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 melodies for productions such as the popular Mega Drive titles The Revenge of Shinobi (with his name appearing on the title screen), Bare Knuckle (Streets of Rage) and The Story of Thor (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 Ys soundtrack for the popular series of roleplaying 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

Yuzo Koshiro has contributed music to the following games:

Romancia (1986)
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
Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished: The Final Chapter (PC-88 and MSX Versions) (1988) — Music Composed by
The Scheme (1988) — Sub Routine, Music, Staff
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 (1990)
Misty Blue (1990)
ActRaiser (1990) — Music Composer
Crack Down (Mega Drive Version) (1990)
Algarna (1991)
The GG Shinobi (1991) — Sound
Streets of Rage (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Music
Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System Version) (1991) — Rearrange and Original Music
Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear Version) (1991) — Re-Arranging and Original Music
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
Shinobi II: The Silent Fury (1992) — Sound
Streets of Rage 2 (Mega Drive Version) (1992) — Music Composition (Music), Sound Effect (Music)
Streets of Rage 2 (PC-88 Version) (1992)
Slap Fight MD (1993) — Sound Composed by
Streets of Rage 2 (Master System Version) (1993) — Music and sound effects
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
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder (Mega CD Version) (1994) — Music
Super Adventure Island II (1994)
The Story of Thor (1994) — Producer & Music Composer
Miracle Casino Paradise (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 (2001) — Music Composer (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)
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)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) — Music Arrangement
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX (2008)
Half-Minute Hero (2009) — Composer
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX+ (2010)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 4 (2011)
Kid Icarus Uprising (2012) — Music Composition

He has also recently produced music for the Merregnon 2 project, Ten Plants

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)

Song Credits

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

Streets of Rage (Mega Drive Version)

The Street of Rage — Music & Arrangement
Player Select — Music & Arrangement
Fighting in the Street — Music & Arrangement
Attack the Barbarian — Music & Arrangement
Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
Dilapidated Town — Music & Arrangement
Moon Beach — Music & Arrangement
Keep the groovin' — Music & Arrangement
Beatnik on the Ship — Music & Arrangement
Stealthy Steps — Music & Arrangement
Violent Breathing — Music & Arrangement
The Last Soul — Music & Arrangement
Big Boss — Music & Arrangement
My little baby (good ending) — Music & Arrangement
You Became the Bad Guy! — Music & Arrangement
Up & Up — Music & Arrangement
The Super Threc — Music & Arrangement
Name Entry — Music & Arrangement
Game Over — Music & Arrangement

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 — Music & Arrangement

Streets of Rage 2 (Mega Drive Version)

Opening — 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 (w/Motohiro Kawashima)
Back to the Industry — Music & Arrangement
S.O.R Super Mix — Music & Arrangement
Revenge of Mr. X — Music & Arrangement
Good End — Music & Arrangement
Walking Bottom — Music & Arrangement

Streets of Rage 2 (PC-88 Version)

Go Straight — Music & Arrangement
In the Bar — 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 (w/Motohiro Kawashima)
Back to the Industry — Music & Arrangement
S.O.R Super Mix — 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
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

Spinning Machine — Music & Arrangement
Beat Ambiance — Music & Arrangement
Kama de Coco — Music & Arrangement
Shinobi Reverse — Music & Arrangement
Happy Paradise — Music & Arrangement
Random Cross — Music & Arrangement
Inga Rasen — Music & Arrangement
Crazy Train — Music & Arrangement

Yuzo Koshiro Early Collection 2nd

~My First Compositions -1987-~

About Boss — Music & Arrangement
About Fusion — Music & Arrangement
About Happiness — Music & Arrangement
About Battle — Music & Arrangement
About Dungeon — Music & Arrangement

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

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)