Keiji Yamagishi
{{short description|Japanese video game music composer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Keiji Yamagishi
| native_name = 山岸 継司
| native_name_lang = jpn
| image =
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| genre = Video game music
| occupation = Composer, arranger
| years_active = 1987–present
| instrument =
| label = Brave Wave Productions
}}
{{Nihongo|Keiji Yamagishi|山岸 継司|Yamagishi Keiji}} is a Japanese video game music composer. He is known for his work on Tecmo's late 1980s and early 1990s NES titles, such as Ninja Gaiden. Yamagishi has been considered a pioneer of chiptune music, producing the soundtracks of numerous titles in the 8 bit era.
Career
Yamagishi's first musical experiences came from a band he joined in high school; when applying to Tecmo in 1987 he had no intention of becoming a professional composer. When his experience with music was raised during the job interview, he accepted the role. In addition to composition, he worked on sound programming and sound effects, spending six months learning the programming side after taking the job.{{cite web|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/keiji-yamagishi-on-his-past-and-future-in-game-music|title=Keiji Yamagishi on His Past and Future in Game Music|website=USgamer.net|date=19 January 2016|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073024/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/keiji-yamagishi-on-his-past-and-future-in-game-music|url-status=dead}}
Yamagishi's first title with Tecmo was Tsuppari Ozumo, and he would go on to work on critically acclaimed title Ninja Gaiden the following year.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/music/interview-keiji-yamagishi|title=Interview: Keiji Yamagishi|date=5 April 2016 |publisher=}} He composed for numerous NES titles over his tenure with Tecmo, concluding in the early 90s with the release of the Super NES. Yamagishi has referred to Radia Senki: Reimeihen (1991) as his greatest NES composition.
Yamagisihi stopped working on games as they began to move away from the chiptune style, stating that he felt his music was "no longer needed". His last title of the era was Onimusha Tactics on the Game Boy Advance in 2003. He instead began working on ringtones for phones.{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/this-pioneer-video-game-music-composer-finally-made-a-c-1684324445|title=The Man Behind Iconic Video Game Music Finally Made a Chiptunes Record|first=Mario|last=Aguilar|date=9 February 2015 |publisher=}}
In 2013, Yamagishi joined the record label Brave Wave Productions, which specialises in the music of chiptune pioneers. Brave Wave would go on to support the release of his debut solo album Retro-Active Pt. 1, with many other artists from the label such as Stemage and Manami Matsumae collaborating on the project. In 2014 he returned to writing original video game soundtracks, working on several retro and indie titles such as Exile's End.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/a/life-in-japan/Exiles-End|title=First look: Exile's End - Life in Japan — An 18-part look inside Japan's game industry|website=Polygon.com}}
Style and influences
Yamagishi has described his music as having a "comical, Japanese style", and has cited several influences such as Prince and The Beach Boys.
Works
- Tsuppari Ozumo (1987)
- Tecmo Bowl (1987)
- Ninja Gaiden (1988){{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/01/29/keiji-yamagishi-ninja-gaiden-interview/|title=Interview: Ninja Gaiden composer Keiji Yamagishi|date=29 January 2016|publisher=}}
- Bad News Baseball (1989)
- Captain Tsubasa Vol. II: Super Striker (1990)
- Radia Senki: Reimeihen (1991)
- Tecmo Super Bowl (1991){{cite web|url=http://koopa.tv/a-conversation-with-keiji-yamagishi/|title=A Conversation with Keiji Yamagishi - Koopa Soundworks|website=koopa.tv|access-date=2018-01-10|archive-date=2018-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111054329/http://koopa.tv/a-conversation-with-keiji-yamagishi/|url-status=dead}}
- Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (1992){{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
- Onimusha Tactics (2003){{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/5/10872504/keiji-yamagishi-interview-retro-active-pt-2-tecmo-bowl|title=Ninja Gaiden composer Keiji Yamagishi on the enduring appeal of chiptunes|date=5 February 2016 |publisher=}}
- Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom (2014){{cite tweet|number=517362864143601665|user=MoreYamasan|title=Finally, I can announce. I worked on the ADVENTURE TIME game for @WayForward, with @strotchy, @chipzel, @Monomirror. |accessdate=9 October 2014|date=1 October 2014}}
- Exile's End (2015)
- The Messenger (2018, bonus tracks only){{cite tweet|number=1037177505243791360|user=MoreYamasan|title=to NES Ninja Gaiden FansThe MessengerNinja Gaiden spirit is alive. Bonus Tracks (by me)… |date=5 September 2018}}
- Streets of Rage 4 (2020, with many others){{cite web |last1=Hussain |first1=Tamoor |title=Streets Of Rage 4's Soundtrack Has Four Legendary Artists Including Yuzo Koshiro |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/streets-of-rage-4s-soundtrack-has-four-legendary-a/1100-6468474/ |website=GameSpot |accessdate=July 17, 2019 |date=July 17, 2019}}
- Oppaidius Desert Island! (2021, with many others){{cite tweet|number=1278015816647221253|user=vittoriogiorgi|title=ONLY 2 HOURS LEFT! This gorgeous Angela was made by @JoelJurion 💜❤️Oppaidius Desert Island! is an adult visual nov… |date=30 June 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/streets-of-rage-4-composer-drops-new-track-for-an-indie-adult-game/ |title=Streets Of Rage 4 Composer Drops New Track (And It's For An Indie Adult Game) |website=www.thegamer.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520132905/https://www.thegamer.com/streets-of-rage-4-composer-drops-new-track-for-an-indie-adult-game/ |archive-date=2021-05-20}}
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (2024, with many others){{cite web | title=TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Radical Reptiles DLC Trailer | website=GameSpot | date=September 23, 2024 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/tmnt-shredders-revenge-radical-reptiles-dlc-trailer/2300-6465179/ | access-date=September 23, 2024}}
=Solo discography=
- In Flux (2014, with many others){{cite web|url=http://store.bravewave.net/album/in-flux|title=In Flux, by Brave Wave Productions|website=Brave Wave Productions}}
- Retro-Active Pt. 1 (2015){{cite web|url=http://store.bravewave.net/album/retro-active-pt-1|title=Retro-Active Pt. 1, by Keiji Yamagishi|website=Brave Wave Productions}}
- Retro-Active Pt. 2 (2016){{cite web|url=http://store.bravewave.net/album/retro-active-pt-2|title=Retro-Active Pt. 2, by Keiji Yamagishi|website=Brave Wave Productions}}
- The Retro-Active Experience (2019){{cite web | url=https://store.bravewave.net/album/the-retro-active-experience | title=The Retro-Active Experience, by Keiji Yamagishi }}
=Guest appearances=
- Brave Wave Productions – World 1–2 (2017){{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/proof-that-theres-no-such-thing-as-too-many-video-game-493143630|title=Proof That There's No Such Thing As Too Many Video Game Composers|first=Kirk|last=Hamilton|website=Kotaku.com|date=6 May 2013 |accessdate=2 January 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|MoreYamasan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamagishi, Keiji}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Japanese male composers