Hearts: From The New Worldis a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series....
(2005) – with Tomoko Imoto, Ryo Fukuda and Hirotomi Imoto - Saint Seiya: Meiou Hades Juunikyuu HenSaint Seiya, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada and serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1986 to 1991, and adapted into an anime TV series by Toei Animation from 1986 to 1989.The story follows...
(2007) - Hana Saku DS Gardening Life (2007)
- DK Jungle Climber (2007) – with Takashi Kouga and Yuichi Kanno
- Yoga Tipness (2007)
- Glory of HeraclesGlory of Heraclesis a Japanese role-playing video game series originally developed and published by Data East. The series began in 1987 with Tōjin Makyō-den Heracles no Eikō, and three sequels were released until 1994 in addition to a portable spinoff game released in 1992....
(2008) – with Yuichi Kanno - D.Gray-Man Sousya no Shigaku (2008)
Sound design
- Final Fantasy VIFinal Fantasy VIis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square , released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as a part of the Final Fantasy series. Set in a fantasy world with a technology level equivalent to that of the Second Industrial Revolution, the game's story focuses on a...
(1994) - Live A LiveLive A Liveis a console role-playing game developed by Square for the Super Famicom released in Japan on September 2, 1994. It was never released outside Japan, but it has been unofficially translated into English....
(1994) - Chrono TriggerChrono Triggeris a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
(1995) - Seiken Densetsu 3Seiken Densetsu 3is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square for Nintendo's Super Famicom as a part of the Mana series.The game features three lengthy main plotlines, six different characters, each with their own storylines, and a wide range of classes to choose from, which provides each...
(1995) - Front Mission: Gun HazardFront Mission: Gun Hazardis a side-scrolling shooter video game developed by Omiya Soft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 23, 1996 for the Nintendo Super Famicom game console. Front Mission: Gun Hazard is the first spin-off entry and the second entry overall in the Front Mission series...
(1996) - Bahamut LagoonBahamut Lagoonis a Japanese tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Super Famicom on February 9, 1996.It was never officially released outside of Japan, but it was unofficially translated into English...
(1996) - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven StarsSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven StarsSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, often shortened and officially known in Japan as , is an action role-playing game developed by Square and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . It was originally released on March 9, 1996 in Japan and on May 13,...
(1996) - Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VIIis a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
(1997) - Front Mission 2Front Mission 2is a tactical role-playing game for the Sony PlayStation developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 25, 1997. Front Mission 2 is the second main entry and the third entry overall in the Front Mission series...
(1997) - Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon (1997)
- Parasite EveParasite Eve (video game)is a horror action role-playing game developed by SquareSoft . The game is a sequel to the novel Parasite Eve, written by Hideaki Sena. It is the first game in the Parasite Eve series.-Gameplay:...
(1998) - Racing LagoonRacing Lagoonis a 1999 video game developed and published by Square. The game is unique in that it combines street racing with role-playing elements. The game's story follows a new member of a street racing team in 1999 Yokohama, Japan as he tries to learn about his forgotten past and a mysterious race that...
(1999) - Chrono CrossChrono Crossis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
(1999) - Final Fantasy VIIIFinal Fantasy VIIIis a role-playing video game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and for Windows-based personal computers in 2000. It was developed and published by Square as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, removing magic point-based spell-casting and the first title to consistently use realistically...
(1999) - KoudelkaKoudelkais a role-playing game developed by Sacnoth for the Sony PlayStation. The game was released on December 16, 1999, in Japan, June 29, 2000, in North America and September 29, 2000, in Europe.- Gameplay :...
(1999)
Other works
- Talk While Asleep (1995) Co-remixer with Fumiya Tanaka
- We are not alone ~Mou Hitori Ja Nai~ (1998) Co-composer with Kazumi Mitome
- Biohazard 2Resident Evil 2Resident Evil 2, known as in Japan, is a survival horror video game originally released for the PlayStation in 1998. Developed by Capcom as the second installment in the Resident Evil series, its story takes place two months after the events of the first game, Resident Evil...
