Motoi Sakuraba

Motoi Sakuraba (桜庭 統, Sakuraba Motoi, born August 5, 1965) is a Japanese composer and keyboardist known for his numerous musical contributions in video games, anime series, television dramas, and progressive rock albums.[1][2] Some of his notable works include the Tales, Star Ocean, Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Golden Sun, and Dark Souls series.

Motoi Sakuraba
桜庭 統
Born (1965-08-05) August 5, 1965
Akita Prefecture, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • keyboardist
Instruments
Years active1984–present
LabelsTEAM Entertainment
Associated actsShinji Tamura
Masaaki Uno

Career

Sakuraba was born in Akita Prefecture, Japan. While attending Meiji University, Sakuraba began to take music composition seriously, and eventually formed the progressive rock band "Clashed Ice" in 1984, consisting of him on keyboards and Genta Kudo on drums and vocals.[3] After the duo had graduated the following year, they were noticed by music producer Shingo Ueno, and ending up signing with Made in Japan Records. The band had then added bassist Tetsuya Nagatsuma, and was renamed as "Deja Vu".[3][4] In 1988, the band would release their only studio album, Baroque in the Future, composed entirely by Sakuraba.[3] Although the band disbanded in 1989, Sakuraba would later go on to release a similar-sounding solo album, Gikyokuonsou, in 1991.

In late 1989, Sakuraba began working as a composer for Wolf Team, joining Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono. The professional friendships formed here in Sakuraba's early years have resulted in a great demand for his composing and arranging abilities. In 1994, former Wolf Team director and composer Masaaki Uno started working at Camelot Software Planning as a coordinator and sound director, developing games for Sony, Sega and Nintendo. Sakuraba has been called upon as a composer for many Camelot games, including all of the games in the Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Golden Sun series.

In 1995, Wolf Team developed the breakthrough game Tales of Phantasia for Namco. This and other early games in the Tales series primarily featured Sakuraba and fellow Wolf Team co-worker Shinji Tamura as composers. Also in 1995, former Wolf Team director and producer Jun Asanuma, as well as Tales of Phantasia writer and programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda, founded tri-Ace with financial backing from Enix. The Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile games have been their keystone productions. Sakuraba has been the composer for nearly all of their games, with only a few exceptions.

In 1999, long time Sakuraba sound designer and programmer Hiroya Hatsushiba, a former member of Wolf Team and tri-Ace, founded tri-Crescendo. While initially continuing to contribute sound work to tri-Ace games, tri-Crescendo began game development in 2001. Together with Monolith Soft, tri-Crescendo started working on Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean; Namco provided the financial backing. Hatsushiba, as director and main programmer of the project, again called upon Sakuraba's composing services. This has extended to the sequel, Baten Kaitos Origins, and Eternal Sonata. The remnants of Wolf Team later morphed into the Namco Telenet joint subsidiary Namco Tales Studio in 2003.

In 2007, Sakuraba was selected to join a long list of video game composers to arrange music for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He chose to arrange the famous "Menu Theme" from the game's predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Melee. He also arranged "Gourmet Race" from Kirby Super Star, "Jungle Level Ver.2" from Donkey Kong Country, "Mario Tennis / Mario Golf" from Mario Tennis and Mario Golf, "Victory Road" from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the "Airship Theme" from Super Mario Bros. 3, the "Battlefield Theme", "Final Destination", and "Battle Scene / Final Boss (Golden Sun)" from Golden Sun: The Lost Age.

In more recent years, Sakuraba has continued to write music for games in franchises he has worked with before, including Star Ocean: The Last Hope,[5] Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Mario Tennis Open, Mario Golf: World Tour, and many Tales series games, including Hearts, Graces, Xillia, Xillia 2, Zestiria, and Berseria.[5] He has also contributed to other well known games such as the Dark Souls series, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Phantasy Star Nova.[5][6] In 2014, he was selected to provide musical arrangements for Brawl's successor, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.[7] For this title, Sakuraba arranged "Theme from Area 6 / Missile Slipstream" from Star Fox 64 and Star Fox Command, "Battle! (Team Flare)" from Pokémon X and Y, and "The valedictory elegy" from Baten Kaitos Origins.

