Kenji Kawai
| Kenji Kawai | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 23, 1957 Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Film score Electronic music Instrumental music |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, musician (guitarist), conductor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Associated acts | Mamoru Oshii |
| Website | www.kenjikawai.com |
Kenji Kawai (川井 憲次 Kawai Kenji?, born April 23, 1957 in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese music composer, for motion pictures, anime movies, video games and televised programs. He has contributed to the musical scores for numerous films from Japan and other countries in Asia, working in film genres as diverse as anime, horror, sci-fi and historical epic. Among his credits are Tsui Hark's Seven Swords and Wilson Yip's Ip Man; Mamoru Oshii's films The Red Spectacles, StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, Ghost in the Shell, Mobile Police Patlabor and Avalon; the anime adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½ and Maison Ikkoku; the live-action adaptation of Gantz; and Hideo Nakata's films Ring, Ring 2, Chaos, Dark Water and Kaidan.
Contents
Career
After dropping out of a nuclear engineering program at Tokai University, Kenji Kawai began studying music at Shobi Music Academy. However, he dropped out after half a year. With a few friends, he created the band Muse, playing fusion rock and participating in music competitions. Through competing in such contests, the band members became technically competent to enter the music industry and decided to part ways.
After leaving Muse, Kenji Kawai began composing music for commercials in his home studio. While recording music for radio actor and voice actor Yūji Mitsuya, he met music director Naoko Asari, who advised him to compose anime soundtracks. Some of his work for anime soundtracks can be found in Ranma ½, Ghost in the Shell and in the well-known recent (live action) film Death Note.
Following his success as an anime movies music composer, he became involved in live action movies. He contributed music to horror films: Ring, Ring 2, Dark Water, Japanese-Polish science-fiction film Avalon and the Hong Kong film Seven Swords.
He has worked on several projects with director Mamoru Oshii (both Headgear members) and has written scores for all of the Hideo Nakata's films. The most recent film featuring his music is 2009's Assault Girls by director Oshii. Kenji Kawai's music has received the Annie Award and Hong Kong Film Award. In 2005, for Innocence: Kôkaku kidôtai (Ghost in The Shell 2: Innocence) he was nominated for an Annie Award.
For the music found in Seven Swords and A Battle of Wits he was nominated for Best Original Film Score Awards at both the 25th and 26th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2006 and 2007.
Description of selected albums
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
The original soundtrack for Ghost in the Shell used Japanese choir singing parts of the Min'yō prayer toho kami emi tame and taiko drums. Other tracks are mostly instrumental, peaceful, with the dominance of drums. The CD also included pop song "See You Everyday", sung in Cantonese by Fang Ka Wing.
Avalon
The OST for Avalon featured songs sung only in Polish, telling the story of the mystical land Avalon. Works were performed by the Polish National Philharmonic Orkiestre, Choir of Philharmonic Orkiestre, and solo parts by opera singer pl (Elizabeth Towarnicka). There are a few songs of joyful mood, "Log in" or "Voyage to Avalon" for example, but also traditional instrumental songs with drums and electronic music.
Ghost in the Shell – Innocence
Following on from Ghost in the Shell, the score again makes use of female vocals and percussion, though featuring a different melody. Two songs performed by jazz singer Kimiko Itoh ("Follow me", "River of Crystals") also featured.
Vampire Princess Miyu – TV OST
This CD includes 34 tracks. The opening for TV series Shinma no Kodou uses flutes, a feminine chorus and piano. Solo parts are sung by Hiroko Kasahara ("Aitai"), Miki Nagasawa ("Manmaru Temari Uta" – sings with children) and Saeko Suzuki (ending Miyu Yachiyo with flute and piano). There are many fight scene themes which use fiddles, piano and sometimes drums.
