Hiroshi Kubota

Hiroshi Kubota (久保田 浩) (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.

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, where he took Masato Nakamura's demo tracks and programmed them to be played by the Mega Drive.

Career

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."

In 1979, he started composing and performing, and in 1981, he released his debut album "The Electric Future". 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.

Production History

• Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Mega Drive Version) (1990) — Sound Composer (as Jimita)
• Sorcerian (Mega Drive Version) (1990) — Music Composed (as Jimita)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Sound Program (as Jimita)
• Kiss Shot (1992) — Music Create (as Jimita)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive Version) (1992) — Sound Assistant (as Jimita)
• Panic! (1993) — Sound
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993) — Special Thanks
• Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit (1994) — Sound Programmer (as Jimmy)
• Ristar (Mega Drive Version) (1995) — Sound Programmer
• Sonic CD (XBLA and PSN Versions) (2011) — Special Thanks (Original Mega CD Staff)

Song Credits

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Mega Drive Version)

• Title — Music & 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 — Music & Arrangement

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

External Links

• www.jimita.com — Personal website