Yoichiro Yoshikawa
Yoichiro Yoshikawa | |
---|---|
Native name | 吉川洋一郎 |
Born |
Sakaide-shi, Kagawa-ken, Japan | October 8, 1957
Genres | Soundtrack, J-POP |
Occupation(s) | Composer, Arranger, Film producer |
Instruments | Keyboard |
Website |
www |
Yoichiro Yoshikawa(吉川洋一郎)(born October 8, 1957) is a composer, arranger and film producer.
Summary
Yoichiro Yoshikawa was Born in Sakaide-shi, Kagawa Prefecture. He joined the activities of Butoh dance group “Sankai Juku ” while attending University of Tsukuba, and joined them for their world tours. Since then, he has been involved with the music production of all Sankai Juku works, which continued for more than 35 years. As of 2014, Sankai Juku has been to 43 countries, performing in over 710 cities in total. Yoshikawa also handled numerous music pieces for special news programs such as the NHK special “The Miracle Planet (Chikyu Dai Kiko)” and various NHK TV animation series during this time. He is currently in charge of the music for “Baby Steps” that started in April 2014 on E-Tele Anime.
Brief Personal History
Yoichiro started learning piano from the age of three. He had access to electric and hand-turned gramophones from his early life at home. His great-grandfather Kagoro had brought these items back from the United States where he lived as an immigrant. During his days in Sakaide Elementary and Lower Secondary School (attached to the Faculty of Education, Kagawa University), Yoshikawa became fascinated by the tape recorders that they used during piano lessons. It soon became his hobby to play piano or guitar and record it. He started composing in his high school days, and aspired to pursue a career in music. During his time as a student at the University of Tsukuba, Yoshikawa met Ushio Amagatsu, the organizer of “Sankai Juku” and former member of the piano trio group “Kinkan Shonen”. After 1986, Yoshikawa together with Takashi Kako and YAS-KAZ took over as organizers of Sankai Juku. Since then they released new works every two years, produced by THÉÂTRE DE LA VILLE PARIS.
“HIBIKI – Resonance from Far Away” won Best New Dance Production prize in 2002 at Laurence Olivier Awards, in UK. “TOKI – A Moment in the Weave Time” won Grand Prize in the 6th Asahi Performing Arts Awards (2006). Sankai Juku also won the Japan Foundation Awards in 2013. Yoshikawa also managed video production of Sankai Juku theatrical works from 2006, conducting artistic activities in wide range of genres.
His representative work is the music for NHK special “The Miracle Planet” (1987). This main theme won an International Prize at the JASRAC Awards in 1992. The program “The Miracle Planet” won the 29th Director General of Science and Technology Agency Award at the Science and Technology Film/Video Festival.
He released numerous solo albums including “Music for the Miracle Planet,” “A dream of AKU AKU,” “KYPLOS” and “Lashes of the Sun (Taiyo no Matsuge).” During the 9 years between 1984 and 1993, Yoshikawa was in charge of keyboards and music arrangements in the rock group “Yapoos” lead by Jun Togawa. He was also involved with albums such as “Yapoos Keikaku” amongst others. “Raja Maharaja” (song: Jun Togawa) became one of the most popular pieces of music featured on NHK “Minna no Uta” in history.
In addition, Yoshikawa produced ambient music for various amusement parks including Tokyo Sea Life Park (1989) and created BGM pieces for various TV Programs such as “News 11” and “News 9” (between 1995 to 1999), “News 10” (2001), “Hello Japan (Ogenki Desuka Nippon Retto)” (between 2003 and 2009) for NHK, and “Together with Mew and Eep (Nyan Chu to Issho)” (between 2003 and 2006) for NHK Educations. Yoshikawa also produced sound tracks for animations such as “OZ” created by Natsumi Ituki and numerous others. “Demon King from Today! (Kyo kara Mao!)” (from 2004 onwards) by NHK Satellite Anime Theatre is broadcast around the world on the Cartoon Network. His productions and music contributions feature artists such as Princess Princess, Agnes Chan, Yuki Saito and others. Yoshikawa has also provided music to a theatrical work by Sophie Marceau, and produced music for overseas stage directors. Since 2010, Yoshikawa has been involved with branding activities for his alma mater, the University of Tsukuba, such as composing and arranging of a message song “IMAGINE THE FUTURE” and giving lectures.