List of works
Years 1985–1990
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Title |
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|---|---|---|
| 1986. | めぞん一刻 (Maison ikkoku, Ikkoku House) |
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| 1987. | 地獄の番犬：赤い目がね (The Red Spectacles,) |
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| 1987. | デビルマン (Devilman – The Birth) |
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| 1988. | 機動警察パトレイバ— (Mobile Police Patlabor) |
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| 1988. | 吸血姫美夕 (Vampire Princess Miyu) |
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| 1989. | 機動警察パトレイバ— (Patlabor: The TV Series) |
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| 1989. | らんま１／２ (Ranma 1/2) |
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| 1989. | 機動警察パトレイバ— 劇場版 (Patlabor: The Movie) |
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| 1989. | 御先祖様万々歳！ (Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai!, Long Long Live the Ancestors!) |
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| 1989. | らんま１／２ 熱闘編 (Ranma 1/2: Nettohen) |
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| 1990. | デビルマン (Devilman – The Demon Bird) |
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| 1990. | プロジェケトA子 (Project A-ko) |
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| 1990. | からくり剣豪伝ムサシロード (Karakuri Kengō Den Musashi Lord, Musashi, the Samurai Lord) |
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| 1990. | サンサーラ・ナーガ (Sansara Naga) |
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| 1990. | ブラッディ・ウァリアーズ シャンゴーの逆襲 (Bloody Warriors: Shangō no Gyakushū) |
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| 1990. | キャッ党 忍伝 てやんでえ (Kyatto Ninden Teyandee, Cat Ninja Legend Teyandee) |
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| 1990. | 麿子 (MAROKO) |
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Years 1991–2000
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Title |
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|---|---|---|
| 1991. | バ—ンナップ (Burn up!) |
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| 1991. | ミカドロイド (Mikadroid: Robokill Beneath Disco Club Layla) |
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| 1991. | らんま 1/2 中国寝崑崙大決戦! 掟やぶりの激闘編!! (Ranma 1/2: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China) |
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| 1991. | 人魚の森 (Mermaid Forest) |
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| 1991. | 地獄の番犬: ケルベロス (StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops) |
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| 1991. | 魔獣戦士ルナ・ヴァルガ— (Demon Warrior Luna Varga) |
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| 1992. | ソーサリアン (Sorcerian) |
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| 1992. | 絶愛 －１９８９－ (Zetsuai 1989) |
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| 1992. | ト—キング・ヘッド (Talking Head) |
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| 1992. | 姫ちゃんのリボン (Hime-chan's Ribbon) |
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| 1993. | らんま1/2 OVA (Ranma ½ OVA) |
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| 1993. | 無責任艦長タイラ— (The Irresponsible Captain Tylor) |
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| 1993. | 機動警察パトレイバ—2 the Movie (Patlabor 2: The Movie) |
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| 1994. | チーム・イノセント (Team Innocent: The Point of No Return) |
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| 1994. | サンサーラ・ナーガ２ (Sansara Naga 2) |
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| 1994. | ブル—シ—ド (Blue Seed) |
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| 1994. | 戦え!! イクサ—1 (Iczer Girl Iczelion) |
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| 1995. | プリンセス ミネルバ (Princess Minerva) |
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| 1995. | 攻殻機動隊 (GITS, Ghost in The Shell) |
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| 1996. | 爆れつハンタ— (Sorcerer Hunters) |
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| 1996. | 赤ちゃんと僕 (Baby and Me) |
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| 1997. | はいぱ—ぽりす (Hyper Police) |
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| 1997. | 吸血姫美夕 (Vampire Princess Miyu) |
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| 1998. | リング (Ring, The Ring) |
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| 1998. | ディープフィアー (Deep Fear) |
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| 1999. | 逮捕しちゃうぞ the MOVIE (You're Under Arrest THE MOVIE) |
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| 1999. | リング2 (Ring 2, The Ring 2) |
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| 1999. | 地球防衛企業ダイ・ガ—ド (Dai-Guard) |
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| 2000. | サディスティック＆マゾヒスティック (Sadistic and Masochistic) |
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| 2000. | ガラスの脳 (Sleeping Bride) |
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| 2000. | カオス (Chaos) |
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Years 2001 – current
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Title |
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| 2001. | ガイスタ—ズ (Geisters – Fractions of Earth) |
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| 2001. | アヴァロン (Avalon) |
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| 2001. | UNLOVED |
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| 2001. | あなたがここにいてほしい (Zaion: I Wish You Were Here) |
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| 2001. | 新白雪姫伝説プリ—ティア (New Snow White's Legend Pretear) |
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| 2001. | 修羅雪姫 (The Princess Blade) |
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| 2002. | 仄暗い水の底から (Dark Water) |
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| 2002. | パトレイバ— WXIII (WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3) |
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| 2002. | Le Samouraï (Samurai, Samuraj) |
