Difference between revisions of "Hiroshi Kubota"

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{{PersonBob
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'''Hiroshi Kubota''' (sometimes referred to as the "No.1 Keyboard player in Japan") is a Japanese musician, known for both composition and programming for the [[SMPS]] sound engine in various [[Mega Drive]] games. He was born in Obihiro city, Hokkaido.
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| image=HiroshiKubota.jpg
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| birthplace=[[wikipedia:Kitakyushu|Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan]]
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| dob=1965-10-10
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| dod=
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| employment={{Employment
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| company=[[Sega of Japan]]
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| start=1989-04{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history5.html}}{{ref|1=https://media.vgm.io/albums/03/10430/10430-1391379456.jpg}}
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| end=1994-01-31{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1994.html#0131}}
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| divisions=
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}}
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| role=Sound Programmer, Composer
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| education=Tokyo University of Science{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1.html}}{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history5.html}}
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}}
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{{sub-stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (久保田 浩), also known by the alias '''Jimita''', is a Japanese jazz pianist and former [[Sega of Japan]] and [[Sonic Team]] sound programmer and composer, known for his work in programming a number of the company's early [[Mega Drive]] game soundtracks. He learned many skills from [[Shigeharu Isoda]], an unofficial Sega sound programmer at the time.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1990.html#00000}}
  
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He is sometimes credited under the alias '''Jimita''', presumably to conceal his real identity. This can be seen by looking at the credits for the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''.
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He should not be confused with Hiroshi Kubota (窪田 宏), coincidentally also a keyboard player.
  
 
==Career==
 
==Career==
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Under the influence of his musician father, Kubota started playing the piano when he was 4 years old. During his days as a student, he was captivated by the organ in the rock and jazz music he loved. At the age of 17, he began seriously practicing on the electric organ. He was particularly influenced by Herbie Hancock, to such an extent that he said, "It was my encounter with Herbie's music that made me decide to be a musician."
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{{PAGENAME}} joined Sega in 1989, though at first joined the hardware department, as he was unaware there was a sound development department, but quickly changed departments. His earliest project was the [[Mega Drive]] port of [[Sorcerian]], for which he both ported about 4 or 5 of the original game's music{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1990.html#00000}} and composed half of the new music opposite [[Tokuhiko Uwabo]].{{ref|1=https://media.vgm.io/albums/03/10430/10430-1391379456.jpg}}
  
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In 1979, he started composing and performing, and in 1981, he released his debut album "The Electric Future".
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Another game he composed music for was the Mega Drive version of ''[[Michael Jackson's Moonwalker]]''. In earlier stages of development, it was unclear if the game could cover licensing fees for more than 3 of [[Michael Jackson]]'s songs, so Kubota created 2 soundalikes which were later scrapped.{{ref|http://jimita.com/profile/history1990.html#00000}} These were uploaded to his YouTube channel on February 3rd, 2023{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205150958/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NojKvmQD4xQ}}{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205151429/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7sTkIjxegw}}, along with an unrelated song which was never used for any game.{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205151835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5JD9DN-Ay4}}
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Since then, he has released 11 albums, each one after another. By his sound, with its mixture of thrilling performance, fascinating beat, and melodic ballad, he won high marks as a composer, an arranger, and of course, a player in Japan.
 
  
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He was personally responsible for converting [[sonic:Masato Nakamura|Masato Nakamura]]'s music for playback on the [[Mega Drive]]'s [[SMPS]] sound engine in the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. The music was also ported to ''[[New UFO Catcher]]'' later in 1991.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1991.html#0101}}
  
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==Production History==
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Kubota created several development tools to aid with [[Mega-CD]] sound creation, plus worked on the system's PCM audio.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1990.html#00000}} His prominent title for the add-on is the simple comedy game ''[[Panic!]]'', which he spent many long hard nights on, creating sound effects.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1992.html#0100}}
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* ''[[Michael Jackson's Moonwalker]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1990) — Sound Composer
 
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* ''Dragon Slayer 5: [[Sorcerian]]'' (1990) — Music Composer
 
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* ''[[Sonic 1|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (1991) — Sound Programmer
 
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* ''[[Kiss Shot]]'' (1992) — Music Create
 
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (1992) — Sound Assistant
 
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' (1993) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Panic!]]'' (1993) — Sound
 
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* ''[[Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit]]'' (1994) — Sound Programmer (as '''Jimmy''')
 
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* ''[[Ristar]]'' (1995) — Sound Programmer
 
  
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After half a year battling Ulcerative colitis disease,{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0799}} Kubota announced his sudden retirement from Sega in January 1994, though he is still credited as sound programmer in ''[[Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit]]'' and ''[[Ristar]]'', which released after his departure. However, he seems to have rejoined Sega in April 1994, as he appeared in a list of new employees in the [[Harmony]] newsletter.{{magref|harmony|127|13}}
  
