Composer
Joe Hisaishi
Born 6 December 1950 · Nagano, Japan
Joe Hisaishi (born Mamoru Fujisawa) is a Japanese composer, conductor and pianist with over 100 film scores to his name. He is best known for his long partnership with Hayao Miyazaki, scoring nearly all of the director's features, and for his work with Takeshi Kitano. His music helped define the sound of Japanese animation.
Key films
Warriors of the Wind (1984)
Began his long creative partnership with Hayao Miyazaki.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Its warm, playful score became one of animation's most beloved.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
A sweeping orchestral score for Miyazaki's epic, showing his dramatic range.
Spirited Away (2001)
Scored Miyazaki's biggest international success, which brought his music to a global audience.
Sonatine (1993)
A key live-action collaboration with director Takeshi Kitano, contrasting with his animation work.
Key awards
No major awards from the listed international bodies are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 104
- 1982The Wizard of OzComposer
- 1982Two Down Full BaseComposer
- 1984Warriors of the WindComposer
- 1984W's TragedyComposer
- 1984BirthComposer
- 1985Early Spring StoryComposer
- 1986Castle in the SkyComposer
- 1986ArionComposer
- 1986Maison Ikkoku - Apartment FantasyComposer
- 1986Atami Murder CaseComposer
- 1987Robot CarnivalComposer
- 1987The Drifting ClassroomComposer
- 1987Lover's TimeComposer
- 1987This Story of LoveComposer
- 1988My Neighbor TotoroComposer
- 1988Those Swell YakuzaComposer
- 1989Kiki's Delivery ServiceComposer
- 1989Venus WarsComposer
- 1990Network BabyComposer
- 1991A Scene at the SeaComposer
- 1991Chizuko's Younger SisterComposer
- 1991Fukuzawa YukichiComposer
- 1992Porco RossoComposer
- 1992The Rocking HorsemenComposer
- 1993SonatineComposer
- 1993Haruka, NostalgiaComposer
- 1993Samurai KidsComposer
- 1994Turning PointComposer
- 1996Kids ReturnComposer
- 1997Princess MononokeComposer
- 1997FireworksComposer
- 1997Parasite EveComposer
- 1998Diary of Early Winter ShowerComposer
- 1999KikujiroComposer
- 2000BrotherComposer
- 2000First LoveComposer
- 2000Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano · as SelfActor
- 2001Spirited AwayComposer
- 2001Tom ThumbComposer
- 2001The Nippon Television Special of Spirited Away · as SelfActor
- 2001QuartetDirector
- 2001QuartetComposer
- 2002DollsComposer
- 2002Mei and the KittenbusComposer
- 2002Imaginary Flying MachinesComposer
- 2002"The Ornithopter Story: Fly, Hiyodori Tengu!"Composer
- 2002The Invention of Imaginary Machines of DestructionComposer
- 2003When the Last Sword Is DrawnComposer
- 2004Howl's Moving CastleComposer
- 2005Welcome to DongmakgolComposer
- 2005YamatoComposer
- 2005A Chinese Tall StoryComposer
- 2005Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery · as Self - IntervieweeActor
- 2005A Wish to the Moon: Joe Hisaishi & 9 Cellos 2003 Etude & Encore Tour · as SelfActor
- 2007The Sun Also RisesComposer
- 2007The Postmodern Life of My AuntComposer
- 2007A Tale of Mari and Three PuppiesComposer
- 2008PonyoComposer
- 2008DeparturesComposer
- 200825th Anniversary Studio Ghibli Concert · as Self - ConductorActor
- 2008Sunny and the ElephantComposer
- 2008I Want to Be a ShellfishComposer
- 2008NEWS ZERO Spinoff: "Ponyo on the Cliff" Close-Up! Five Genius Craftmen · as SelfActor
- 2009A Tale of Ululu's Wonderful ForestComposer
- 2009Joe Hisaishi in Budokan - Making of the Concert: The Big ScreenActor
- 2010Let the Bullets FlyComposer
- 2010Ocean HeavenComposer
- 2010VillainComposer
- 2010Mr. Dough and the Egg PrincessComposer
- 2010Inside Ghibli's Creation: 400 Days of Clash Between Hayao Miyazaki and The New Director · as SelfActor
- 2011Rest on Your ShoulderComposer
- 2012Casting Blossoms to the SkyComposer
- 2012Tenchi: The Samurai AstronomerComposer
- 2013The Wind RisesComposer
- 2013The Tale of The Princess KaguyaComposer
- 2013The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness · as SelfActor
- 2013Tokyo FamilyComposer
- 2013Miracle ApplesComposer
- 2014The Little HouseComposer
- 2014Snow on The BladesComposer
- 2014Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya · as SelfActor
- 2016What a Wonderful Family!Composer
- 2017Our Time Will ComeComposer
- 2017What a Wonderful Family! 2Composer
- 2017Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki · as SelfActor
- 2017Flower and SwordComposer
- 2018What a Wonderful Family! 3Composer
- 2018Till the End of the WorldComposer
- 2018Boro the CaterpillarComposer
- 2018Deep Ocean: Descent into the Mariana TrenchComposer
- 2018Extreme der Tiefsee - AbyssesComposer
- 2019Children of the SeaComposer
- 2019NiNoKuniComposer
- 2019The Songs of Studio Ghibli · as SelfActor
- 2021A Summer TripComposer
- 2021コンサート2021 in ザ・シンフォニーホールActor
- 2022Hisaishi Symphonique · as Self - ConductorActor
- 2023The Boy and the HeronComposer
- 2023Spirited Away: Live on StageComposer
- 2024Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron · as SelfActor
- 2024Silent LoveComposer
- 2024Zahia Ziouani & Mourad Merzouki : Les Nouveaux MondesComposer
- 2025A Big Bold Beautiful JourneyComposer
- 2025SummerComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.