Recent Activities

I am working on my second book. This time, I will write about American "non-experimental" classical music. I discussed with my publisher, Stylenote, about possible composers I would deal with. Currently, I choose the following: Leroy Anderson, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Ferde Grofe, Charles Ives, Gian Carlo Menotti, and William Schuman. I may add a few more composers.

The most difficult composer to write about should be Grofe, as academic research has not yet been progressed much so far for this composer (I do own a copy of MA thesis on Grofe), and because of the complexity of genre problem surrounding this composer, namely: (1) How can I define jazz, dance music, semiclassical music, and serious music? (2) How I can place Grofe in this context?

My publisher told me that my first book, A Comprehensive Survey of Disney Film Music, have been sold 1,100 copies. This actually is the first Japanese publication on the Disney film music.

If you are interested in this book--sorry it is written in Japanese--you can buy your copy at Amazon.co.jp. Take a look at the link below. Thanks!!

Anime "Zipang" OST

A soundtrack for Japanese anime "Zipang" by Toshihiko Sahashi. The anime is a military drama based on the manga of Kaiji Kawaguchi, known for his Silent Service.

The style of most cues is symphonic, occasionally incorporating drums and synthesizer in the style of Mancina/Zimmer. Long cues are especially exciting and well-constructed. However, I do not like his uses of koto sound and pentatonic scale for the Imperial Japanese Army cues, because it sounds too stereotypically oriental.

Nevertheless, if you like this TV anime series, you may enjoy this CD too.