Koji Sakurai

From Sega Retro

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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

  • Gekirindan (1995)
  • Gravitation (Anime) (2000) — Additional Production
  • Shenmue II (Dreamcast Version) (2001) — Music Composer (Music) (Sound & Music)
  • Rez (2001) — Assistant Sound Creator (Cubisme)
  • Energy Airforce (2002)
  • Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (2003) — Koji Sakurai Project (Audio Tanaka Inc.)
  • Energy Airforce aimStrike! (2003)
  • Arc the Lad: End of Darkness (2004) — Music & Arrangement (Koji Sakurai Project)
  • Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 (2006)
  • musika (iPod game) (2007)
  • Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 (2007)
  • Space Invaders Extreme 2 (2009)
  • Qix++ (2009/2010)
  • Sonic Free Riders (2010) — Music Composer

Discography

  • The Roots of Transonic (Trigger Label 1990-1993) (1994) [compilation]
  • Welcome to Neo-Tokyo (1994)
  • View from the Edge (1994)
  • No Title (Aciiiiiiiiiid!!!!) (1994) [compilation]
  • Transonic 7 (1997) [compilation]
  • Hoop (1999) [collaboration]
  • 1991-1994 / Mind Design (2000)
  • Happy Pearl March (2004) [collaboration]
  • Cozmo ~Zuntata 25th Anniversary~ (2012)

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