Koji Sakurai

Koji Sakurai

Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan
Date of birth: 1971-06-02 (age 52)
Role(s): Musician

Koji Sakurai (櫻井浩司) is a sound composer known for his work in games (particularly for mobiles) and a collaborator for artists such as Masayuki Chiyo, Takayuki Hattori and Yuko Fukushima. In 1991 he formed the techno unit Mind Design (under the Transonic Records label) with future Sega sound composer Tomonori Sawada in the midst of the Japanese techno movement and college education. Renowned tracks from the group include "Phonetic," "Spiritual" (Sakurai's composition) and "Skywalk" (Sawada's composition), the lattermost of which saw a remix by techno DJ Ken Ishii. The group disbanded in 1994, though both artists remained with the label in their own way.

Following graduation Sakurai was hired by Taito as a sound creator for both arcade and console titles and also as a member of its in-house band, Zuntata. Sometime later he left the company and opened Cubisme, his own private office.

Through Cubisme Sakurai has had the opportunity to arrange music for J-Rock group Super Soul Sonics on their 2nd album (Hoop) and vocalist aoi ("Happy Pearl March"). Additionally, he collaborated with Daisuke Asakura on the anime adaptation of the manga Gravitation. Work in the video game industry includes Sega (Shenmue II, Rez, Sonic Free Riders), a re-acquaintance with Taito (Energy Airforce series, Space Invaders Extreme 2, Qix++), as well as Sony (Arc the Lad series) and Namco Bandai Games (Tamagotchi series).

Production history

Shenmue II (Dreamcast; 2001) — Music Composers
Rez (Dreamcast; 2001) — Assistant Sound Creator
Sonic Free Riders (Xbox 360; 2010) — Music Composers

Gekirindan (1995)

Song credits

Main article: Koji Sakurai/Song credits.

Gekirindan

Untitled Soldier (BGM 3 / A.D. 1999) — Arrangement

Sonic Free Riders

Theme of Rocky Ridge — Music & Arrangement
Theme of Metropolis Speedway — Music & Arrangement
Theme of Magma Rift — Music & Arrangement
Theme of Final Factory — Music & Arrangement

References