In addition, Sakuraba has continued to write for non-gaming and anime projects, including solo albums such as "Forest of glass", "What's up?", and "Passage", as well as lending his arrangement and performance abilities for many doujin styled arrange albums.[5]

Live performances

During July 2003, Sakuraba held a live concert in Tokyo, Japan. He performed progressive rock interpretations of his music from games Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Star Ocean: The Second Story, Star Ocean: Blue Sphere and Valkyrie Profile. His bandmates for this concert were bassist Atsushi Hasegawa (a member of the band Gerard) and drummer Toshihiko Nakamura.[8] As noted, this concert was released on DVD and CD. At the same time as they were rehearsing for the concert, Hasegawa and Nakamura assisted in recording new material for the Director's Cut of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time.

The following year, the trio performed another concert. The venue was smaller, but included music from Baten Kaitos and a couple of new, non-game-related pieces. This concert was not officially recorded and released, however. However, in 2006, a new concert was given in celebration of tri-Ace's Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria.[9]

In September 2011, Sakuraba and his band joined up with the Earthbound Papas in Kawasaki, led by former Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu, to perform at Fantasy Rock Fest 2011. The event featured game music performances, along with new progressive rock pieces from both bands. The first six tracks that Sakuraba and his band played were sold at the event as a preview CD for his then-upcoming solo album After all..., which was released by Strange Days Records on October 19, 2011.

In June 2015, Sakuraba performed at the Tales of Festival at the Yokohama Arena, being the first time he performed tracks from the Tales series at a live event.[10] A selection of Sakuraba's music from the Dark Souls and Tales series was performed live at the Salle Pleyel concert hall in Paris in February 2017.[11] The event, known as "Orchestral Memories", featured a guest appearance by Sakuraba.[11] The 2020 Tales of Festival featured an original song by him called "Endless Journey", dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the series.[12]

Musical style

Sakuraba takes the baroque and melodic Japanese progressive rock of the 1980s and expands it with his own trademark complex rhythms, emotional flutes, use of male choir, and heavy reverb. The lighter side of his style is a crossover between symphonic progressive rock, cinematic orchestra and new age. Sakuraba is also known for introducing many jazz-like improvisations to his music style. In recent years, he has made efforts towards expanding his style even further, becoming an accomplished symphonist and a versatile arranger.[13]

Works

All works listed below were solely composed by Sakuraba unless otherwise noted.

