Yasuhiro Kawakami

Yasuhiro Kawakami
Born Japan
Genres Jazz
Occupations Composer, sound programmer
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1991–present
Labels NTT Publishing
DigiCube

Yasuhiro Kawakami (川上康広 Kawakami Yasuhiro?) is a Japanese video game composer and sound programmer who was employed at Square from 1991 to 1999. He created music for three games and was the sound programmer for Rudra no Hihō. Kawakami frequently collaborated with fellow composer Ryuji Sasai.

Biography

Yasuhiro Kawakami joined Square (now Square Enix) in 1991 where he was assigned to compose the 1992 title Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (known as Mystic Quest Legend in Europe) alongside Ryuji Sasai.[1] Kawakami was responsible for most of the setting themes, while Sasai contributed the rock-based tracks.[2] In 1996, he collaborated with Sasai again as the sound programmer for Rudra no Hihō; Sasai created the score.[3]

For the PlayStation game Tobal No. 1 (1996), Kawakami was part of one of the largest number of composers to have ever been featured on a Square soundtrack.[4] The other composers were Yasunori Mitsuda, Sasai, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano, Kenji Ito, Noriko Matsueda, and Yoko Shimomura.[5][6] He created three compositions for the game, and helped to ensure that the console's resources were tested fully before working on the score.[2] The track "Disused Mine" was included on the score's arranged album, Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian.[7] Kawakami composed the soundtrack to the 1998 title Chocobo's Dungeon 2, alongside Kumi Tanioka, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Itō.[8] He created about a third of the pieces in the game, handling mostly setting themes. After working on this game, he left Square and became a freelance composer.[2]

Discography

Video games
Year Title Role Co-worker
1992 Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Composition Ryuji Sasai
1996 Rudra no Hihō Sound programming
1996 Tobal No. 1 Composition Yasunori Mitsuda, Ryuji Sasai, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano, Kenji Ito, Noriko Matsueda, and Yoko Shimomura
1998 Chocobo's Dungeon 2 Composition Kumi Tanioka, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Kenji Ito

References

  1. ^ "Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasymysticquest/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  2. ^ a b c Chris. "Yasuhiro Kawakami". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/composers/other/kawakami.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  3. ^ "Rudra no Hihou Original Sound Version". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/r/rudranohihou.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  4. ^ Chris. "Tobal No. 1 Original Soundtrack :: Review by Chris". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/tobal1.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  5. ^ "Tobal No. 1 Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/tobalno1/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  6. ^ "Tobal No. 1 Original Soundtrack". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/t/tobal1.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  7. ^ Harry; Dave. "Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian :: Review by Harry and Dave". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/daveharry/tobal1remixes.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  8. ^ "Chocobo's Dungeon 2 Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/chocobosdungeon2/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary. Retrieved 2009-09-25.