Yuzo Koshiro

Yuzo Koshiro (古代祐三 Koshiro Yūzō, born December 12, 1967, in Tokyo, Japan) is one of the well-known faces of Japanese video game music. In the 1980s and 1990s, he created the soundtracks for games including the popular Mega Drive titles The Revenge of Shinobi (with his name appearing on the title screen), Streets of Rage and Beyond Oasis, following up with the score for the Super Nintendo game ActRaiser. His latest work includes compositions for the highly acclaimed games Shenmue and Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2.

Koshiro is also partially responsible for composing the original soundtrack for Ys, a popular series of role-playing games. Unfortunately, Koshiro does not own the rights to any of his famous Ys compositions, and has indicated in interviews that he is bitter about that fact and finds their resulting international acclaim ironic.

Yuzo Koshiro is one of the pioneers in releasing soundtracks with his own music. The live orchestral version of ActRaiser was one of the industry's first of its kind. A live performance of this music could be heard in 2004 at the second Symphonic Game Music Concert in Leipzig, Germany and in 2005 at the first Chamber Music Game Concert in Leipzig, Germany. Yuzo Koshiro is participating on PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, a symphonic world-tour featuring video game music. His arrangement of music from the Sonic the Hedgehog series is presented in every concert all over the world. Yuzo Koshiro attended the concert on May 27, 2006, in Chicago. On August 23, 2006, Yuzo Koshiro's music from Revenge of Shinobi was performed at the fourth Symphonic Game Concert in Leipzig, Germany, in an arrangement done by himself.

Production history

• Xanadu Scenario II (1986)
• Romancia (1986) — Music [NOTE: Opening only]
• Ys: The Vanished Omens (PC-88 Version and MSX Versions) (1987) — Music Compose
• Xanadu: Dragon Slayer II (MSX Version) (1987) — Music
• Dragon Slayer IV: Legacy of the Wizard (1987) — Music
• Dragon Slayer 5: Sorcerian (PC-88 Version) (1987) — Composer
• Ojousama Club (1987)
• Dark Storm -Demon Crystal- (1987)
• The Gate of Labyrinth (1987)
• The Return of Ishtar (1988)
• Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished: The Final Chapter (PC-88 and MSX Versions) (1988) — Music Composed by
• The Scheme (1988) — Sub Routine, Music, Staff
• The Curse of Mars (1988)
• Algarna (1988)
• Ys: The Vanished Omens (Apple IIgs Version) (1989) — Staff (Original Falcom Ys Team)
• Bosconian (X68000 Version) (1989)
• The Revenge of Shinobi (1989) — Music Composer
• Thrice/Slice (1990)
• Misty Blue (1990)
• ActRaiser (1990) — Music Composer
• Star Wars -Attack on the Death Star- (1991) — Music [NOTE: Arrangements only]
• The GG Shinobi (1991) — Sound
• Streets of Rage (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Music by
• Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System Version) (1991) — Rearrange and Original Music
• Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear Version) (1991) — Re-Arranging and Original Music
• Gage (1992)
• Super Adventure Island (1992) — Sound
• Batman Returns (Game Gear and Master System Versions) (1992) — Sound Management
• Streets of Rage (Game Gear and Master System Versions) (1992/1993) — Music by
• Shinobi II: The Silent Fury (1992) — Sound
• Streets of Rage 2 (1992) — Music Composition (Music), Sound Effect (Music)
• Slap Fight MD (1993) — Sound Composed by
• Streets of Rage 2 (Game Gear Version) (1993) — Music Composition (Music), Sound Effects (Music)
• ActRaiser 2 (1993) — Sound Composer
• The Stickman is Back (1993) [NOTE: Unreleased]
• Streets of Rage 3 (1994) — Music Producer
• Eye of the Beholder (Mega CD Version) (1994) — Music
• The Story of Thor (1994) — Producer & Music Composer
• Miracle Casino Paradise (1995)
• Manji Psy Yuuki (1995)
• Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (PSX and Saturn Versions) (1996) — Music
• The Story of Thor 2 (1996) — Music Composer / Producer (Original Product)
• Vatlva (1996)
• Culdcept (1997)
• Shenmue (1999) — Music Composer
• Shenmue II (Dreamcast Version) (2001) — Music Composer (Music) (Sound & Music)
• Car Battler Joe (2001)
• Wangan Midnight (2002)
• Amazing Island (2004)
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune (2004)
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 2 (2005)
• Namco X Capcom (2005) — Composition/Arrangement (<Opening Theme> "Brave New World"), Composition/Arrangement (<Ending Theme> "Someday, Under the Moon")
• Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 (2005)
• Ueki no Housoku (2006)
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006) — Composer (Ancient.Corp)
• Streets of Rage Remake (2006) — Very Special Thanks (for the original soundracks)
• Etrian Odyssey (2007) — Composer, Sound Design
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3 (2007)
• Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Dream Hyper Battle! (2007)
• Warriors of the Lost Empire (2007)
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) — Music Arrangement
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX (2008)
• Etrian Odyssey II (2009)
• Half-Minute Hero (2009) — Composer
• 7th Dragon (2009)
• Gladiator Begins (2010) — Additional Sound (ANCIENT corp.,)
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX+ (2010)
• Dragon Ball Online (2010)
• Etrian Odyssey III (2010)
• Protect Me Knight (2010)
• Jaseiken Necromancer: Nightmare Reborn (2010)
• Criminal Girls (2010)
• Dead Heat (2010)
• 7th Dragon 2020 (2011)
• Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4 (2012)
• Kid Icarus Uprising (2012) — Music Composition
• Etrian Odyssey IV (2012) — Music Composition
• Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (2012)
• Time and Eternity (2012)
• 7th Dragon 2020-II (2013)
• Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl (2013)
• Drift Spirit (2013)
• Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 (2014)
• Momoiro Billionaire! (2014)
• Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014) — Guest Music Composer (Ancient Co., LTD)
• Protect Me Knight 2 (2014)
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014) — Music Arrangement
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) — Music Arrangement
• Etrian Odyssey Untold II: The Knight of Fafnir (2014)
• Etrian Mystery Dungeon (2015)
• 7th Dragon III Code: VFD (2015)
• Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX (2015)
• Etrian Odyssey V (2016)
• Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom (2017)

