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Keiichi Okabe

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Keiichi Okabe
岡部 啓一
Born (1969-05-26) May 26, 1969 (age 55)
Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan
Other namesBKO
Alma materKobe Design University
Occupations
  • Composer
  • arranger
  • musician
  • singer
Years active1994–present
EmployerNamco (1994–2001)
OrganizationMonaca
Musical career
Genres

Keiichi Okabe (岡部 啓一, Okabe Keiichi, born May 26, 1969) is a Japanese composer and arranger, best known for composing music for the Tekken and Drakengard series. He started his career at Namco in 1994, where he primarily composed for arcade games. Outside of video games, he has composed for anime series such as Working!! and Yuki Yuna is a Hero, along with arranging tracks for J-pop artists. He established the music production studio Monaca in 2004, which composes for various types of media.

Biography

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Okabe started taking electric organ lessons as a child, covering contemporary pop and film music. Although he did not learn from teachers, he would develop his musical skills through joining a band and recording music. He has cited Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone, and Ryuichi Sakamoto as being some of his musical influences.[1] After graduating from Kobe Design University,[2] he joined Namco in 1994, with his first work being a handful of tracks for medal game Spiral Fall. He would also work on titles such as Air Combat 22, along with some arrangements for the PS1 version of Tekken 2. This would lead to him scoring Tekken 3 along with fellow Namco composer Nobuyoshi Sano. Both composers chose to make big beat music for the game as it both fitted the atmosphere of the game and had not been done in video games before.[3] During the game's production, he became ill.[4] He and Sano would also work on Tekken Tag Tournament with other composers in 1999.

In the later years of his employment at Namco, he did a handful of freelance composing and remixing gigs, such as composing background music for commercials and other video productions, as well as remixing pop songs with Junichi Soma.[5] He left Namco in 2001 to become a fully independent freelancer; while he feels that the game industry served as an outlet for him to create music, he wanted more freedom to work on non-game projects. In addition to further work on game projects and remixes, he also composed and arranged a number of songs for various artists, such as Ryuichi Kawamura. However, being freelance resulted in him losing a lot of social trust, such as being unable to change residence or sign up for a credit card. These struggles resulted in him founding music production studio Monaca in 2004, three years later.[6] Although it originally consisted of just Okabe, he would later be joined by ex-Namco composers such as Satoru Kōsaki, who also wanted to work on non-game projects.[7] To this day, the studio frequently compose for both video games and anime, as well as other types of media such as live action films.

In 2010, he served as the lead composer for Nier, being assisted by fellow Monaca composers Kakeru Ishihama and Keigo Hoashi, along with Cavia composer and sound director Takafumi Nishimura. To fit with the game's story, he composed a soundtrack that he describes as "mysterious, delicate, and ephemeral".[8] The team were given creative freedom, while working under Yoko Taro's direction, who attended the same university as Okabe and was a 3D graphics designer at Namco.[9][10] The composers worked with English-Japanese singer Emi Evans, who wrote and sung the lyrics present in the game's songs.[11] As Taro wanted the game's musical direction to be well represented in the game, the team participated in the project as early as the planning stages, leading to Okabe composing three songs. Various musical directions were also explored later in the game's development.[12]

Okabe, Ishihama and Hoashi would go on to compose for its 2017 sequel Nier: Automata, while being joined by Kuniyuki Takahashi. Its music was acclaimed; it won the award for "Best Score/Music" at The Game Awards 2017,[13] and was a runner-up for "Best Original Music" at IGN's Best of 2017 Awards.[14]

In 2019, he composed for battle royale game Cyber Hunter with fellow Monaca composer Ryuichi Takada, both working with violinist Yu Manabe.[15]

Works

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Video games

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  Soundtrack composer   Other credits only (e.g. performances, insert songs)