Video games

Year Title Notes
1989Zan: Kagerou no Tokiwith Masaaki Uno
Arcus II: Silent Symphonywith Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono
Arcusyu
1990Granadawith Masaaki Uno
D: European Miragewith Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono
Zan: Yasha Enbukyoku
Ryu: Naki no Ryuu Yoriwith Masaaki Uno and Yasunori Shiono
Final Zonewith Masaaki Uno
Zan Gear Arranged tracks from Zan: Kagerou no Toki
Sol-Feace
Span of Dream Music support
1991Daitoua Mokujiroku Goh
Arcus Odyssey
Crystal Chaserwith Masaaki Uno and Ryota Furuya
El Viento
Zan: Kagerou no JidaiArranged tracks from Zan: Kagerou no Toki
Arcus IIIwith Ryota Furuya
Shinsengumi: Bakumatsu Genshi Gyou
Niko²
Earnest Evans
Tenbu: Sangokushi Seishiwith Ryota Furuya
1992Sol-Deace
Seirei Shinseiki Fhey Area
Suzakuwith Ryota Furuya
Zan II: Towns Special
Tenbu Limitedwith Ryota Furuya
Aisle Lord
Zan II: Spirits
Hioudenwith Ryota Furuya
Diamond Players
Cobra Command Composed the ending theme only
Tenbu: Mankan Zenseki
Time GalComposed the ending theme only
Earnest Evans (Sega Genesis)
Road Avenger
Aproswith Ryota Furuya
1993Neugier: Umi to Kaze no KodōSound effects
Annet Futatabiwith Shinji Tamura ("Opening")
Devastatorwith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
Arcus Spirits
Hiouden IIwith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
Zan III: Tenun Ware ni Ariwith Shinji Tamura
Ace wo Nerae!
Revenge of the Ninja Sound effects
Yougekitai: Jashin Koumarokuwith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
1994Hiouden: Mamono-tachi to no Chikaiwith Hiroya Hatsushiba and Shinji Tamura
Zan III Spiritswith Shinji Tamura
Cosmic Fantasy 4with Shinji Tamura, Shingo Murakami, and Jun Hasebe
Tenshi no Uta: Shiroki Tsubasa no Inoriwith Shinji Tamura
Hiouden II' HDwith Ryota Furuya
Sankyo Fever! Fever!with Shinji Tamura
The Grail Hunterwith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
1995Kyoraku Sanyo Toyomaru Parlor Parlor!with Shinji Tamura; Pachinko game series
Tokyo Twilight Busterswith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
Beyond the Beyond
Tales of Phantasiawith Shinji Tamura and Ryota Furuya
1996Parlor! Miniwith Shinji Tamura; Pachinko game series
Star Ocean
Shining the Holy Ark
1997 Everybody's Golf
Shining Force III
Tales of Destinywith Shinji Tamura
1998 Star Ocean: The Second Story
1999Mario Golf
Cybernetic Empirewith Shinji Tamura and Atsushi Horiguchi
Mario Golf GB
Valkyrie Profile
2000Mario Tennis
Mario Tennis GB
Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri DungeonReused compositions from Tales of Phantasia
Tales of Eterniawith Shinji Tamura
2001Mobile Golf
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere
Golden Sun
2002Tales of Fandom Vol.1with Shinji Tamura
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Tales of Destiny 2with Shinji Tamura
2003Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Tales of Symphoniawith Shinji Tamura and Takeshi Arai
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
2004Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time: Director's Cut
Mario Power Tennis
Tales of Rebirthwith Shinji Tamura
2005Duel Masters: Birth of Super Dragon
Mario Tennis: Power Tour
Tales of the Abysswith Shinji Tamura
2006Baten Kaitos Origins
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Tales of Eternia Online
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Tales of the Tempest
Tenshou Gakuen Gekkouroku
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythologywith Takuya Yasuda and Go Shiina
2007Eternal Sonata
Drone Tactics
We Love Golf!
Star Ocean: First Departure
2008Super Smash Bros. Brawl Arranged seven tracks
The Idolmaster Live For You! Composed "Contradiction"
Star Ocean: Second Evolution
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New Worldwith Shinji Tamura
Tales of Vesperiawith Shinji Tamura
Infinite Undiscovery
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
Otomedius G Arranged two tracks
Tales of Heartswith Shinji Tamura and Hiroshi Tamura
2009Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2with various others
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Half-Minute Herowith various others
Tales of VS.
Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga
Tales of Graceswith Shinji Tamura
2010Resonance of Fatewith Kohei Tanaka
Deathsmiles IIX: Makai no Merry ChristmasComposed "Boss"
Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon Xwith Shinji Tamura
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Tales of Graces fwith Shinji Tamura
2011Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3with various others
Otomedius Excellent
Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming
Tales of Xillia
Dark Souls
Shinra Bansho Frontier
2012Beyond the Labyrinth
Tales of the Heroes: Twin Bravewith Go Shiina
Kid Icarus: Uprisingwith Yuzo Koshiro, Masafumi Takada, Noriyuki Iwadare, Takahiro Nishi, and Yasunori Mitsuda
GuitarFreaksXG3 & DrumManiaXG3Composed "Hard distance"
Mario Tennis Open
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Composed the main theme
Samurai Empire
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition
Bravely DefaultPerformed on keyboards
Tales of Xillia 2
2013Valkyrie Crusade[14]
Tales of Hearts Rwith Kazuhiro Nakamura
GitadoraComposed "Crazy blooms"
Valhalla Knights 3
Tales of Symphonia Chronicleswith Shinji Tamura and Takeshi Arai
2014Dark Souls IIwith Yuka Kitamura
Mario Golf: World Tour
Gitadora OverDrive Composed "Quarrel and Harmony"
Date A Live: Ars Install Composed the ending theme
Mirror War: Reincarnation of Holiness[15]with Maki Kirioka and Manabu Namiki
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii UArranged three tracks
Skylock: Kamigami to Unmei no Itsutsuko
Phantasy Star Nova
2015Tales of Zestiriawith Go Shiina
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sinwith Yuka Kitamura
God Chronicle
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky
2016Dark Souls IIIwith Yuka Kitamura, Tsukasa Saitoh, and Nobuyoshi Suzuki
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin
Valkyrie Connect
Tales of Berseria
Star Ocean: Anamnesis[16]
2017Tales of the Rayswith Go Shiina, Eriko Sakurai, and Kazuhiro Nakamura
Mario Sports Superstars
2018Mario Tennis Aces
Dragon Star Varnirmain theme and battle music[17]
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdomwith Yuzo Koshiro, Michiru Yamane, Keiki Kobayashi, and Takeshi Yanagawa
Super Smash Bros. Ultimatearrangements with various others[18]
2019Laplace M[19]
Fantasy Earth: Zerocomposed eight tracks[20]
Rakugaki Kingdomcomposed "Stay the way!"[21]
2020 Cogen: Sword of Rewind[22]
2022 Eiyuden Chroniclewith Michiko Naruke[23]

