Kenichi Tokoi

From Sega Retro

Photos tokoi.jpg
Kenichi Tokoi
Place of birth: Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Date of birth: 1969-07-13 (age 55)
Employment history:
Divisions:
Role(s): Composer, Musician, Sound Director

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Kenichi Tokoi (床井 健一) is a Japanese bassist and Sega of Japan and Wave Master musician and composer. His distinct jazz style is heard most prominently in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, particularly the two games for which he acted as Sound Director: Sonic and the Secret Rings, and Sonic Colors.

Early life

Despite growing up in a non-musical household, at 3 years old Kenichi Tokoi he wanted to play the piano[1][2]. His passion for music grew over the years as he joined a brass band, took piano lessons at home and joined a Sunday choir.[2]

He took an interest in synthesizers in middle and school, being inspired by Yellow Magic Orchestra, leading to his parents buying him a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and a Ryuichi Sakamoto sound ROM.[2]

While at university, Tokoi played synth and bass in various bands that were actively played shows all over Tokyo. He also began composing and recording and music from home, taking out a 2 million yen loan to purchase his equipment.[2]

Career

Before entering the games industry, Kenichi Tokoi worked a completely different job that paid well but gave him lots of free time[2], letting him wrote music in his spare time (some of which appeared on compilation albums[2]) and frequented live music venues, even getting an offer from a record company that eventually fell through. He joined Sega after reading a magazine ad looking for video game music composers.[3] His first project was Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition, a racing game much like Sega Rally Championship which he enjoyed at the time.[2]

He quickly became attached to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise through Sonic Jam, followed by Sonic Adventure, which, among a variety of memorable background tracks like "Mt. Red: a Symbol of Thrill" and "Mechanical Resonance", he also composed "Unknown From M.E.", the theme song of his favourite character Knuckles.[2] He continued as frequent composer for this series with Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Battle, Sonic and the Secret Rings, etc.

In 1999 he began collaborating with Naofumi Hataya on the Space Channel 5 franchise.

He began a frequent career working on the Phantasy Star franchise with Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution. This was Tokoi's first time as sound director, and saw the team collaborating with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and, for the game's theme song "Let the Winds Blow" written by Tokoi, with the young soprano Krzysztof Przygudzki.[2] Tokoi continued on the series with Phantasy Star Universe, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Idola: Phantasy Star Saga.

Kenichi Tokoi joined the Mario & Sonic series with its second entry Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, instantly taking on a sound producer role for this and the following 3 games and composing their main themes.

Artistry

Kenichi Tokoi stands out among the Sega Sound Team for his remarkable rhythm arrangement,[4][5] brass arrangement[4] and melody writing.[4]

Influences

Tokoi is influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra[6]

Equipment

Akai Sampler[6], Digital Performer[6]

Production history

Games

Videos

Music

Song credits

Main article: Kenichi Tokoi/Song credits.

Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition

  • The Noisy Roars of Wilderness (Part 1) — Music & Arrangement, Piano
  • The Noisy Roars of Wilderness (Goal) — Music & Arrangement, Piano
  • The Noisy Roars of Wilderness (Part 2) — Music & Arrangement, Piano
  • Lack of Speed — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Adventure

  • Unknown from M.E. ...Theme of "Knuckles" — Music, Words & Arrangement
  • Event: Strain — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • and... Fish Hits! — Music & Arrangement, Programming, Guitars (with Jun Senoue)
  • and... Got Fish! — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • and... Missed Fish! — Music & Arrangement, Programming [NOTE: Unused in game]
  • Fun Time Was Over ...for Chao Race — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • The Dreamy Stage ...for Casinopolis — Arrangement, Guitars, Programming (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Blue Star ...for Casinopolis — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Be Cool, Be Wild and Be Groovy ...for Ice Cap — Music (with Jun Senoue), Programming (with Jun Senoue)
  • Mt. Red: A Symbol of Thrill ...for Red Mountain — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Red Hot Skull ...for Red Mountain — Music (with Jun Senoue)
  • Sand Hill — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Danger! Chased by Rock ...for Lost World — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Leading Lights ...for Lost World — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement, Bass & Programming
  • Event: The Past — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Egg Carrier - A Song That Keeps Us on the Move — Music & Arrangement (with Fumie Kumatani), Guitars, Programming (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • General Offensive ...for Sky Deck — Music & Arrangement (with Jun Senoue), Programming (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Red Barrage Area ...for Hot Shelter — Music (with Jun Senoue), Arrangement, Guitars, Bass & Programming
  • Militant Missionary ...Boss: Egg Walker & Egg Viper — Music (with Masaru Setsumaru), Arrangement, Programming
  • Mechanical Resonance ...for Final Egg — Music & Arrangement, Bass & Programming
  • Crank the Heat Up!! ...for Final Egg — Music (with Jun Senoue)
  • Calm After the Storm ...Egg Carrier - the ocean - — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Unbound — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement, Programming
  • Perfect Chaos Revival ...Boss: Perfect Chaos — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Open Your Heart - Main Theme of "Sonic Adventure" - — Music (with Jun Senoue)