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| 2002. | Bloody Mallory |
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| 2003. | 信長の野望Online (Nobunaga's Ambition Online) (Chapter of Hiryu) |
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| 2003. | ガンパレ—ド・マ—チ -新たなる行軍歌 (Gunparade March) |
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| 2004. | 跋扈妖怪传之牙吉 (Kibakichi: Bakko yokaiden) |
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| 2004. | 跋扈妖怪传之牙吉2 (Kibakichi: Bakko yokaiden 2) |
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| 2004. | イノセンス (Ghost in The Shell 2: INNOCENCE) |
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| 2004. | ウルトラマンネクサス (Ultraman Nexus) |
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| 2004. | 風人物語 (Windy Tales, Fūjin Monogatari) |
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| 2005. | スタ—シップ・オペレ—タ—ズ (Starship Operators) |
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| 2005. | MAKOTO |
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| 2005. | めざめの方舟 (Open Your Mind) |
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| 2005. | Namgeuk-ilgi (Antarctic Journal) |
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| 2005. | 七劍(Qī Jian, Seven Swords) |
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| 2005. | 輪廻 (Rinne, Reincarnation) |
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| 2005. | 奇谈 (Kidan) |
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| 2006. | フェイト/ステイナイト (Fate/Stay Night) |
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| 2006. | 立喰師列伝 – Tachiguishi-Retsuden (Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters) – music and actor |
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| 2006. | デスノ—ト (Death Note) |
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| 2006. | 야수 (Running Wild) |
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| 2006. | 龍虎門 (Dragon Tiger Gate) |
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| 2006. | Trapped Ashes |
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| 2006. | Death Note: The Last Name |
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| 2006. | 墨攻(Mo Gōng, A Battle of Wits) |
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| 2006. | ひぐらしのなく頃に (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) |
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| 2007. | 怪谈 (Kaidan) |
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| 2007. | 精霊の守り人 (Seirei no Moribito) |
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| 2007. | ひぐらしのなく頃に解 (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai) |
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| 2007. | Mobile Suit Gundam 00 |
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| 2007. | FolksSoul -失われた伝承- (FolksSoul) |
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| 2007~2010. | 三國志Online (Sangokushi Online) |
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| 2008. | The Sky Crawlers |
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| 2008. | 葉問 Ip Man |
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| 2009. | Eden of the East |
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| 2009. | アサルトガールズ (Assault Girls) |
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| 2009. | Apocalypse: The Second World War |
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| 2009. | Samayou Yaiba |
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| 2010. | 劇場版フェイト/ステイナイト Unlimited Blade Works (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works) |
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| 2010. | 葉問2 Ip Man 2 |
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| 2010. | 劇場版機動戦士ガンダム00（ダブルオー）-A Wakening of the Trailblazer- (Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer) |
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| 2010. | インシテミル 7日間のデス・ゲーム (The Incite Mill: A Death Game in 7 Days) |
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| 2011. | GANTZ (Gantz) |
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| 2011. | GANTZ: Perfect Answer (GANTZ: Perfect Answer) |
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| 2011. | ラビット・ホラー３Ｄ (Tormented) |
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| 2011. | トワノクオン (Towa no Quon) |
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| 2011. | 武装中学生 バスケットアーミー (Busou Chuugakusei Basket Army) |
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| 2012. | 009 RE:CYBORG (009 Re:Cyborg) |
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| 2012. | 非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー (Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger) |
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| 2014. | ばらかもん (Barakamon) |
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| 2014. | ワールドトリガー (World Trigger) |
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| 2014. | すべてがFになる (The Perfect Insider) |
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| 2014. | Garm Wars: The Last Druid |
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| 2015. | 花燃ゆ (Hana Moyu) |
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| 2015. | すべてがFになる (Subete ga F ni Naru) |
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| 2015. | 葉問3 Ip Man 3 |
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| 2016. | ジョーカー・ゲーム (Joker Game) |
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See also
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. |
- Official site of Kenji Kawai (Japanese)
- Kenji Kawai at the Internet Movie Database
- Use mdy dates from December 2014
- Articles with hCards
- Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Interlanguage link template link number
- Articles with Japanese-language external links
- 1957 births
- Anime composers
- Japanese film score composers
- Japanese male composers
- Japanese composers
- Living people
- People from Shinagawa
- Video game composers
