Joe Hisaishi
Japanese composer, conductor and pianist behind the music of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, with a growing catalogue of symphonies and concert works.
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Latest
Joe’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- The Boy and the Heron2023 · Score composer
Studio Ghibli - Howl’s Moving Castle2004 · Score composer
Studio Ghibli - Spirited Away2001 · Score composer
Studio Ghibli - Princess Mononoke1997 · Score composer
Studio Ghibli - My Neighbor Totoro1988 · Score composer
Studio Ghibli - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind1984 · Score composer
Topcraft
Overview
- Born
- December 6, 1950 · Nakano, Nagano, Japan
- Birth name
- Mamoru Fujisawa
- Work
- Composer, conductor and pianist
- Early releases
- MKWAJU (1981), Information (1982)
- Breakout collaboration
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), with Hayao Miyazaki
Mini bio
How it started.
Born Mamoru Fujisawa in Nagano, he began violin lessons at four and later studied composition at Kunitachi College of Music. Minimal music shaped his early work; MKWAJU in 1981 and Information in 1982 launched his solo recording career.
Music fans grew up with.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind began his collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki in 1984. His scores for My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle became part of that shared film world. His other film work includes Departures and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
From screen to concert hall.
His concert life includes original symphonies, concertos and the MUSIC FUTURE contemporary music series, launched in 2014. In April 2025 he became Music Director of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra. He continues to make recordings and bring his own music to orchestras around the world.
Creditschronological, newest first
Film scores
- 2023The Boy and the HeronComposer
- 2004Howl’s Moving CastleComposer
- 2001Spirited AwayComposer
- 1997Princess MononokeComposer
- 1988My Neighbor TotoroComposer
- 1984Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindComposer
Recordings
- 2026Symphonic Suite The Boy and the Heron for piano and orchestraComposer, conductor and piano soloist
- 2026Symphony No. 3 (Metaphysica) & Harp ConcertoComposer and conductor
- 2025Joe Hisaishi ConductsConductor; composer of The End of the World
Awards
Quotes
I am very excited about this new phase across so many facets of my career.Joe Hisaishi, Universal Music recording announcement
He said this in September 2026 while announcing an expanded recording partnership with Deutsche Grammophon.
Trivia
- He started learning violin at four, before becoming known as a pianist and composer.
- He founded Future Orchestra Classics in 2019.
- His daughter Mai wrote the lyrics for D.e.a.d in The End of the World.
Find Joe
Follow his music, recordings and concert updates through his official channels.
Are you Joe Hisaishi?
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