Koichi Sugiyama, composer for Square Enix‘ prolific Dragon Quest JRPG series, has passed away, aged 90.
Square Enix announced (translation: DeepL), his passing was due to septic shock. Sugiyama’s works include 500 songs across the Dragon Quest series, and will also include music in the upcoming Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate.
His funeral will be held with family and close relatives, who have asked for no condolences, offerings, incense, or flowers. Square Enix will host a “farewell party” with fans at a later date.
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, and character designer Akira Toriyama shared their thoughts.
“I am very sorry to hear the news of Mr. Sugiyama’s sudden death. I have been working on Dragon Quest for 35 years, and Mr. Sugiyama has always breathed life into the world with his music. He has written many wonderful songs for us. [Dragon Quest] will continue to be accompanied by his music. I’m sure that you will continue to live on in the hearts of the users. Thank you very much, Mr. Sugiyama.”
Yuji Horii
“I was surprised to hear the news of Mr. Sugiyama’s death. From the impression I had when I met him just a few years ago, I thought of him as a wizard with eternal life, in a good sense. My image of Dragon Quest was that of a wizard with eternal life. It is no exaggeration to say that the image of Dragon Quest was created by Mr. Sugiyama, who loved the game from that time. I was truly honored to have worked with him for so long! From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best.”
Akira Toriyama
Born April 11th, 1931, Sugiyama began writing music as early as high school, and graduated from the University of Tokyo with full honors in 1958. While he worked as a director for Fuji Television, but left in 1965 to focus on composing.
Flaxen Haired Maiden, Flower Necklace, Fugue of Love, Cafe in Student Street, and more of his music was heard across commercials, animation, film, and more. The fanfare and march played at the start of the Nakayama Race Track in Tokyo was also written by him.
While his first video game music would be World Golf (1985), he would compose a classical-inspired soundtrack for Dragon Quest (1986). His works were also one of the first to be recorded with a live orchestra; thanks to the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s work on the Dragon Quest I Symphonic Suite CD.
You can find his awards and honors below.
- 30th Japan Record Award for Special Project for Symphony Suite Dragon Quest III (1988)
- 3rd Gold Disc Award in the planning category for Dragon Quest III (1989)
- Guinness World Record for the World’s Oldest Composer of Game Music
- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette at the Autumn Conferment of Decoration (2018)
- The JASRAC Award “Silver Prize” (2020).
- Selected as a Person of Cultural Merit (2020)
The Dragon Quest series is a cultural cornerstone of Japan. The games were so popular it lead to the rumor that a law had been passed banning the games from selling on a weekday to prevent people calling in sick to work or school. Nonetheless the games have launched on a Saturday, barring Dragon Quest X.
The series’ popularity is no doubt titanic, as the Dragon Quest theme (also known as Lotto’s theme) was played during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It was played with other video game music as the athletes from various nations walked out. Specifically it could be heard as Greece walked into the stadium (the first team), and Japan (the last team).
The Dragon Quest website also lists several live music performances; with upcoming ones including the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra hosting a concert of “Dragon Quest I, II, III” on November 7th. No doubt will it have a far deeper meaning now. Musicians had also previously given a special performance to celebrate Sugiyama’s 90th birthday May this year.
