Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi (born December 6, 1950, in Nakano, Japan) has composed dozens of film scores and is best known for his collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Hisaishi scored the music for films, including Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo (2008) and The Boy and the Heron (2023). His ability to blend lush orchestral arrangements with emotional melodies has earned him accolades and fans worldwide. He has released numerous solo albums, showcasing his work as a composer and pianist. He has won multiple awards, including Japan Academy Prizes for best music. His real name is Mamoru Fujisawa, but he adopted the stage name Joe Hisaishi as a nod to American jazz musician Quincy Jones, whose music greatly influenced him.