Year Title Notes
1994 Spiral Fall Music with Hiroto Sasaki and Takanori Otsuka
Ridge Racer PS1 version; music with Yuri Misumi
1995 Dangerous Bar Music
Air Combat 22 Music with Kazuhiro Nakamura and Hiroyuki Kawada
1996 Ace Driver: Victory Lap Music with Hiroyuki Kawada and Yuri Misumi
Alpine Surfer Music ("Blizzard")
Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 Music ("Area 4 BGM - Mountains")
Tekken 2 PS1 version; arrangements with various others
Dancing Eyes Music ("Space Alien Stage" and "Space Alien Motion")
Aqua Jet Music
1997 Tekken 3 Arcade version; music with Nobuyoshi Sano
Xevious 3D/G+ PS1 version; music ("Area 2" and "Boss 2")
Downhill Bikers Music with Hiroto Sasaki[16]
1998 Tekken 3 PS1 version; music with various others
Jumping Groove Music with various others
1999 Tekken Tag Tournament Arcade version; music with various others
2000 PS2 version; music with various others
2001 Taiko no Tatsujin Music ("Love You ☆ Don Chan")
2002 Alpine Racer 3 Music with various others
Cancelled 3P Memories Music ("Samenai Yume")
2003 Glass Rose Cutscene music
2004 Xenosaga Freaks Music with various others
Espgaluda PlayStation 2 version; arrangements with various others
Taiko no Tatsujin: Atsumare! Matsuri da!! Yondaime Music with various others
2005 Tekken 5 PS2 version; cutscene music with various others
Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles Cutscene music
Heavy Metal Thunder Cutscene music
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Music with various others
2006 Rappelz Music with various others
Fantasy Earth Zero Sound effects
BelleIsle Music
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth Arrangement ("Take a Flight -ver.LENNETH-"); cutscene sound effects
Tekken: Dark Resurrection Cutscene music with Satoru Kōsaki
2007 Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions Sound effects
Mizuiro Blood Music with Yuri Misumi
Taiko no Tatsujin 10 Music ("Angel Dream")
Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2 Western version; music (opening theme)
Axebusters Music ("Theme of Axebusters")
Beautiful Katamari Music ("Boyfriend a Gogo")
Tekken 6 Arcade version; music with various others
The Promise of Haruhi Suzumiya Sound production assistance
2008 Taiko no Tatsujin 11 Arrangement ("Kare Kano Kanon")
Secret Game -KILLER QUEEN- Arrangement ("Secret Game")
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume Cutscene sound effects
Taiko no Tatsujin 12 Music ("Fantasy of the Wind")
2009 Taiko no Tatsujin 12 Do-n! And Extra Edition Music ("Yuga Onoki")
Katamari Forever Cutscene music with various others
Tekken 6 Console versions; music with various others
Sekirei ~Gifts from the Future~ Music ("Yakusoku I'm With You")
2010 Walk it Out! Music ("KURU KURU ABEBA!" and "Muteki Onnanoko")
Nier Music with Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, and Takafumi Nishimura
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes Music direction
2011 Ridge Racer 3D Music ("Rolling Glider")
Taiko no Tatsujin: Portable DX Music ("Pastel Dream")
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Arcade version; music with various others
Lord of Apocalypse Music with Keigo Hoashi
2012 Taiko no Tatsujin: Katsu-Don Music ("Chiri Yuku Ran no Tsudzuru Uta")
Demons' Score Music ("The Overture of Battle")
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes 2 Music direction
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Console versions; music with various others
2013 Drakengard 3 Music with various others
2014 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Arrangements[a]
2015 Tekken 7 Arcade version; music ("Arctic Snowfall")
Yoiyo Mori no Hime Music ("Nemuru Mori no Hate")
School of Ragnarok
WindSoul
maimai Music ("Ribabu")
2017 Nier: Automata Music with Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Kakeru Ishihama
Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus Music (main theme)
SINoALICE Music with Keigo Hoashi and Shotaro Seo
Terra Battle: Mechatura Monogatari Music with various others
Aikatsu! Photo on Stage!! Music ("Chocolat Show Time")
2018 Fate/Extella Link Music with Ryuichi Takada, Keigo Hoashi, and Syotarou Seo
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Arrangements[b]
Soulcalibur VI Music ("City Ruins – Soul")
2019 The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage Music ("Tani no Soko de Saku Hana wa")[17]
Cyber Hunter Music with Ryuichi Takada
The Seven Deadly Sins: Battle of Light and Darkness Music
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Music (YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse contents)[18]
2020 The Wonderful 101: Remastered Arrangements with various others
2021 Nier Reincarnation[19] Music
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Arrangements with various others
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars Music with Oliver Good and Shotaro Seo[20]
2022 Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden
Soul Hackers 2 Music with various others
Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden Music direction[21]
2023 Towa Tsugai Music with Shotaro Seo[22]
2024 Foamstars Music direction