Other Works

• All Over Xanadu (1987)
• The Scheme (album) (1989)
• The Super Shinobi & Works (1989)
• Yuzo Koshiro Early Collection 2nd (1998)
• The Scheme Sound Track (2002)
• Street Fighter Tribute Album (2003)
• Bare Knuckle Original Soundtrack (2012)

Song Credits

Romancia

• Opening — Music & Arrangement

Ys: The Vanished Omens (PC-88 Version)

• Feena (Title) — Music & Arrangement
• The Syonin (Shop 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Tears of Sylph (Shop 2) — Music & Arrangement
• First Step Towards Wars (Grasslands) — Music & Arrangement
• Palace (Temple 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Holders of Power (Powerful Character 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Palace of Destruction (Temple 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Beat of the Terror (Abandoned Mine) — Music & Arrangement
• Tower of the Shadow of Death (Tower) — Music & Arrangement
• The Last Moment of the Dark (Top Floor of the Tower) — Music & Arrangement
• Final Battle (Powerful Character 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Rest in Peace (After the Final Battle) — Music & Arrangement
• The Morning Glow (Ending 1) — Music & Arrangement
• See You Again (Ending 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Devil's Wind (Devil's Wind) — Music & Arrangement
• Dreaming — Music & Arrangement
• Chase of Shadow — Music & Arrangement
• Church — Music & Arrangement
• Over Drive — Music & Arrangement
• Departure — Music & Arrangement
• Crossroad of Sadness — Music & Arrangement
• Battle Ground — Music & Arrangement
• Mysterious Moment — Music & Arrangement
• Theme of Adoru — Music & Arrangement
• Dead-End Street — Music & Arrangement
• Sub-Mission — Music & Arrangement
• Tension — Music & Arrangement
• Fly with Me — Music & Arrangement