Radio DC

  • Reprise & Deeply Sound Mix "We are Burning Rangers" — Re-arrangement, Bass & Programming
  • Do De Do Da — Rhythm Arrange

Space Channel 5

  • Option: The Reporter from SCH5 — Music & Arrangement
  • Coco★Tapioka: The Huge Dancer — Music & Arrangement
  • Space Ship: Strut — Music & Arrangement
  • Space Ship: Trapped in the Galaxy — Music & Arrangement
  • Morolin! Monroe!: Rapid Geminis in the Monitor — Music & Arrangement
  • Space Channel 5: Getting the Truth — Music & Arrangement
  • Giant Evila: Space Dogfight!! — Music & Arrangement
  • Mexican Flyer [Remix] — Arrangement (with Naofumi Hataya)

Sonic Adventure 2

  • Unknown from M.E. ...Theme of "Knuckles" (SA2 Version) — Music, Words & Arrangement, Bass
  • Event: Strategy — Brass Arrangement
  • Deeper ...for Death Chamber — Brass Arrangement
  • Event: Reunion — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Dark Garden — Arrangement, Programming
  • Jewel Race — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Dark Race — Arrangement, Programming
  • Race Results — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Prize — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Conquest — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Revival — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Ambition — Music & Arrangement, Programming [NOTE: Also known as "Event 7"]
  • Event: Reflection — Music & Arrangement, Piano
  • Lovely Gate 3 ...for Egg Quarters — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Madness — Music & Arrangement, Programming
  • Event: Chaos Control — Music & Arrangement, Piano & Programming
  • Event: Operation — Brass Arrangement [NOTE: Also known as "Event 8"]

Space Channel 5 Part 2

  • Mexican Flyer [ビッグバンド完全版] — Music & Arrangement
  • スウィンギン’リポートショウ — Music & Arrangement
  • シュートで助けろ! — Music & Arrangement
  • 侵略歌謡メカ『キン・コン・カン』 — Music & Arrangement
  • 大空の追跡者 — Music & Arrangement
  • パインのテーマ[完全版] — Music & Arrangement
  • Mexican Flyer [テレビ版] — Music & Arrangement
  • Singing Fusion Bot "Purge the King" — Music & Arrangement
  • 炎の脱出 — Music & Arrangement
  • 闇に光る眼 — Music & Arrangement (with Mariko Nanba, Tomoya Ohtani & Naofumi Hataya)
  • Battle of the Bands! — Music & Arrangement
  • フィナーレ ~more happy more crazy~ — Music & Arrangement (with Mariko Nanba, Tomoya Ohtani & Naofumi Hataya)
  • NGリミックス — Music & Arrangement (with Mariko Nanba)

Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

  • Into the Sound - Logo - — Music & Arrangement, Piano & Recorded
  • "Let the Winds Blow" - Theme of Phantasy Star Online Episode III - — Music
  • Special Relaxies — Music & Arrangement
  • Hi, Guys! — Music & Arrangement
  • Mortis Fons - Fountain of Mortis - — Music & Arrangement
  • Nebula Montana PART1 - Highland of Nebula 01 - — Re-Arrangement
  • Tener Sinus - Seaside of Tener - — Music & Arrangement
  • Dolor Odor - Dolor Odor - — Music & Arrangement
  • New Lifes - Result - — Music & Arrangement
  • "Let the Winds Blow" - Remix Version for "Opening" - — Music, Remixed by
  • Advices - Tutorial - — Music & Arrangement
  • Morgue PART2 - Morgue 02 - — Re-Arrangement
  • Tower of "Caelum" - Tower of Caelum - — Music & Arrangement
  • Molae Venti - Molae Venti's Photon Retification Center - — Music & Arrangement
  • Cyber - Cyber - — Music & Arrangement (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Lupus Silva PART2 - Forest of Lupus 02 - — Re-Arrangement
  • Via Tubus - Via Tubus - — Music & Arrangement (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Ride On - Watching the Game - — Music & Arrangement
  • Scenario : Great — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Battle

  • Main Title — Music & Arrangement
  • Main Menu — Music & Arrangement
  • Charaselect — Music & Arrangement
  • Options — Music & Arrangement
  • Sonic Stage — Music & Arrangement
  • Shadow Stage — Music & Arrangement
  • Rouge Stage — Music & Arrangement
  • Chaos_Normal — Music & Arrangement
  • Event ~ Hero Positive — Music & Arrangement
  • Ending2 — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Advance 3

  • Route 99 Map — Music & Arrangement
  • Cyber Track Map — Music & Arrangement
  • Route 99 Act1 — Music & Arrangement
  • Route 99 Act2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Route 99 Act3 — Music & Arrangement
  • Cyber Track Act1 — Music & Arrangement
  • Cyber Track Act2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Cyber Track Act3 — Music & Arrangement

Astro Boy

  • 戦闘II — Arrangement

Feel the Magic: XY/XX

  • Feel the Magic — Vocals

Shadow the Hedgehog

  • Event : Recollection of the ARK — Music & Arrangement, Piano [NOTE: Recycled from Sonic Adventure 2]

Sonic Riders

  • Eggman Again! — Music & Arrangement
  • Theme of Sand Ruins — Music & Arrangement
  • Catch Me If You Can — Music & Arrangement

Phantasy Star Universe

  • Contamination - Fire - — Composition & Programming
  • With You — Composition & Programming (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Contamination - Dark - — Composition & Programming
  • S.E.E.D — Composition & Programming
  • Valentine — Composition & Programming
  • Violent — Composition & Programming
  • Madness the Machine Sparx — Composition & Programming
  • The Hunt - The End of Planets - — Composition & Programming
  • For Brighter Day — Composition & Arrangement (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Moatoob — Composition & Programming
  • Alfort Taylor — Composition & Programming
  • Dagora City - Moatoob - — Composition & Programming
  • Galenigare Mine — Composition & Programming
  • Kugu Desert — Composition & Programming
  • Brave Fight — Composition & Programming
  • S.E.E.D - Hive - — Composition & Programming
  • The Vibe - The End of Planets - — Composition & Programming
  • For Brighter Day - Remix - — Composition & Programming

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus

  • Save This World - Remix Short Version - — Arrangement
  • Save This World - Remix Version - — Arrangement

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams

  • Bony Bomamba — Arrangement
  • Bony Bomamba : Hard Ver. — Arrangement
  • Queen Bella's Ball — Arrangement
  • Queen Bella's Ball : Hard Ver. — Arrangement

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

  • Un-gravitify — Music & Arrangement
  • The Divine Wings — Music & Arrangement
  • Give Me the Power — Music & Arrangement
  • Sealed Ground — Music & Arrangement
  • Full Speed Ahead — Music & Arrangement
  • The Core — Music & Arrangement
  • After the Storm — Music & Arrangement
  • Wish and Hope — Music & Arrangement
  • Catch Me If You Can — Music & Arrangement, Bass
  • Un-gravitify electro extended — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Unleashed

  • Spagonia - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Chun-Nan - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Intro: Dragon Road - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Dragon Road - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Spagonia - Day — Music & Arrangement
  • Chun-Nan - Day — Music & Arrangement
  • Dragon Road - Day — Music & Arrangement
  • Shamar - Day — Music
  • Shamar - Night — Music
  • Intro: Arid Sands - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Arid Sands - Night — Music
  • vs. Titan & Big Mother — Music
  • Werehog Battle Theme — Music
  • Adabat - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Intro: Jungle Joyride - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Jungle Joyride - Night — Music & Arrangement
  • Adabat - Day — Music & Arrangement
  • Eggmanland - Day — Music & Arrangement
  • Eggmanland - Night — Music & Arrangement

