Nobuyoshi Sano

In elementary school, Sano listened to Yellow Magic Orchestra and played Space Invaders, gaining interest in both video games and music. Prior to joining Namco, he had no inclination towards composing video game music,{{cite web|last1=Chris|first1=Greening|title=Nobuyoshi Sano Interview: Musical and Technical Innovator|date=August 11, 2014|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/nobuyoshisanointerview|publisher=Video Game Music Online|access-date=26 November 2021}} although he did write music with various synths as a hobby.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2012 |title=The Man Behind iYM2151 |url=http://m.matrixsynth.com/2012/05/man-behind-iym2151.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617225044/http://m.matrixsynth.com/2012/05/man-behind-iym2151.html |archive-date=June 17, 2012 |website=MATRIXSYNTH}} The first synth he bought was a Korg MS-10, while he borrowed other synths from friends as he could not afford those.{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2009 |title=ゲームミュージック＆アニメ専門店 |url=http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_2_1.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130072437/http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_2_1.php |archive-date=November 30, 2009 |website=ga-core}} During his time at university, he studied telecommunication engineering.{{cite web | author=Davies, Paul | date=August 15, 2001 | title=PlayStation News: Tekken 3 musicians choose Big Beat - ComputerAndVideoGames.com | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c2/CVG_UK_Freeplay_27.pdf | work=ComputerandVideoGames.com | access-date=2021-10-16}}

After graduating from university in 1992, Sano found two jobs for Korg and Namco. As he felt that the atmosphere of Korg's workplace was stoic and unwelcoming, he settled with a position as a sound designer at Namco. Sano's first project was Zombie Castle, which he created the sound effects for. The following year, he composed the score of Numan Athletics, taking inspiration from techno. Sano also scored "Rare Hero" for Ridge Racer, a series he has composed additional music for since. During his early years at the company, he worked closely with senior composer Shinji Hosoe on several game projects, along with Ayako Saso, Takayuki Aihara and junior composer Hiroto Sasaki. He contributed several tracks to albums on Hosoe's Troubadour Record label and was also a member of his groups, Oriental Magnetic Yellow (OMY) and Manikyua-Dan. OMY was a group parodying Yellow Magic Orchestra, where he was named Ryuichi Sanomoto, parodying Ryuichi Sakamoto.{{Cite web |url=http://troubador.panic.or.jp/omy/top.html |title=OMY |website=Troubadour Record}}

Following the departure of Hosoe along with co-workers Saso and Aihara who all joined Arika, Sano composed for Tekken 3 in 1996 with Keiichi Okabe. Serving as the sound director, he took a big beat approach to the music with a slower tempo than the music found in previous games, as this genre had not previously been utilized in games. Game director Katsuhiro Harada initially did not understand the big beat direction, but Sano was able to convince him that it would work well in the series.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2017 |title=Extended Play: How Tekken 3 made everybody love kung-fu fighting |url=https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/06/08/extended-play-how-tekken-3-made-everybody-love-kung-fu-fighting/ |website=PlayStation Blog}} During development, a tester criticized the music and wanted the music to sound closer to Virtua Fighter; this angered Sano, although the report was dismissed.{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2009 |title=ゲームミュージック＆アニメ専門店 ga-core - ジーエー・コア - |url=http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_3_2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826165346/http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_3_2.php |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |language=ja}} Both Sano and Okabe later worked on the PS1 version along with other colleagues, as well as both the arcade and PS2 versions of Tekken Tag Tournament. In 2000, Sano composed two tracks for Ridge Racer V, whose soundtrack was directed by Kohta Takahashi, who selected "cutting edge" artists and composers to contribute to the soundtrack, including colleague Yuu Miyake and German trance musician Mijk van Dijk.{{cite web |last=Greening |first=Chris |date=June 15, 2011 |title=Kohta Takahashi Interview: Cutting-Edge Namco Scores |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/kohtatakahashiinterview/ |website=WGMO}} At the time it had been 5 years since he last worked on a game in the series, and he did not expect to have ever become involved again.{{Cite web |last=Sano |first=Nobuyoshi |title=RIDGE RACER V 開発者リレーエッセイ/第７回：サウンドチーム【２】 |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/list/ridgeracer-v/essay/page07-01.html |website=Bandai Namco Entertainment}} His final in-house work at Namco was sound design for the unreleased game Starblade: Operation Blue Planet.

