Bios & promo — benchmark artistes

Joe Hisaishi, a composer, conductor and pianist, has established himself as a formidable force in contemporary music for his delicately crafted symphonic and solo works, as well as his globally successful film music. Hisaishi is greatly in demand as a conductor performing with the most notable symphony orchestras across the globe. With nearly 40 solo albums and over 100 film scores to his name, he is one of the most celebrated composers of our time. Hisaishi's recent symphonic engagements have seen him conducting the Toronto and Chicago Symphony orchestras, Royal, Helsinki, and Rotterdam Philharmonic orchestras and Wiener Symphoniker. Alongside his film music works, he conducts classical repertoire from the likes of, Ravel, Reich, Mussorgsky, Brahms and Pärt, and his own symphonic compositions such as DA•MA•SHI•E and The East Land Symphony. Hisaishi also had a successful week-long residency with Seattle Symphony Orchestra where he led three sold-out concerts, as well as curating and conducting a chamber concert dedicated to contemporary music from his peers and a panel discussion with young audience members. After a successful debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023, Hisaishi returned to Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of his Harp Concerto, commissioned by the orchestra and performed by their own harpist, Emmanuel Ceysson. In 2025, Hisaishi made debut performances with Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and at the BBC Proms with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where his work The End of the World was programmed with Steve Reich's Desert Music. Further ahead in the 25/26 season, Hisaishi returns to Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto Symphony orchestras, and will premiere his new work Concerto for Orchestra with various high-level orchestras across the globe including National Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Renowned for his long-standing collaboration with Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki, Hisaishi has won international awards for his scores. His popular soundtracks for Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo amongst others, capture his sensitive and imaginative amalgamation of the symphonic, and minimalist genres. Many of these iconic works have been brought to huge live audiences in his recent sold-out performances in Madison Square Garden, New York, La Defense in Paris, Olympic Hall in Munich and Tokyo Dome over 3 concerts, each with a 40,000-person audience. Autumn 2024 saw a two-day residency at Royal Albert Hall in London for his "Hisaishi Symphonic" live shows which included Princess Mononoke Suite and his Symphony No.2, as well as Britten's Four Sea Interludes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. A Deutsche Grammophon exclusive artist, Hisaishi has released the titles Merry-Go-Round of Life and A Symphonic Celebration, both of which are new arrangements that bring a fresh excitement to his Studio Ghibli masterpieces. Joe Hisaishi in Vienna features the world premiere recordings of two of his compositions – Symphony No.2 and Viola Saga with Wiener Symphoniker and soloist Antoine Tamestit – and his most recent recording Joe Hisaishi Conducts, released in August 2025, includes the music of Reich alongside his The End of the World, a work that explores the "anxiety and chaos" resulting from the collapse of global order and values in the aftermath of 9/11. As a passionate pioneer of contemporary music, Hisaishi collaborates with similarly experimental artists including Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, Nadia Sirota, Phillip Glass, David Lang and Terry Reilly. Since 2014, he has been presenting his eponymous "MUSIC FUTURE" concerts in Tokyo, bringing together the works and talents of these notable collaborators. Volume 12 of the series enjoyed an airing in Tokyo in autumn 2025 and he has also previously travelled with the series to Carnegie Hall in New York in 2022 and Seattle in 2024. He holds Young Composer's Competition every year to inspire and empower young composers, and the winning composition makes its world premiere at his MUSIC FUTURE concerts. Hisaishi is the recipient of both the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, received in 2009, and The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in 2023 by the government of Japan. Hisaishi is the Music Director with Japan Century Symphony Orchestra from the 2025/26 season. Hisaishi was also appointed as Composer-in-Association of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2024, Composer-in-Residence of Philadelphia Orchestra in October 2025, and Composer-in-Focus of Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2026.

