Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi (久石 譲) was born on December 6, 1950 in Nagano, Japan. He began his career as a composer while still a student at the Kunitachi College of Music. At that time, he was into minimalist music, but also influenced by Japanese electronic pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra. He released his first album, Information in 1982.

In 1983 Hishaishi was recommended by a record company to compose the Image Album for Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, which was being made into a movie. Animator, filmmaker and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki was so impressed with the album that he often played it during the movie's production phase.  Subsequently Hisaishi has composed for numerous other Miyazaki Studio Ghibli anime films where his music plays a very important role.