Drama Album: Chiisana Toubousha Sherry (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda - Biohazard 2Resident Evil 2Resident Evil 2, known as in Japan, is a survival horror video game originally released for the PlayStation in 1998. Developed by Capcom as the second installment in the Resident Evil series, its story takes place two months after the events of the first game, Resident Evil...
Drama Album: Ikiteita Onna Spy Ada (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda - Street Fighter Zero 3 Drama Album (1999) Co-Composer with Yasunori Mitsuda
- near death experience, SHADOW HEARTSShadow Heartsis a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
Arrangetracks (2005) Arranger of 5 Tracks - Angelic Vale Arrange Tracks (2005) Arranger of 2 Tracks
- Tsuki no Uta (2005) (Debut Single of Saki Imozuki) Arranger of all tracks
- Yoruoto Hyouhon (2005) (Debut Album of Noriko MitoseNoriko Mitoseis a Japanese singer. She is the vocalist of the band Kirche, and as a solo singer, has performed many songs for games.- Biography :Noriko Mitose sang for church choir when she was young but did not get involved in the music scene until she and Toshihiko Inoue formed kirche in 1993...
) Composer and arranger of 1 Track - Rogue GalaxyRogue Galaxyis a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007...
Premium Arrange (2006) Arranger of 1 Track - Kinema in the Hole (Rekka KatakiriRekka Katakiri, born December 18, is a female Japanese singer. Her doujin circle is called CLOSED/UNDERGROUND.- About :* Influenced by anime, she started working in the fields as a vocal, net seiyuu, composer and lyricist when she first started high school. In 2004, she released the album "Min no Uta." as her...
Album) (2007) Composer and arranger of all tracks - Cotton (2007) (Noriko MitoseNoriko Mitoseis a Japanese singer. She is the vocalist of the band Kirche, and as a solo singer, has performed many songs for games.- Biography :Noriko Mitose sang for church choir when she was young but did not get involved in the music scene until she and Toshihiko Inoue formed kirche in 1993...
Album) Arranger of 1 Track - Hareyaka naru Sora no Yukue (2007) (Rekka KatakiriRekka Katakiri, born December 18, is a female Japanese singer. Her doujin circle is called CLOSED/UNDERGROUND.- About :* Influenced by anime, she started working in the fields as a vocal, net seiyuu, composer and lyricist when she first started high school. In 2004, she released the album "Min no Uta." as her...
Album) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track - Struldbruggs ~Majin Kaikou~ (2007) Co-Composer
- Istoria ~Musa~ (Akiko ShikataAkiko Shikatais a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer, who is known for writing music for games and anime. She is best known for her contributions to the Ar tonelico, Shadow Hearts and Umineko no Naku Koro ni games, as well as anime adaptations of Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Tales of Symphonia.Shikata's...
album) (2007) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track - Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Akiko ShikataAkiko Shikatais a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer, who is known for writing music for games and anime. She is best known for her contributions to the Ar tonelico, Shadow Hearts and Umineko no Naku Koro ni games, as well as anime adaptations of Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Tales of Symphonia.Shikata's...
Single) (2008) Arranger of 1 Track - Collaboration Album "message" (2008) Composer and Arranger of 1 Track
- Griotte no Nemuri Hime (Haruka ShimotsukiHaruka Shimotsukiis a Japanese singer and dōjin music composer known for her vocal themes in the Atelier Iris and Ar tonelico series. She also wrote the lyrics and sang the ending themes to the two seasons of Rozen Maiden as well as the OVA under the name Kukui, with Myu. Shimotsuki's original music mainly consists...
Album) (2009) - SUZUNO=MIYA Ar tonelico III hymmnos concert side. Red (2010) Composer and Arranger of 2 Tracks
- Guwange Arrange Album + Original Soundtrack (2010) Arranger of 1 Track
- yorlga (2010) (Noriko Mitose album) Composer and Arranger of all tracks