Joe Hisaishi began his career as a contemporary music composer and started to show his interest in minimal music when he graduated from Kunitachi College of Music. His career as a solo artist began with the presentation of MKWAJU in 1981 and the release of his first album, Information, in 1982. Since his debut, Hisaishi has released nearly 40 solo albums. The first CD, A Symphonic Celebration, released by Deutsche Grammophon (June 2023), hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts. Hisaishi has produced the music for 11 films by director Hayao Miyazaki, including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, and continues to tour the music worldwide through his production Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki. His body of film work encompasses over 80 Japanese and foreign films. His works have won many awards, including the Annie Award, Hong Kong Film Award, Asian Film Award, and several Japan Academy Film Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Music. In 2001, he made his debut as a film director with Quartet, for which he also wrote the music. The film was officially invited to the World Competition section of the Montreal World Film Festival. Hisaishi is also a skilled performer, having been a solo pianist and an orchestra conductor. He was the first Japanese musician to conduct at the Cannes International Film Festival, performing Buster Keaton's The General. In July 2004, he assumed the post of first music director of the newly created World Dream Orchestra (W.D.O.) of the New Japan Philharmonic. Starting in September 2014, he worked as a producer and conductor for the "Joe Hisaishi presents MUSIC FUTURE" concerts, which earned him enormous popularity, resulting in a live album. In July 2019, he led a concert series called "Future Orchestra Classics" and released a Beethoven Complete Symphonies box set that was awarded the Special Prize in the 57th Record Academy Awards in Japan. Hisaishi has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Philip Glass, David Lang, and Mischa Maisky, and orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Hisaishi is an Invited Professor at Kunitachi College of Music. In 2009, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the government of Japan. From 2016 to 2018, he served as Artistic Director of Nagano City Arts Center. He has been Composer in Residence and Music Partner with the New Japan Philharmonic since September 2020 and Principal Guest Conductor with the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra since April 2021. He was appointed Composer-in-Association of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2024 and is the Music Director designate of Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, starting April 2025.

Joe Hisaishi, a composer, conductor and pianist, has established himself as a formidable force in contemporary music, for his delicately crafted symphonic and solo works, as well as his globally successful film music. Hisaishi is greatly in demand as a conductor performing with the most notable symphony orchestras across the globe. With nearly 40 solo albums and over 100 film scores to his name, he is one of the most celebrated composers of our time. Renowned for his long-standing collaboration with Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli films, Hisaishi has won international awards for his scores. His popular soundtracks for Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo amongst others, capture his sensitive and imaginative amalgamation of the symphonic, jazz, electronic and minimalist genres. Many of these iconic works have been brought to huge live audiences in his recent sold-out performances in Madison Square Garden, New York over 3 nights, La Defense in Paris and Olympic Hall in Munich. Autumn 2024 sees a two-day residency at Royal Albert Hall in London where he brings "Hisaishi Symphonic" live shows which includes Princess Mononoke Suite, his Symphony No. 2, as well as Britten's Four Sea Interludes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Hisaishi's recent engagements have included the Toronto and Chicago symphony orchestras; the Royal, Helsinki, and Rotterdam philharmonic orchestras; and the Vienna Symphony. Alongside his film music works, he conducts classical repertoire by Ravel, Reich, Mussorgsky, Brahms, and Arvo Pärt, as well as his own works, such as DA-MA-SHI-E and The East Land Symphony. Hisaishi also held a weeklong residency with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra in 2024. After his Hollywood Bowl debut in 2023, Hisaishi returned to the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of his Harp Concerto, commissioned by the orchestra and performed by its principal harp Emmanuel Ceysson. Hisaishi made debuts with the Cleveland Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this season and with the Philadelphia Orchestra and at the BBC Proms with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra last season. Additional appearances include returns to the Philadelphia and Toronto symphony orchestras and premieres of his new work, Concerto for Orchestra, with various partners globally. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, Hisaishi has released Merry-Go-Round of Life and A Symphonic Celebration, both new arrangements of his Studio Ghibli masterpieces. Joe Hisaishi in Vienna features the world premiere recordings of his Symphony no. 2 and Viola Saga with the Vienna Symphony and soloist Antoine Tamestit, and Joe Hisaishi Conducts, released in August 2025, is his most recent. As a passionate pioneer of contemporary music, Hisaishi collaborates with similarly experimental artists including Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, Nadia Sirota, Philip Glass, David Lang, and Terry Riley. Since 2014, he has presented his MUSIC FUTURE concerts in Tokyo, bringing together the works and talents of these notable collaborators. Volume 12 of the series was presented in Tokyo in the fall of 2025. He holds a Young Composer's Competition each year, and the winning composition makes its world premiere at MUSIC FUTURE concerts. Joe Hisaishi is the recipient of both the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (2009) and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (2023) from the Japanese government. Hisaishi is music director of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra from the 2025–26 season and was appointed composer-in-associate of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2024. Other posts include composer-in-residence of the Philadelphia Orchestra, composer-in-focus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2026), and composer-in-association of the Philharmonie de Paris (from September 2026).