Anime/television

Year Title Notes
1997Omata Kaoru
Gal Boy!
Otenki Onee-san
Otenki Onee-san 2 ~Ryoko Pri Pri~
1998Cyber Bishoujo Telomere
1999Vanny Knights
Roppongi Kyabakura Tenshi
2000Gensomaden Saiyuki
2001Star Ocean EX
2002Atashin'chi
Weiß Kreuz Glühen
2003Pluster World
2004Umigame to Shonen
2008Tales of the Abyss
2016Tales of Zestiria the Xwith Go Shiina

Films

Year Title Notes
2001Blue Remainswith Yuko Fukushima
Saiyuki: Requiem
2007Diatom 4
2014Tales of Zestiria: Dawn of the Shepherdwith Go Shiina

Solo/live/other

Year Album Role Co-worker(s)
1988Progressive's Battle 1988Composition/arrangement
Deja-Vu: resurraction "LAST LIVE"Composition/arrangement
1989Baroque in the FutureComposition/arrangement
Crime SyndicateComposition/arrangement
(2 tracks)
with various others
Pazzo Fanfano di MusicaComposition/arrangement
("Fragoroso")
1990Kings' BoardsComposition/arrangement
("Drama Composition")
1991GikyokuonsouComposition/arrangement
1996@MIDI's summerComposition/arrangement
("Psychosomatics")
with various others
1998Le Meilleur Du Rock Progressif JaponaisComposition/arrangement
("Tides Of History")
@MIDI's danceComposition/arrangement
("planetarium ~more "D" mix~")
Star Ocean: The Second Story Arrange AlbumArrangement
1999@MIDI's battleComposition/arrangement
("Taepodong")
with various others
2000Valkyrie Profile Arrange AlbumArrangement
@MIDI's freedomComposition/arrangement
(4 tracks)
with various others
2001Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Game Music Arrange TracksArrangementTomoyuki Hamada
2003Star Ocean: Till the End of Time Arrange AlbumArrangement
Motoi Sakuraba Live Concert Star Ocean & Valkyrie ProfileArrangement/performance
2004Famicom 20th Anniversary Arrange Sound TracksArrangement
("Super Mario Bros.")
with various others
Dark Chronicle Premium ArrangeArrangement
(2 tracks)
Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Premium ArrangeArrangement
("The whole new world")
2006FM Sound Module ManiaxComposition/arrangement
("Reminiscence")
Rogue Galaxy Premium ArrangeArrangement
("Valkog's Theme")
Kiri no Mukou ni Tsunagaru Sekai / Haruka Shimotsuki + RevoPerformance
(Keyboards)
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Arrange AlbumArrangement
Motoi Sakuraba Live 2006 -Valkyrie Profile 2-Arrangement/performance
2008Forest of glassComposition/arrangement
Red Stone Original SoundtrackArrangement
("Legend of Red Stone (Arr. version)")
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard Super Arrange VersionArrangement
("Battlefield - Scatter About")
with various others
Tales of Series Battle Arrange TracksArrangement
Tales of Series Piano Arrange TracksArrangement
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume Arrange AlbumArrangement
MessageComposition/arrangement
("image ~imagery~")
with various others
2009Star Ocean: The Last Hope Arrange SoundtrackArrangement
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou Arrange AlbumArrangement
("Yellow Stream (Last Boss)")
with various others
Mushihimesama Double Arrange AlbumArrangement
("Shinju Forest Rebel Army?")
2010Dariusburst Remix Wonder WorldArrangement
("The Battle is Now in Progress")
2011Akumajo Dracula Tribute Vol.1Arrangement
("Beginning")
After all...Composition/arrangement
GeOnDan Super Rare Trax: The Land of Rising SunComposition/arrangement
("Echidna")
with various others
Tales of Series Battle Arrange Tracks 2Arrangement
2012Ragnarok Online BGM Arrange CollectionArrangement
("Erebos' Prelude")
with various others
2013What's up?Composition/arrangement
Valhalla Knights 3 Arrange SoundtrackArrangement
PassageComposition/arrangement
Game Music PrayerComposition/arrangement
("Megrim Ver.2")
with various others
Ragnarok Online Elemental TunesArrangement
("TeMPlatonic")
2014Game Music Prayer IIComposition/arrangement
("Hikari wo Sagashite")
Monster Hunter 10th Anniversary Compilation AlbumArrangement
("Intercepting the Great Gong")
X'mas Collections music from Bravely DefaultArrangement
("Horizon of Light and Shadow / X'mas Edit")
2015GUILTY7Composition/arrangement
Fantasy Rock OvertureComposition/arrangement
("Pensiero Illogico")
with various others
2018Braverthday / Nobuhiko OkamotoComposition/arrangement
("Braver")[24]
2019Game Music Prayer IVComposition/arrangement
("Improvisation in confusion")
gollark: Or frege.
gollark: That fixes all bugs.
gollark: We should rewrite it in Haskell.
gollark: It's meant to be the fundamental underpinning of government, not arbitrary traffic light stuff.
gollark: The traffic light bit.

