Author: Editorial Team
-
When Jazz Meets Animation: How Six Poems Shaped a Soundtrack
Album: 紅の豚 サウンドトラック What happens when a master animator hands a composer six mysterious poems and asks him to create magic? In the case of Studio Ghibli’s ‘Porco Rosso’ and its hauntingly beautiful track ‘At Summer’s End’ (Natsu no Owari ni), the answer reveals one of the most fascinating creative collaborations in film music history.…
Written by
-
When Sketches Become Magic: Inside Joe Hisaishi’s Creative Laboratory
Album: 魔女の宅急便 イメージアルバム In the world of film music, few composers possess the ability to capture an entire world’s essence through simple melodic sketches. Joe Hisaishi’s “Lily and Jiji” from the Kiki’s Delivery Service Image Album stands as a fascinating window into this rare creative process—a piece that began as a rough musical sketch and…
Written by
-
Joe Hisaishi’s Enchanting Score for ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’: A Masterclass in Nostalgic Cinema
Kogonada’s 2025 film ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ presents audiences with a charming romantic fantasy that explores how our past shapes our present and future. The film follows Sarah and David, two strangers brought together at a wedding who unexpectedly embark on a magical journey through pivotal moments of their lives. Through this sweeping adventure,…
Written by
-
How Joe Hisaishi Captured European Magic in ‘Machi no Yoru’ Without Leaving Japan
Album: 魔女の宅急便 イメージアルバム When Joe Hisaishi sat down to compose the image album for Kiki’s Delivery Service in the late 1980s, he faced an unusual creative challenge. Tasked with capturing the essence of “somewhere European, perhaps around the Mediterranean” without ever having scored a film set in such a location, he would craft one of…
Written by
-
Pay, Respect, and Play: The Simple Truth Behind Hisaishi’s Copyright Statement
If you have spent any time in the world of Joe Hisaishi concerts over the past few years, you may have noticed something unusual: events billed as “Joe Hisaishi” performances happening in cities he never visited, conducted by musicians he never met, performing arrangements he never approved. In April 2024, Hisaishi and his management company…
Written by
-
When Poetry Meets Jazz: How Six Poems Shaped Studio Ghibli’s Most Adult Soundtrack
Album: 紅の豚 イメージアルバム In the spring of 1992, Hayao Miyazaki handed Joe Hisaishi six handwritten poems. These weren’t lyrics to be set to music, but something far more intriguing—emotional blueprints for what would become one of Studio Ghibli’s most sophisticated soundtracks. Among the verses titled ‘Flying Boatman’s Tango,’ ‘Ascent,’ ‘Adriatic Sea at Twilight,’ ‘Night Flight,’…
Written by
-
The Forest of Wool and Steel: Joe Hisaishi’s Musical Craftsmanship in Kojiro Hashimoto’s Hidden Gem
Kojiro Hashimoto’s 2018 film “The Forest of Wool and Steel” is a quiet meditation on craft, patience, and human connection set within the intimate world of piano tuning. The narrative follows Naoki Tomura, a high school student from rural Hokkaido who encounters Soichiro Itadori, a master piano tuner, and subsequently embarks on a journey to…
Written by
-
When Mandolins Tell Stories: Inside the Musical World of Porco Rosso’s Factory Women
Album: 紅の豚 サウンドトラック In the sprawling soundscape of Joe Hisaishi’s score for Porco Rosso, one track stands out as a perfect microcosm of how thoughtful musical choices can transport listeners across time and geography. “Piccolo no Onna-tachi” (The Women of Piccolo) emerges as more than just background music – it’s a masterclass in period authenticity…
Written by
-
When Music Walks on Four Paws: Joe Hisaishi’s Portrait of an Old Dog
Album: 魔女の宅急便 サントラ音楽集 In the bustling world of Studio Ghibli’s ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service,’ where young witches soar through European skies and magic fills every corner, there exists a quieter moment of pure musical poetry. Joe Hisaishi’s track ‘Jeff’ captures something most film composers overlook: the unhurried dignity of an aging dog. Through the gentle voice…
Written by
-
Network Baby (1990): Joe Hisaishi’s Touching Score for Hiroshi Kataoka’s Digital Fantasy
Hiroshi Kataoka’s 1990 film Network Baby stands as a fascinating exploration of grief, technology, and maternal bonds in the emerging digital age. The narrative follows a young mother working at a video game company who is struggling with profound loss. When she is recruited to test and train a revolutionary virtual world, she discovers an…
Written by