The Revenge of Shinobi

• Opening — Music & Arrangement
• Long Distance (Demo) — Music & Arrangement
• The Shinobi (Round 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
• Terrible Beat (Boss) — Music & Arrangement
• Sunrise Blvd. (Round 2-1) — Music & Arrangement
• Make Me Dance (Round 2-2) — Music & Arrangement
• Like a Wind (Round 3-1) — Music & Arrangement
• Run or Die (Round 3-2) — Music & Arrangement
• Ninja Step (Round 4) — Music & Arrangement
• The Dark City (Round 5) — Music & Arrangement
• China Town (Round 6) — Music & Arrangement
• Over the Bay (Round 7) — Music & Arrangement
• Labyrinth (Round 8) — Music & Arrangement
• The Ninja Master (Final Boss) — Music & Arrangement
• Silence Night (Bad Ending) — Music & Arrangement
• My Lover (Good Ending) — Music & Arrangement
• Failure — Music & Arrangement
• Game Over — Music & Arrangement

The Super Shinobi & Works

~Arranged Version~

• Flash Flash Flash — Music & Arrangement, Computer Programming & Keyboard
• Make Me Dance — Music & Arrangement, Computer Programming & Keyboard
• China Town — Music & Arrangement, Computer Programming & Keyboard
• Blast Power — Music & Arrangement, Computer Programming & Keyboard

The GG Shinobi

• Opening — Music & Arrangement
• Select — Music & Arrangement
• Start — Music & Arrangement
• Rush (Highway 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Joe (Highway 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Boss 1 — Music & Arrangement
• Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
• Spirit (Valley 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Darkside (Valley 2) — Music & Arrangement
• First Step (Harbor 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Distant Thunder (Harbor 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Cavern (Woodland 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Forest (Woodland 2) — Music & Arrangement
• The Last Dungeon (Neo City) — Music & Arrangement
• Boss 2 — Music & Arrangement
• Ending — Music & Arrangement
• Miss — Music & Arrangement
• Game Over — Music & Arrangement
• Harakeri — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]
• Far Away — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused - later used in The GG Shinobi II]
• Contact — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]

Streets of Rage (Mega Drive Version)

• The Street of Rage — Music & Arrangement
• Player Select — Music & Arrangement
• Fighting in the Street (Round 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Attack the Barbarian (Boss) — Music & Arrangement
• Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
• Dilapidated Town (Round 2) — Music & Arrangement
• Moon Beach (Round 3) — Music & Arrangement
• Keep the groovin' (Round 4) — Music & Arrangement
• Beatnik on the Ship (Round 5) — Music & Arrangement
• Stealthy Steps (Round 6) — Music & Arrangement
• Violent Breathing (Round 7) — Music & Arrangement
• The Last Soul (Round 8) — Music & Arrangement
• You Became the Bad Guy! (Bad Ending) — Music & Arrangement
• Big Boss (Last Boss) — Music & Arrangement
• My Little Baby (Good Ending) — Music & Arrangement
• Game Over — Music & Arrangement
• Up & Up — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]
• The Super Threc — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]
• Name Entry — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]

Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System and Game Gear Versions)

• Title — Rearrangement
• Start — Music & Arrangement
• Green Hill — Rearrangement
• Power Up — Rearrangement
• Stage Clear — Rearrangement
• Bridge — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Also known as "Stage BGM A"]
• Jungle — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Also known as "Stage BGM B"]
• Labyrinth — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Also known as "Stage BGM C"]
• Scrap Brain — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Also known as "Stage BGM D"]
• Sky Base — Music & Arrangement
• Boss BGM — Music & Arrangement
• Miss — Rearrangement
• Bonus Stage — Music & Arrangement
• Chaos Emerald — Music & Arrangement
• Staff Roll — Rearrangement
• Marble — Rearrangement [NOTE: Unused]

The GG Shinobi II

• Far Away (Building 1) — Music & Arrangement
• Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
• Enemy's Base — Music & Arrangement
• Game Over — Music & Arrangement