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==External Links==
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His alias from the Sega days - Jimita - is still used on his personal website, and he has sometimes reunited with former colleauges, such as performing with [[Naofumi Hataya]] and his fellow Sonic the Hedgehog sound creator Yukifumi Makino at the Sega New Year's Party of 1998.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1998.html#0107}} Throughout his career, including his years at Sega, {{PAGENAME}} has been a frequent jazz pianist for gigs like birthdays and weddings, including several weddings of [[Sega Sound Team]] members: [[Masayuki Nagao]]{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0424}}, [[Kazuhiko Nagai]] + [[Chikako Kamatani]]{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html}}, and Yukifumi Makino.{{ref|1=http://jimita.com/profile/history1994.html#0129}}
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[http://www.jimita.com www.jimita.com] — Personal website
 
  
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[[Category:Developers]]
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==Production history==
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[[Category:Musicians]]
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{{ProductionHistory|Hiroshi Kubota|Jimita|Jimmy|久保田 浩}}
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[[Category:Use ProductionHistory template]]
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* ''[[Hyper Drive]]'' (CD) (1990)
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==Song credits==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Song credits}}
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[[Category:Old song credits]]
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{{multicol|
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===''[[Sorcerian]]'' (Mega Drive Version)===
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* Dungeon — Music & Arrangement
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* Deamon Soldier — Music & Arrangement
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* Village — Music & Arrangement
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* Cave and Dungeon — Music & Arrangement
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* Mosma — Music & Arrangement
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* China Town — Music & Arrangement
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* China Village — Music & Arrangement
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* Angel's Song — Music & Arrangement
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* China Dragon — Music & Arrangement
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* The Magic School I — Music & Arrangement
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* The Magic School II — Music & Arrangement
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* Master Monster — Music & Arrangement
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* Again — Music & Arrangement
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* The Castle of Zander — Music & Arrangement
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* Zander Dragon — Music & Arrangement
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===''[[Hyper Drive]]''===
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* Sword of Vermilion (Vermilion) — Piano
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*{{rolloverText|新たなる旅へ|Aratanaru tabi e}} (Phantasy Star III) — Piano
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===''[[Michael Jackson's Moonwalker]]'' (Mega Drive Version)===
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* Title — Arrangement
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* Club 30 (Round 1) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 1 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 2 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 3 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
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* Street (Round 2) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 4 (Beat It) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 5 (Beat It) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 6 (Beat It) — Arrangement
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* Woods (Round 3) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 7 (Another Part of Me) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 8 (Another Part of Me) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 9 (Thriller) — Arrangement [NOTE: Used in first release (REV00) of the game instead of Another Part of Me]
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* Cavern (Round 4) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 10 (Billie Jean) — Arrangement
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* The Enemy Hideout (Round 5) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 11 (Bad) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 12 (Bad) — Arrangement
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* Dance Magic 13 (Bad) — Arrangement
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* Game Over — Arrangement
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===''[[Advanced Daisenryaku]]''===
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* US Artillery March — Arrangement
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* La Marseillaise — Arrangement
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}}
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==Photographs==
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:''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]]
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==External links==
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*[http://www.jimita.com Official website]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/@user-wz3qk1qj9e {{PAGENAME}} on YouTube]
 +
 
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==References==
 +
<references/>

Latest revision as of 07:23, 23 April 2023

HiroshiKubota.jpg
Hiroshi Kubota
Place of birth: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Date of birth: 1965-10-10 (age 59)
Employment history:
Sega of Japan (1989-04[1][2] – 1994-01-31[3])
Role(s): Sound Programmer, Composer
Education: Tokyo University of Science[4][1]

This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.

Hiroshi Kubota (久保田 浩), also known by the alias Jimita, is a Japanese jazz pianist and former Sega of Japan and Sonic Team sound programmer and composer, known for his work in programming a number of the company's early Mega Drive game soundtracks. He learned many skills from Shigeharu Isoda, an unofficial Sega sound programmer at the time.[5]

He should not be confused with Hiroshi Kubota (窪田 宏), coincidentally also a keyboard player.