In 2001, Sano left Namco citing unhappiness with its recent developments, and subsequently joined Cavia as a sound director. With Takayuki Aihara, Sano composed Drakengard, which released in 2003. Their goal was to create an experimental soundtrack that reflected the hack-and-slash gameplay and dark atmosphere, as well as the narrative theme of "madness." The music was composed through sampling various shortened pieces of classical music, and was then performed by a full orchestra.{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/liners/drakengard.shtml|title=Drag-on Dragoon Original Soundtrack :: Liner Notes Translated by Ben Schweitzer|last1=Ben|first1=Schweitzer|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222144620/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/liners/drakengard.shtml|archive-date=2014-02-22|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Ishida |first=Katsuo |date=November 10, 2003 |title=「ドラッグ オン ドラグーン」 サウンドクリエイター インタビュー |url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20031110/dod.htm |website=GAME Watch |language=ja}} Sano and Aihara also sought to emulate the music of Northern Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/22/drakengard-interview?page=1|title=Drakengard Interview| access-date=26 November 2021|last1=Dunham|first1=Jeremy|date=May 22, 2003 |publisher=IGN}} The soundtrack received a mixed reception from users, many of whom harshly criticized it for being repetitive and grating.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2008 |title=GameSetInterview: Korg DS Trio Talk App Creation, EXTRA Concert |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/12/gamesetinterview_korg_ds_t.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215011540/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/12/gamesetinterview_korg_ds_t.php |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=November 26, 2021 |website=GameSetWatch}} He detailed experiences of reading large volumes of negative comments surrounding the music on 2ch on a daily basis, which was much more than he had initially anticipated. However, it has also been praised for its unconventional approach, especially years after the game was released. As a result of the initial reception, his role in Drakengard 2 was limited to sound direction.{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2009 |title=ゲームミュージック＆アニメ専門店 ga-core - ジーエー・コア - |url=http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_4_1.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630034623/http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp006_4_1.php |archive-date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |language=ja}}

In addition to Drakengard, Sano composed the soundtrack of Resident Evil: Dead Aim, using a synth-heavy score inspired by Goblin. For 2004's Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Sano took inspiration from drum and bass to match the game’s sense of speed. In 2006, Sano released a compilation album titled sanodg works, featuring a selection of tracks he considers to be his best. While the album was originally planned to include his work on the Ridge Racer and Tekken series, legal issues prevented their inclusion.{{Cite web |last=Sano |first=Nobuyoshi |date=2006 |title="sanodg works" |url=http://www1.ttcn.ne.jp/~sanodg/sanodgworks.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101015102/http://www1.ttcn.ne.jp/~sanodg/sanodgworks.htm |archive-date=November 1, 2006 |website=sanodg}} The same year, he produced a collaborative album with the company Melody Clip, titled FM Sound Module Maniax, featuring tracks from various video game composers written with FM synthesis, such as fellow ex-Namco composers Hosoe and Okabe, and famed composers Yoko Shimomura and Yuzo Koshiro. Ringtone versions were also distributed on Melody Clip free of charge.{{Cite magazine |title=Melody Clip♪ |url=http://www.famitsu.net/mobile/melomelo/sp/fm.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820183639/http://www.famitsu.net/mobile/melomelo/sp/fm.html |archive-date=August 20, 2006 |magazine=Famitsu}} Some composers chose not to exclusively utilize FM synths for their compositions, feeling that it was difficult to compose entirely with them.{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2006 |title=いまの時代だからこそFM音源がイイ――そして超大型野外ゲームフェスを企む佐野電磁氏の野望 |url=https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0603/27/news055.html |website=ITmedia}} He also served as the music supervisor for Bullet Witch; he requested then-SuperSweep composer Masashi Yano to participate due to his expertise with Hollywood-inspired orchestral scores. Yano and Sano were originally going to collaborate on the score, with Yano composing orchestral parts and Sano handling breakbeat and bass. After Sano combined their parts together, it resulted in a hybrid of orchestral and techno; he was dissatisfied with the results and left Yano to compose the entire score alone.{{cite web|url=http://www.aqi.co.jp/product/bulletwitch/blog/2006/06/index.html|script-title=ja:Bullet Witch / Staff Blog / 2006年6月|language=Japanese|publisher=Bullet Witch Official Blog|access-date=2017-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528115040/http://www.aqi.co.jp/product/bulletwitch/blog/2006/06/index.html|archive-date=2007-05-28|url-status=dead}}

