Japanese Composer Joe Hisaishi Signs with Deutsche Grammophon

Hisaishi is well known for writing the soundtracks for many Studio Ghibli films

Composer Joe Hisaishi, who is beloved by a wide range of audiences for his work on the music of the Studio Ghibli films, has signed with Deutsche Grammophon. The deal will make his music the subject of several new recordings — including a series of symphonic arrangements of his scores for films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Hisaishi has written more than 100 film scores and appeared on more than 30 studio albums. Alongside his film work, he maintains a flourishing career as a composer of contemporary concert works — including TRI-AD for large orchestra, The Border, a concerto for three horns and orchestra, and, most recently, Viola Saga.

"I love the fact that Deutsche Grammophon pays special attention to both creativity and sound quality," Joe Hisaishi said. "Working with its team of dedicated professionals to conjure new symphonic worlds for classical music-lovers will be a joy."

"Our work with Joe Hisaishi, an artist with a brilliant career spanning over 40 years and multiple award-winning recordings, has always been a source of pride," said Naoshi Fujikura, the President and CEO of Universal Music Japan. "We are truly proud to work with our friends at Deutsche Grammophon to bring his captivating scores to an even wider audience worldwide."

"Joe Hisaishi’s compositions are a fresh and genuinely original approach to symphonic music that is still rooted in the classical tradition," said Dr. Clemens Trautmann‚ the President of Deutsche Grammophon. "He reaches millions through his scores for the screen and attracts capacity audiences to all the major concert halls around the world."