Shinji Miyazaki

Shinji Miyazaki (宮崎 慎二, Miyazaki Shinji, born October 7, 1956) is a Japanese composer and arranger. He was born in Kobe, and lived in a variety of areas on the island of Shikoku for much of his childhood. He developed a taste for pop music, which eventually led him to study musical arrangement and piano instruction at the Shobi College of Music. He took some time in deciding that music would become his career, but eventually decided to become an arranger, and later a composer.

Shinji Miyazaki
Born (1956-10-07) October 7, 1956
Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
GenresAnime music, Film Score
Occupation(s)Anime composer, arranger
InstrumentsPiano
LabelsImagine Music

His work has dealt primarily with musical scores for anime. His most well known contributions include music for the Crayon Shin-chan series and music for much of the Pokémon anime series and most of the films in it from 1997 to 2019. His work pulls from many inspirations, among them J-Pop and American pop influences, as well as jazz artist Gil Evans. Many of his compositions utilize string and brass instruments, particularly the french horn.

Life

Miyazaki was born in Kobe, but moved to the Kamiukena District as a small child.[1] Around the age of 12, he moved to Matsuyama, Ehime.[1] His interest in music began as a child. Both of his parents worked, and often left him with a neighbor during the day. The neighbor's older child listened to pop music on his shortwave radio; Miyazaki would listen as with him, particularly to programs like Billboard.[1]

Education

Miyazaki received no formal music training until the age of 20, when he entered the Shobi College of Music to study musical composition with a minor in piano education.[1] In order to pass the university entrance exam, he spent a year teaching himself the material.[1] He spent two years studying for the entrance exams required to attend a true university, but never entered one.[1]

Career

Miyazaki first entertained the thought of making a profession in the music industry after realizing how much the songs he heard on the radio inspired him. When he first became involved with composing works for anime, he worked primarily as an arranger.[1]

Miyazaki admits to not playing the piano well, even though composing on it is his job.[1]

Style and methods

When asked to compose a new piece of music, Miyazaki uses a number of methods, and often works from flashes of inspiration.[1] When deadlines approach and he still has not composed a song, he tries to distract himself by looking at something he finds beautiful or unusual.[1]

He draws much of his inspiration from the songs he heard on the radio growing up, and particularly the compositions of Tōru Takemitsu.[1] He listens to the enka and kayōkyoku genres, as well as classical music, jazz, and more general American-style pop music.[1] When he relaxes, he listens to African-American music from the 1960s and 1970s.[1] Other inspirations include Gil Evans and John Williams.[1]

Awards

The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers have given Miyazaki the International Award for his song "Pocketmonster BGM", which was cited as having received a large amount of foreign royalty distribution.[2]

Works

Music composition

Theme song arrangement

References
  1. Robbins, Sean (30 May 2009). "Exclusive Interview". The J-Pop Exchange. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  2. "Regular Press Conference 2002". Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  3. Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 431. ISBN 0-8108-6004-X.
  4. In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, this is the first series to have Yuki Hayashi as a background music instead of Shinji Miyazaki.
  5. Willis, John; Barry Monush. "Pokémon 4Ever". Screen World. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation. 54 (2003): 322. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  6. "Pokémon - Film 6 : Jirachi le génie des vœux". Animebase (in French). Animeland. 17 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  7. "Pokémon - Le Maître des Mirages". Animebase (in French). Animeland. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  8. "Pokemon - Film 13" (in French). 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
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