Anime

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  Soundtrack composer   Other credits only (e.g. performances, insert songs)

Year Title Notes
2000 Yuki Terai: Secrets Mirror episode; music
2002 Whistle! Opening theme "Double Wind" (with Junichi Soma)
2006 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Arrangement ("Yuuutsu no Yuuutsu")
2008 Sekirei Music ("Kimi wo Omou Toki")
2009 Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai Music with various others
Tenjōbito to Akutobito Saigo no Tatakai
Bakemonogatari Music production
2010 Working!! Music with Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, and Satoru Kōsaki
Sekirei: Pure Engagement Music with Hiroaki Sano and Satoru Kōsaki
Highschool of the Dead Ending theme ("Memories of days gone by"); music production
Cat Shit One: The Animated Series Music production
Star Driver Music with various others
2011 Wandering Son Music with Satoru Kōsaki and Keigo Hoashi
Working'!! Insert song ("Itsumo no you ni LOVE&PEACE!!")
2012 Nisemonogatari Music production
Nyaruko: Crawling with Love Insert song ("Striver of Black Steel")
Aikatsu! Music with various others
Nekomonogatari Music production
2013 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Servant x Service Insert song ("Hachimitsu Jikan")
Aikatsu! (2nd season) Music with various others
2014 Nisekoi
Wake Up, Girls! Insert song ("Kotonoha Aoba")
Nanana's Buried Treasure Music with various others
Captain Earth
Dai-Shogun – Great Revolution Opening theme ("Tamashii Rises")
Yuki Yuna is a Hero Music with Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Kakeru Ishihama
Garo: The Carved Seal of Flames Music with various others
Aikatsu! (3rd season)
2015 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO! Music production
Ultimate Otaku Teacher Insert song ("Meido no Hinkaku")
Working!!! Music with various others
Garo: Crimson Moon Music with various others
Concrete Revolutio
2016 Anne Happy
Aikatsu Stars! Insert song ("Heart ga Ski♡p")
Garo: Divine Flame Music with Ryuichi Takada, Hiroshi Kitadani, and Tomohiro Nakatsuchi
2017 Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shou Insert song ("Shizuku no Kanmuri")
Anime-Gatari Music with Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Takahiro Furukawa
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: Washio Sumi Chapter Music with Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Syotarou Seo
2019 Assassins Pride Music with Keigo Hoashi, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Hidekazu Tanaka
2020 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax Music production
2021 Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter Music with Keigo Hoashi and Kuniyuki Takahashi[23]
2022 Summer Time Rendering Music with Ryuichi Takada and Keigo Hoashi[24]
2023 Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Music with Keigo Hoashi and Kuniyuki Takahashi