Sonic and the Black Knight

  • Sir Gawain Appears — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Recycled from Sonic Adventure]

Yakuza 4

  • Sadness — Music & Arrangement
  • Glee — Music & Arrangement
  • Fang Marked Viper — Music & Arrangement
  • Theme of Saigoh — Music & Arrangement
  • Theme of Sennin — Music & Arrangement
  • Theme of Naile — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Colors (Wii version)

  • Theme of Sonic Colors - Title ver. — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Cutscene - Robots & Wisps — Arrangement
  • Stage Clear — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Cutscene - Dr. Eggman Appears — Music & Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Ferris Wheel Boss Appears — Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Yacker's Plea — Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Robot's Lost & Found — Arrangement
  • World Map — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Sweet Mountain - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Sweet Mountain - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Sweet Mountain - Act 3 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - Sugar Armada Appears — Arrangement
  • vs. Captain Jelly & Admiral Jelly — Music & Arrangement
  • Boss Stage Clear — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Result Screen — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Save Screen — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Sonic Colors - Jingle — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Theme of Sonic Colors — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Cutscene - S01 Frigate Appears — Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - Wisp's Homeworld — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Act 3 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Game Land 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Game Land 4 — Music & Arrangement
  • Game Land 6 — Music & Arrangement
  • Game Land 7 — Music & Arrangement
  • Game Over — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Option Screen — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Out of Breath — Arrangement (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Asteroid Coaster - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Asteroid Coaster - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - Nega-Wisp Factory — Music & Arrangement
  • Asteroid Coaster - Act 3 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - Free from Nega-Wisp Factory — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Broken Chains — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Finally go home? — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Hyper-go-on Surge — Arrangement
  • Cutscene - The failed plan — Music & Arrangement
  • Terminal Velocity - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - The Nega-Wisp Armor — Arrangement
  • Cutscene - The Core — Arrangement
  • Terminal Velocity - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement, Electric Bass
  • Cutscene - Yacker's Goodbye — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement

Sonic Colors (DS version)

  • Cutscene - Yacker's Plea — Arrangement
  • Stage Clear — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Stage Clear - S Rank — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Boss Stage Clear — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Jingle - Area Appears — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • World Map — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Sweet Mountain - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
  • Sweet Mountain - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Sweet Mountain - Mission — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Captain Jelly & Admiral Jelly — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Captain Jelly & Admiral Jelly - Pinch — Music & Arrangement
  • Theme of Sonic Colors — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Cutscene - Wisp's Homeworld — Music (with Fumie Kumatani), Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Planet Wisp - Mission — Music & Arrangement
  • Game Over — Music (with Fumie Kumatani)
  • Asteroid Coaster - Act 1 — Music & Arrangement
  • Asteroid Coaster - Act 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Asteroid Coaster - Mission — Music & Arrangement
  • Cutscene - Hyper-go-on Surge — Arrangement
  • Terminal Velocity — Music & Arrangement

Sonic Generations (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC versions)

  • Planet Wisp : Act 1 — Composed by, Remixed by, Bass & Programming
  • Planet Wisp : Act 2 — Composed by, Remixed & Sound Produced by, Bass & Programming
  • End Roll Medley ver. 1 — Composed by (with Masato Nakamura, SEGA, Jun Senoue & Tomoya Ohtani)
  • Challenge / Mission 3 — Composed by, Remixed & Sound Produced by, Programming
  • Boss Battle : Perfect Chaos Pt-I "Open Your Heart - Crush 40 vs. Circuit Freq RMX" — Music by (with Jun Senoue)
  • Boss Battle : Perfect Chaos Pt-II "Perfect Chaos Revival!" — Composed by
  • White Space Medley — Composed by (with Jun Senoue, Masato Nakamura, SEGA, Tomoya Ohtani, Naofumi Hataya & Mariko Nanba)
  • Skill : Time Brake — Composed by