Career

Hiroshi Kubota joined Sega in 1989, though at first joined the hardware department, as he was unaware there was a sound development department, but quickly changed departments. His earliest project was the Mega Drive port of Sorcerian, for which he both ported about 4 or 5 of the original game's music[5] and composed half of the new music opposite Tokuhiko Uwabo.[2]

Another game he composed music for was the Mega Drive version of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. In earlier stages of development, it was unclear if the game could cover licensing fees for more than 3 of Michael Jackson's songs, so Kubota created 2 soundalikes which were later scrapped.[5] These were uploaded to his YouTube channel on February 3rd, 2023[6][7], along with an unrelated song which was never used for any game.[8]

He was personally responsible for converting Masato Nakamura's music for playback on the Mega Drive's SMPS sound engine in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The music was also ported to New UFO Catcher later in 1991.[9]

Kubota created several development tools to aid with Mega-CD sound creation, plus worked on the system's PCM audio.[5] His prominent title for the add-on is the simple comedy game Panic!, which he spent many long hard nights on, creating sound effects.[10]

After half a year battling Ulcerative colitis disease,[11] Kubota announced his sudden retirement from Sega in January 1994, though he is still credited as sound programmer in Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit and Ristar, which released after his departure. However, he seems to have rejoined Sega in April 1994, as he appeared in a list of new employees in the Harmony newsletter.[12]

His alias from the Sega days - Jimita - is still used on his personal website, and he has sometimes reunited with former colleauges, such as performing with Naofumi Hataya and his fellow Sonic the Hedgehog sound creator Yukifumi Makino at the Sega New Year's Party of 1998.[13] Throughout his career, including his years at Sega, Hiroshi Kubota has been a frequent jazz pianist for gigs like birthdays and weddings, including several weddings of Sega Sound Team members: Masayuki Nagao[14], Kazuhiko Nagai + Chikako Kamatani[15], and Yukifumi Makino.[16]

Production history

Song credits

Main article: Hiroshi Kubota/Song credits.

Sorcerian (Mega Drive Version)

  • Dungeon — Music & Arrangement
  • Deamon Soldier — Music & Arrangement
  • Village — Music & Arrangement
  • Cave and Dungeon — Music & Arrangement
  • Mosma — Music & Arrangement
  • China Town — Music & Arrangement
  • China Village — Music & Arrangement
  • Angel's Song — Music & Arrangement
  • China Dragon — Music & Arrangement
  • The Magic School I — Music & Arrangement
  • The Magic School II — Music & Arrangement
  • Master Monster — Music & Arrangement
  • Again — Music & Arrangement
  • The Castle of Zander — Music & Arrangement
  • Zander Dragon — Music & Arrangement

Hyper Drive

  • Sword of Vermilion (Vermilion) — Piano
  • 新たなる旅へ (Phantasy Star III) — Piano

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Mega Drive Version)

  • Title — Arrangement
  • Club 30 (Round 1) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 1 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 2 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 3 (Smooth Criminal) — Arrangement
  • Street (Round 2) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 4 (Beat It) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 5 (Beat It) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 6 (Beat It) — Arrangement
  • Woods (Round 3) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 7 (Another Part of Me) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 8 (Another Part of Me) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 9 (Thriller) — Arrangement [NOTE: Used in first release (REV00) of the game instead of Another Part of Me]
  • Cavern (Round 4) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 10 (Billie Jean) — Arrangement
  • The Enemy Hideout (Round 5) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 11 (Bad) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 12 (Bad) — Arrangement
  • Dance Magic 13 (Bad) — Arrangement
  • Game Over — Arrangement

Advanced Daisenryaku

  • US Artillery March — Arrangement
  • La Marseillaise — Arrangement

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Hiroshi Kubota

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://jimita.com/profile/history5.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://media.vgm.io/albums/03/10430/10430-1391379456.jpg
  3. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1994.html#0131
  4. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://jimita.com/profile/history1990.html#00000
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NojKvmQD4xQ (Wayback Machine: 2023-02-05 15:09)
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7sTkIjxegw (Wayback Machine: 2023-02-05 15:14)
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5JD9DN-Ay4 (Wayback Machine: 2023-02-05 15:18)
  9. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1991.html#0101
  10. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1992.html#0100
  11. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0799
  12. ↑ Harmony, "1994 4" (JP; 1994-04-01), page 13
  13. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1998.html#0107
  14. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0424
  15. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html
  16. ↑ http://jimita.com/profile/history1994.html#0129
  17. ↑ File:Sorcerian MD credits.pdf
  18. ↑ File:Moonwalker MD credits.pdf
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 File:Advanced Daisenryaku MD credits.pdf
  20. ↑ File:Sonic the Hedgehog MD credits.pdf
  21. ↑ File:Kiss Shot MD credits.pdf
  22. ↑ File:Dyna Brothers MD credits.pdf
  23. ↑ File:Switch MCD credits.pdf
  24. ↑ File:Panic MCD credits.pdf
  25. ↑ File:Sonic CD MCD JP credits.pdf
  26. ↑ File:Heavenly Symphony MCD credits.pdf
  27. ↑ File:Ristar MD credits.pdf
  28. ↑ File:Sonic CD PC DirectX good ending credits.pdf
  29. ↑ File:SonicGenesis GBA US manual.pdf, page 18
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