WORKS
Theatrical works
- UNETSU - The Egg Stands out of Curiosity Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1986
- SHIJIMA - The Darkness Calms down in Space Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1988
- OMOTE-The Grazes Surface Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1991
- YURAGI - In a Space of Perpetual Motion Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1993
- HIYOMEKI - Within a Gentle Vibration and Agitation Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1995
- HIBIKI - Resonance from Far Away Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 1998
- KAGEMI - Beyond the Metaphors of MirrorsPremier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 2000
- UTSURI - Virtual Garden Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 2003
- TOKI - A Moment in the Weave Time Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 2005
- KINKAN SHONEN Premier : Nihon Shobo Hall,Japan in 1978 Re-creation: Biwako Hall Center for the performing arts Shiga in 2005
- TOBARI - As If in An Inexhaustible Flux Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 2008
- UTSUSHI– a collage of from previous works 2008
- KARA・MI -Two Flows Premier : Theatre de la veille, Paris in 2010
- UMUSUNA-Memories before History Premier :OPERA DE LYON 2012
- UNE HISTOIRE D'AME Premier :Theatre de Rond Point, Paris 2011
- Solo project Premier : THÉÂTRE DES ABBESSES Paris 2007
TV program music
- 1980~
- NHK “Weekend seminar” 1985
- NHK ” Minna no Uta“ ”Everyone's Songs” opening theme 1985~
- NHK “Minna no Uta” “Raja Maharaja” (song: Jun Togawa)1985
- NHK “Minna no Uta””Poketto no Nakade” (song: Yuki Saito)1986
- NHK “Minna no Uta” ”Shinpu san no Paipu Orugan” (song: Agnes Chan)1986
- NHK “The Miracle Planet” 1987
- 1990~
- NHK ”NEWS 11” ” NEWS 9” 1995~1999
- NHK “High-Vision Album”1995
- 2000~
- NHK “NEWS10” 2001
- NHK “Together with Mew and Eep (Nyan Chu to Issho) 2003~
- NHK “Hello Japan (Ogenki Desuka Nippon Retto)” 2003 ~2009
- NHK Satellite Anime “Demon King from Today! (Kyo kara Mao!)” 2004~2008
- 2010~
- NHK E-Tele Anime “Baby Steps” 2014~
CD・DVD
- 1980
- “Ura Tamahime” Jun Togawa & Yapoos (ALFA)1985
- “Suki Suki Daisuki” Jun Togawa (ALFA)1985
- “Kyokuto Ian Shoka” Jun Togawa UNIT (ALFA)1986
- “UNETSU - The Egg Stands out of Curiosity” Sankai Juku (WAVE)1986
- “ROBINSON’S GARDEN” Sound Track (EMI)1987
- “The Miracle Planet” Sound Track (EMI)1988
- “Yapoos Keikaku” Yapoos (Teichiku)1988
- “A Dreem of AKUAKU” Yoichiro Yoshikawa (EMI) 1988
- “KYPLOS” Yoichiro Yoshikawa (EMI) 1988
- “SHIJIMA - The Darkness Calms down in Space” Sankai Juku (WAVE)1988
- “Daitenshi No Yoni” Yapoos (Teichiku)1988
- “Music for The Miracle Planet” Yoichiro Yoshikawa Solo (EMI) 1989
- 1990
- “Taiyo No Matsuge” Yoichiro Yoshikawa (EMI)1990
- “OMOTE-The Grazes Surface” Sankai Juku (WAVE)1991
- “Daiyaru Y wo Mawase” Yapoos (EMI)1991
- “OZ” (Victor)1992
- “YURAGI - In a Space of Perpetual Motion” Sankai Juku(WAVE)1993
- “I・R・I・A ZEIRAM THE ANIMATION” OVA 1994
- “HIYOMEKI - Within a Gentle Vibration and Agitation” Sankai Juku (WAVE)1995
- “Green Legend RAN” OVA (Pioneer LDC) 1995
- “BASTERD Sound Track” (Victor)1996
- “HIBIKI - Resonance from Far Away” Sankai Juku (WAVE)1998
- “Umino Onritsu music for Tokyo Sea Life Park”1989
- 2000
- “KAGEMI - Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2000
- “UTSURI - Virtual Garden” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2003
- “TOKI - A Moment in the Weave Time” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2005
- “UNETSU DVD” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2006
- “KINKAN SHONEN” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2005
- “TOBARI - As If in An Inexhaustible Flux” Sankai Juku (IO-factory)2008
- “Kyo kara Mao! “Original Sound Track (BMG)2009
- 2010
- “KARA・MI -Two Flows” Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2010
- “UMUSUNA-Memories before History“ Sankai Juku (IO-factory) 2012
- “Baby Steps Original Sound Track” (IO-factory) 2014
Amusement parks, concerts
- 1980
- Tokyo Sea Life Park 1989
- Seto Ohashi Expo Shikoku Museum 1988
- Saitama Expo Theme Pavilion 1988
- Asia Pacific Ocean Expo Saison Museum 1989
- 1990
- Panasonic Information and Communication Systems TDC Bird Hi-Vision Theater 1992
- 48th National Sports Festivall Music director 1992
- Inter-highschool championships Music director 1998
- 2000
- Yoichiro Yoshikawa Solo Concert at Kagawa Prefectural Hall 2000
Book publications
“Opinel and Peacock Day” by Gentosha Literary Publication; a youth graffiti describing with witty touch how Sankai Juku World Tour had started.
Lecture
Gave lecture at 100th Foundation Anniversary Event at Sakaide Elementary School Attached to the Faculty of Education, Kagawa University (2012)
Appearances: Kenji Yamaji (professor emeritus of University of Tokyo), Minako Nakano (former broadcaster of Fuji TV)
Education
Produced and released “Steinberg TEK LAB DVD” (2005) from Steinberg Japan, a textbook DVD for “Cubase” which is a music production software that became the world standard.