Sano designed and produced KORG DS-10 for Nintendo DS.{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081109-the-nintendo-ds-is-your-instrument-the-korg-ds-10.html|title=The Nintendo DS is your instrument: the Korg DS-10|date=November 9, 2008|publisher=Ars Technica|access-date=August 4, 2010}} He formed a trio of the same name consisting of himself, Yasunori Mitsuda and Michio Okamiya in order to promote the program.{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/09/hyper-game-musi/?intcid=postnav|title=Game Music Superstars Plan Tokyo Concert|date=September 8, 2008|work=Wired.com|access-date=August 4, 2010}} The three had spoken about their interest in creating a synthesizer for the DS; Korg approved of this idea. He intended it to be used for any genre the user desired to create music in, rather than a particular genre like chiptune or techno.{{Cite web |last=Mielke |first=James |date=July 25, 2008 |title=Korg DS-10 Developer Interview |url=http://www.1up.com/previews/korg-ds-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622070747/http://www.1up.com/previews/korg-ds-10 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |website=1Up.com}} He also chose to model the synth on the Korg MS-10 as he bought this synth during his teenage years, and also felt that the DS vaguely resembled the synth.{{Cite web |last=North |first=Dale |date=November 14, 2008 |title=Destructoid interview: KORG DS-10 producer Nobuyoshi Sano |url=http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-interview-korg-ds-10-producer-nobuyoshi-sano-111453.phtml |website=Destructoid}}{{Cite web |last=Maekawa |first=Makoto |language=ja |date=October 6, 2010 |title=シンセな恋の物語 |url=https://rooftop.cc/interview/101006151800.php |website=Rooftop}}

Following Cavia's disbandment, Sano established Detune, a music software production company in May 6, 2010.{{cite web|title=株式会社DETUNE|url=https://www.detune.co.jp/|language=ja|access-date=26 November 2021}} Detune developed a follow-up to KORG DS-10 titled KORG M01, intended as a DS version of the Korg M1 synth.{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Interview: KORG M01D Creator Nobuyoshi Sano Talks About Making Sweet Music On The 3DS eShop |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/11/interview_korg_m01d_creator_nobuyoshi_sano_talks_about_making_sweet_music_on_the_3ds_eshop |website=Nintendo Life}} In 2012, Detune released iYM2151, a music program for the iPad based on the Yamaha YM2151 sound chip.{{cite web |title=『【ナムコ世代必見】iPadに降臨した、FM音源の皇帝「iYM2151」|url=https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/696/696369/|publisher=ASCII|language=ja|accessdate=26 November 2021}} In the same year, Sano composed "Algorithm" for the game Orgarythm using iYM2151.{{cite web |title=『orgarhythm(オルガリズム)』でDETUNE佐野電磁氏とのコラボ楽曲が配信開始|date=December 20, 2012 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201212/20026317.html|publisher=Famitsu|language=ja|accessdate=26 November 2021}} The following year, a Nintendo 3DS eShop version of KORG M01 was released worldwide, titled KORG M01D. In 2014, he released a compilation album titled sanodg's arcade game music works, which features the soundtracks of four arcade games he worked on during his time at Namco.{{Cite web |last=Greening |first=Chris |date=April 12, 2014 |title=Nobuyoshi Sano prepares three new album releases |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/nobuyoshi-sano-prepares-three-new-album-releases/ |website=Video Game Music Online}} During 2016 to 2017 he created a series of EDM-styled albums with Hiroyoshi Kato, the first of which was titled EDM IS GAME.{{Cite web |last=Greening |first=Chris |date=April 24, 2016 |title=Nobuyoshi Sano and Hiroyoshi Kato to team up for new EDM album |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/nobuyoshi-sano-and-hiroyoshi-kato-to-team-up-for-new-edm-album/ |website=Video Game Music Online}}

He will score the upcoming mobile FMV game Clive is a Good Guy, developed by British game studio Indolent Games. Upon seeing images of the game he described it as having a "very artistic feeling" compared to Japanese mobile games, and is particularly pleased to work on the game.{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Legendary games composer Nobuyoshi Sano boards Mobile FMV Game Clive is a Good Guy |url=https://www.einpresswire.com/article/644336914/legendary-games-composer-nobuyoshi-sano-boards-mobile-fmv-game-clive-is-a-good-guy |website=EIN Presswire}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Ridge Racer}}

{{Tekken series}}

{{Drakengard}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sano, Nobuyoshi}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Japanese composers

Category:Japanese male composers

Category:Japanese record producers

Category:Japanese techno musicians

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Shizuoka Prefecture

Category:Japanese video game composers