Other

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Year Title Notes
2002 Kowloon de Aimashou Arrangement ("Sugar Lady") with Ryuichi Kawamura
Ningen Shikkaku / Ryuichi Kawamura Arrangements with Ryuichi Kawamura
2005 Happiness / Maki Ohguro Arrangement ("Kouishou")
2013 Mayonaka no Panya-san Music with Keigo Hoashi
2014 Kakumeiteki Broadway Shugisha Doumei / Sumire Uesaka Music ("Aishū Fake Honeymoon")[25]
2015 Kagaku Adventure Nishinoshima e ~ Engineer-Tachi no Atsuki Chousen Opening and ending themes
2018 Usuzumizakura -Garo- Music
Braverthday / Nobuhiko Okamoto Music ("Tobu Tame ni")[26]
2020 Garden / Saori Hayami Arrangement ("Glimmer") with Saori Hayami[27]
2022 Chimudondon Music with Ryuichi Takada and Keigo Hoashi[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Dark World / Dark World Dungeon", "Ashley's Song (JP) Ver. 2"
  2. ^ "Ground Theme – Super Mario Bros. 2", "Flash Man Stage", and "Aerith's Theme"
  1. ^ "Keiichi Okabe Interview: Drakengard 3, NieR, and More". RPGFan. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  2. ^ "MONACA | 有限会社モナカ". monaca.jp. 15 December 2022.
  3. ^ Davies, Paul (August 15, 2001). "PlayStation News: Tekken 3 musicians choose Big Beat - ComputerAndVideoGames.com" (PDF). ComputerandVideoGames.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  4. ^ "ゲームミュージック＆アニメ専門店 ga-core - ジーエー・コア -" (in Japanese). June 17, 2009. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Okabe, Keiichi. "bko-work". BKO2 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 23, 2003.
  6. ^ "#4 フリーランスの頃は大変だった！？会社設立のきっかけとは【岡部啓一】【SEM TALK】". YouTube. November 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "アニメに欠かせないサウンドを手掛けるMONACAに聞く、気鋭のサウンドクリエイター集団の過去から現在まで【MONACAインタビュー前編】". WebNewtype. April 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Okabe, Keiichi (March 7, 2018). "One Year Later, Composer Keiichi Okabe Looks Back at Nier:Automata".
  9. ^ Prell, Sam (April 12, 2018). "Ever heard of a "wet" soundtrack? Nier: Automata's composer says it helped set the game apart". GamesRadar+.
  10. ^ "Interview with Composer Keiichi Okabe". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2021-10-16. (registration required)
  11. ^ Napolitano, Jayson (2010-05-04). "Deep into NieR: Interview With Vocalist and Lyricist Emi Evans". Original Sound Version. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  12. ^ "#2 ヨコオタロウさんとの関係性は？【岡部啓一】【SEM TALK】". YouTube. November 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Makuch, Eddie (December 8, 2017). "The Game Awards 2017 Winners Headlined By Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Game Of The Year". GameSpot.
  14. ^ "Best of 2017 Awards: Best Original Music". IGN. December 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "Battle royale game <Cyber Hunter> Soft Launch in Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines begins today!". Cyber Hunter – An Open-World Battle Royale Game. March 22, 2019.
  16. ^ Keiichi Okabe [@MONACA_okabe] (December 31, 2021). "わー、激懐かしいですね！ この曲は多分さまんさん @hiroto_sasaki ですね。" (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER 052-054 白菊ほたる・森久保乃々・佐藤心. Nippon Columbia (in Japanese). Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  18. ^ Plec, Adam (September 30, 2021). "A closer look into Final Fantasy XIV's Yorha: Dark Apocalypse content". PlayStation.Blog. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  19. ^ 『ニーア』10周年＆新作発表！ ヨコオ氏など4人のキーパーソンにインタビュー. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). 2020-05-22. Archived from the original on 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  20. ^ Capel, Chris (6 February 2022). "Nier creator's Voice of Cards is getting a sequel – and it's out this month". PCGamesN. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  21. ^ Romano, Sal (September 1, 2022). "Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden announced for PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (October 24, 2022). "Square Enix announces "couple raising battle fantasy RPG" Towa Tsugai for iOS, Android". Gematsu. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  23. ^ "3rd Yuki Yuna Is a Hero TV Anime Unveils Returning Cast, October Premiere". Anime News Network. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "Suspense Anime Summer Time Rendering Reveals Promo Video, Staff". Anime News Network. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  25. ^ 革命的ブロードウェイ主義者同盟. King Records (in Japanese). Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  26. ^ "Braverthday【豪華盤】" (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  27. ^ "GARDEN : Saori Hayami". Hmv (in Japanese). Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  28. ^ @MONACA_jp (January 14, 2022). 【告知】 2022年度前期 連続テレビ小説 『ちむどんどん』 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
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