References

  1. Person, Chris. "From Dark Souls to Valkyrie Profile: The Motoi Sakuraba Mixtape". Kotaku. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  2. Urrea, Sebastian. "Composer Analysis: Motoi Sakuraba Composer Analysis: Motoi Sakuraba". Original Sound Version. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. Chris, Greening. "Motoi Sakuraba Profile". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Kotowski, Don. "Motoi Sakuraba Interview: Diverse New Projects". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  6. Tong, Sophia. "Sound Byte: Meet the Composer of Dark Souls". GameSpot. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  7. "Musicians who worked on new arrangements for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U versions". SmashBros.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  8. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt9493912/
  9. http://www.vgmonline.net/motoisakuraba2006/
  10. "Tales of Festivle 2015 Cast". Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. Osborn, Alex. "Dark Souls to Be Featured in Bandai Namco's Orchestral Concert in Europe". IGN. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  12. Lada, Jenni (June 15, 2020). "Hear Leon, Lloyd, Zelos, Luke, Yuri, Sorey, and Mikleo Sing the New Tales of Festival Song". Siliconera. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  13. Greening, Chris. "Motoi Sakuraba Profile". Game Music Online. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  14. "ANDROID RELEASE : VALKYRIE CRUSADE". Gamasutra. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  15. Greening, Chris. "Sample Mirror War's soundtrack featuring Kirioka, Namiki, and Sakuraba". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  16. Romano, Sal (October 18, 2016). "Star Ocean: Anamnesis has four-player multiplayer battles". Gematsu. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  17. Romano, Sal. "Compile Heart announces Varnir of the Dragon Star for PS4". Gematsu. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  18. Wong, Alistair. "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Final Week Covers Yoshi, Bayonetta, And Roy". Siliconera. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  19. "Laplace M is now up for pre-registration". GamerBraves. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  20. 「ファンタジーアース ゼロ」,桜庭 統氏書き下ろしの新BGM(8曲)が2月20日に実装へ。一部の試聴バージョンが本日公開. 4Gamer (in Japanese). Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  21. "SOUND". rakugaki-kingdom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  22. Romano, Sal (June 6, 2020). "Side-scrolling action game COGEN: Sword of Rewind announced for PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  23. Webster, Andrew. "Suikoden's creators are crowdfunding a spiritual successor". The Verge. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  24. "Braverthday【豪華盤】" (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
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