Joe Hisaishi- Composer, Conductor, Pianist He started to show his interest in minimal music when he was a student at Kunitachi College of Music, and started his career as a contemporary music composer. Presentation of MKWAJU in 1981 and the release of his first album Information in the following year was the kickoff of his career as a solo artist. Since his debut, he has released nearly 40 solo albums, including MinimalRhythm (2009), Melodyphony (2010) and the latest solo album MinimalRhythm 4 (2021). In February 2020, he global released a collection album entitled Dream Songs: The Essential Joe Hisaishi and Songs of Hope: The Essential Joe Hisaishi Vol. 2 on Decca Gold. The first CD Symphonic Celebration released from Deutsche Grammophon (June 2023) hit the first prize on US Billboard Classical Albums & Classical Crossover Albums Chart twice. Starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Hisaishi has produced music for Hayao Miyazaki films, including My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and The Boy and the Heron (2023). He also composed the music for HANA-BI (1998) directed by Takeshi Kitano, Departures (2008) directed by Yojiro Takita, Villain (2010) directed by Sang-il Lee, The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) directed by Isao Takahata, What A Wonderful Familly! series (2016/2017/2018) directed by Yoji Yamada. He has collaborated on the music production of over 80 films at home and abroad. His works have won many awards including several Outstanding Achievement in Music prizes of Japan Academy Film Prize, Spirited Away (won the Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature Production at the 30th Annie Awards), Korean film Welcome to Dongmakgol (won the Best Original Film Music Award of the 4th Korean Film Award) and Chinese film The Postmodern Life of My Aunt (won the Best Original Film Score of the 27th Hong Kong Film Award), Our Time Will Come (won the Best Original Music of the 12th Asian Film Award). In 2001, he made his debut as a film director with Quartet, taking charge of the theme music and co-writing the script. The film was officially invited for the World Competition section of the Montreal World Film Festival. In May 2004 at Cannes International Film Festival, Hisaishi became the first Japanese musician who conducted an orchestra, performing The General (representative work of Buster Keaton) at the film concert. In July 2004, he assumed a post of first music director of New Japan Philharmonic "World Dream Orchestra (W.D.O.)", newly formed orchestra project by New Japan Philharmonic. In September 2014, he has been working as a producer and conductor, and holding contemporary music concerts called "JOE HISAISHI presents MUSIC FUTURE", which concert series earned him enormous popularity and records as a live album. Since 2017, he also starts to present world tour "Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki" (visiting Paris, Melbourne, San Jose, Los Angeles, New York, Prague, etc.). In July 2019, he also started leading a concert series "Future Orchestra Classics (FOC)" and released Beethoven: Complete Symphonies that was given "Special Prize" from 57th Record Academy Award Japan 2019. In recently years, he works as a classical music conductor and also composed new works in a contemporary music style, including Contrabass Concerto (2015), The East Land Symphony (Symphony No. 1) (2016), Asian Symphony (2017), The Border Concerto for 3 Horns and Orchestra (2020), Symphony No. 2 (2021), Metaphysica (Symphony No. 3)(2021) and Viola Saga (2022). Hisaishi has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Philip Glass, David Lang, Mischa Maisky, and orchestra such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra among others. Hisaishi serves as an Invited Professor at Kunitachi College of Music. In 2009, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon and The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2023 by the government of Japan. In 2016-2018 seasons, he assumed the Artistic Director of Nagano City Arts Center. He holds two positions, as Music Partner with New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra which started in September 2020, and as Principal Guest Conductor with Japan Century Orchestra, which started in April 2021. Joe Hisaishi was appointed as Composer-in-Association of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2024, and is the Music Director designated with Japan Century Symphony Orchestra starting from April 2025. Joe Hisaishi is a Steinway Artist.