Streets of Rage 2

• S.O.R Super Mix — Music & Arrangement
• Player Select — Music & Arrangement
• Go Straight — Music & Arrangement
• Go Straight (Beat Mix) — Music & Arrangement
• In the Bar — Music & Arrangement
• In the Bar (Slow Mix) — Music & Arrangement
• Never Return Alive — Music & Arrangement
• Spin on the Bridge — Music & Arrangement
• Ready Funk — Music & Arrangement
• Dreamer — Music & Arrangement
• Alien Power — Music & Arrangement
• Under Logic — Music & Arrangement
• Too Deep — Music & Arrangement
• Slow Moon — Music & Arrangement
• Wave 131 — Music & Arrangement
• Jungle Base — Music & Arrangement (with Motohiro Kawashima)
• Back to the Industry — Music & Arrangement
• Revenge of Mr. X — Music & Arrangement
• Good End — Music & Arrangement
• Walking Bottom — Music & Arrangement

Slap Fight MD

• Sortie (Shutu-Geki) — Music & Arrangement
• Flight (Hi-Syou) — Music & Arrangement
• Rush (Tos-Shin) — Music & Arrangement
• Strategy (Saku-Sen) — Music & Arrangement
• Conflict (Kat-Tou/unused) — Music & Arrangement
• Contact (Ses-Syoku/unused) — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]
• Hope (Ki-Bou) — Music & Arrangement

The Stickman is Back

• Demon — Music & Arrangement
• History & Roots — Music & Arrangement
• Local, etc... — Music & Arrangement
• Rogue in the palace — Music & Arrangement
• Bee's Eye — Music & Arrangement
• In the Mountain — Music & Arrangement
• Pop & Deep — Music & Arrangement
• Get More Tea — Music & Arrangement
• Catman — Music & Arrangement
• Born Again — Music & Arrangement
• Who Am I ? — Music & Arrangement
• Clone & Taboo — Music & Arrangement
• Eat Max — Music & Arrangement
• Boo! Pee! — Music & Arrangement

Streets of Rage 3

• Beat Ambiance — Music & Arrangement
• Spinning Machine — Music & Arrangement
• Kama de Coco — Music & Arrangement
• Disco — Music & Arrangement
• Random Cross — Music & Arrangement
• Happy Paradise — Music & Arrangement
• Shinobi Reverse — Music & Arrangement
• BGM II (Mr. X) — Music & Arrangement
• Robo X — Music & Arrangement
• Crazy Train — Music & Arrangement
• BGM III (Bad Ending) — Music & Arrangement
• Inga Rasen — Music & Arrangement
• Ending — Music & Arrangement
• BGM IV — Music & Arrangement [NOTE: Unused]

Shenmue

• The Sadness I Carry on My Shoulders — Music & Arrangement
• Rain — Music & Arrangement
• Setting off anew / Arranged by Y.Koshiro — Arrangement
• Shenmue ~Sedge Tree~ / Arranged by Y.Koshiro — Arrangement
• Shenhua ~Sedge Flower~ / Arranged by Y.Koshiro — Arrangement
• Hip De Hop — Music & Arrangement

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• Main Theme (The Legend of Zelda) — Arrangement
• Norfair — Arrangement

Bare Knuckle Original Soundtrack

• Bare Knuckle - Legend Mix - — Music (with Motohiro Kawashima), Remixed by [NOTE: From Game Music Club Event "Legend" in 2002]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

• Battle! Trainer (Pokémon X / Y) — Arrangement
• Wrath of the Reset Bomb — Arrangement
• Pac-Man — Arrangement

Trivia

• His sister, Ayano Koshiro, is responsible for many of the character designs in the games for which Yuzo has composed music. One of the more popular examples is the Bare Knuckle (Streets of Rage) series on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. She also worked on character design of Ys and ActRaiser.

External links

• Composer profile at OverClocked ReMix
• "Yuzo Koshiro Interview" Kikizo: (Oct. 14, 2005)
• "The OPCFG Interview with Yuzo Koshiro" Organization for the Preservation of Classic Forms of Gaming: Strangman, Rob (2002)
• Yuzo Koshiro DJ'ing in a Japanese Club (youtube.com video)