Phantasy Star Online 2

  • Weed Out — Music & Arrangement
  • Shivery Hunt - Fangbanser - — Music & Arrangement
  • Colossal Machine - Big Varder - — Music & Arrangement
  • Vanishing Sword - Quartz Dragon - — Music & Arrangement
  • Grossly Legs - Dark Ragne - — Music & Arrangement

Uta Kumi 575

  • 桜蕊 — Music & Arrangement[25]

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax

  • Fighting Climax -opening version- — Music & Arrangement, Programming, Drums Programming
  • Fighting Climax -duel version- — Music & Arrangement, Programming, Drums Programming
  • Fighting Climax -ending version- — Music & Arrangement, Programming, Drums Programming
  • Fighting Climax -title version- — Music & Arrangement, Programming, Drums Programming

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

  • Main Theme[26] — Music & Arrangement

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

  • Recapture Serenade — Music & Arrangement
  • Fist Law — Music & Arrangement
  • Tit-For-Tat Reprisal — Music & Arrangement
  • Bug's Warrior — Music & Arrangement

Puyo Puyo Chronicle 25-shuunen Anniversary CD

  • Nebula Step — Arrangement
  • 魅惑の視線 — Arrangement

Sonic Forces

  • Action on the Rails — Music & Arrangement
  • Battle with Death Queen [Battle with Zavok Remix] — Arrangement
  • Danger in the Sky — Music & Arrangement
  • Coiled to Strike — Music & Arrangement
  • Mark II Locks On — Music & Arrangement
  • Battle with Metal Sonic [US ver. Remix] — Arrangement
  • Death Crab Pursuit — Music & Arrangement

Idola: Phantasy Star Saga

  • Endeavour - Theme of Idola Phantasy Star Saga - — Music & Arrangement
  • Stella — Music & Arrangement
  • Vandor — Music & Arrangement
  • Log in — Music & Arrangement
  • Stars Light — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Enemy 1 — Music & Arrangement
  • The Sign — Music & Arrangement
  • Advent of Stray Idola — Music & Arrangement
  • Imminent Battle — Music & Arrangement
  • Lost Soul Rovers — Music & Arrangement
  • Mission Accomplished — Music & Arrangement
  • Entree — Music & Arrangement
  • Ariens — Music & Arrangement
  • The Song of Aries — Music & Arrangement
  • Happiness in The Mundane — Music & Arrangement
  • Dark Clouds (Still) — Music & Arrangement
  • Chaos — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Enemy 2 — Music & Arrangement
  • Idola Battle — Music & Arrangement
  • Advent of The Zodiates — Music & Arrangement
  • True — Music & Arrangement
  • Zosma Mountains — Music & Arrangement
  • Anxiety — Music & Arrangement
  • Zosma Mountains - Higher Area — Music & Arrangement
  • Tense — Music & Arrangement
  • Tragedy — Music & Arrangement
  • Emptiness — Music & Arrangement
  • Offensive — Music & Arrangement
  • Law — Music & Arrangement
  • Coliseum — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Boss — Music & Arrangement
  • Result — Music & Arrangement
  • The Palace — Music & Arrangement
  • Imperial Military — Music & Arrangement
  • Warmth — Music & Arrangement
  • Flashback — Music & Arrangement
  • Open Up The World — Music & Arrangement
  • Rasalas Meadow — Music & Arrangement
  • Liberation Military, Not Rebel Military — Music & Arrangement
  • Infiltration — Music & Arrangement
  • Dark Falz Theatri — Music & Arrangement
  • Vindemia Forest — Music & Arrangement
  • Dark Clouds (Alive) — Music & Arrangement
  • Diadem Desert — Music & Arrangement
  • Ziggurat — Music & Arrangement
  • Ziggurat - Outdoors — Music & Arrangement
  • Ziggurat - Indoors — Music & Arrangement
  • Melder — Music & Arrangement
  • Legendary Sword Lionel — Music & Arrangement
  • vs. Zodiates — Music & Arrangement

Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash!

Magazine articles

Main article: Kenichi Tokoi/Magazine articles.

Interviews

Some or all of the following content should be mirrored on Sega Retro (or Retro CDN).

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Kenichi Tokoi

External links

References