Kazuhiko Kato, a singer song writer of postwar generation, seems to have suicided at a hotel in resort place in Japan. Yet the correct information is not coming to us, however, it seems to be so.

Kazuhiko Kato produced some popular songs in the 1960′s and 1970′s. Recently he has not so many hit records. It’s true that he was one of the Japanese popular music vans influenced by 60′s music from England.

Indeed he looks like an exotic artist and remembering his remarks, it’s not a big surprise if he chose a suicide in the end. He was one of the out-of -standard person among the Japanese no matter if it menas good or bad.

Recently famous persons die one by one.  Time never stops.

Well, this ultimate beauty needs no explanation. Its beyond words. Again this music is composed by Joe Hisaishi for the amazingly great movie, Princess Mononoke directed by master director, Hayao Miyazaki.

I have no word for this movie. It’s just a Japanese culture and it’s a complete form of talent realized by the collaboration of Joe Hisaishi and Hayao Miyazaki.

This great movie should be accessed by fair approach as a film, not only from the angle of animation work. This grand story is really an epic. Please experience the music and the movie together. There is no hesitation for recommending this art of human.

This song is very beautiful.  For us, Japanese, this song gives us a compete image of summer.  Such remoriesas playing in the river with friends, catching beetles under the shining sun, and eating watermeron with bottled coke appear just when listening to this music.

Joe Hisaishi is certainly a magician. His music moves us from the deep spot of our mind. It’s not a fashion. It’s a kind of re-experience of our time.  Beautiful time, precious memories, and joy of the nature around us are all written in his melody.

This song, Summer, is a theme song of a Movie by director, Takeshi Kitano.

Takeshi Kitano is also becoming famous in France, UK,  Italy, and in Russia. He is not that famous in the USA.  Many of Kitano’s fans found this music in his movie and they still like it. 

Joe Hisaishi is probably a famous mind among Kitano fans and Hayao Miyazaki movie fans. They recently admit that Joe Hisaishi can work even without their great movies, which means Joe Hisaishi’s music alone is great enough to move them.

In Japan, the first encounter with Joe Hisaishi for average Japanese people was through the movies of such great directors.  Present understanding about Joe Hisaishi among that average Japanese people is that Joe Hisaishi is real genius.  Many expect new movies with Joe’s music, also probably they expect Joe’s music as well as the movies, or sometime more than the movies.

His music give the Japanese fantastic dream, nostalgic dream, and joy of our life.

Joe Hisaishi is getting famous in the world. He is already a kind of national treasure of Japan. Many of us are raised by his music through the movies of Hayao Miyazaki and Takeshi Kitano. I aslo love his music. It’s a godsent talent.

This video is a concert held in Japan some years ago. He plays Howl’s Moving Castle Theme song here. Not only this one but also many others have really touching melody and harmony. If you have never listened to his music, please try. I don’t think you would regret it.

Well, this movie by Hayao Miyazaki is my best fav among the master film maker, Hayao Miyazaki works. He became famous in the USA when Spirited away was released because it took Academy award then. Indeed that’s a real masterpiece and I can’t deny that quality and story line. That’s really beautiful story and wonderous experience in the movie is guaranteed.

However, for me, the best one among Hayao Miyazaki is still Laputa ( Castle in the sky ). Probably this would be the most popular movie for Japanese Miyazaki fans. That was a too pleasant surprise for us to see this film for the first time. We loved the characters in the film, we were simply moved by the pure story of joy and braveness of human. This was directed in 1980′s but not old at all now.

Reasons for this film’s supriority can’t be said enough here. But one reason for that is Joe Hisaishi contributed to the great work through his amazing talent. He composed again the amazingly wonderful songs for this film. Especially the theme song became Japanese national song. It was not single cut record at the movie releasing time. So usually that king of song never become a big hit without being known by people behind the movie. Against that expectation, this song never faded away. Gradually, year by year, people noticed the supre beautiful song in this movie, and finally this song was selected as a song for elementaly school music textbook.

Now by above reason, this song is a kind of national song for Japanese students. Years later, when all these students grow big, this song would become a national song of Japan ?!

Anyway, this song is extremely beautiful and nostalgic. In the movie, when this song is played, we somewhat feel like we don’t want to leave the screen, and we still want to live in the magical world of Miyazaki Film. The Film is really great. Miyzaki is a genius, we think. At the same time, Joe Hisaishi is also a fantastic composer.

It might be a n encounter decided by god for two of them. Miyazaki needed Joe’s talent, and of course, Joe Hisaishi’s music lived in the best form when Joe creates music for Miyazaki films.

When I first listened to this song at the end of the fantastic movie by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, I felt like I was melting into the memory of my childhood.

Spirited Away is an Academy Award wining movie, that’s why this became the most famous anime movie in the USA.  Some American firends asked me about this song.  They say this song lingers on their ears long after seeing the movie.

It’s true for us, too.  This song makes us remember that we certainly enjoyed the movie and we can’t leave the world of Spirited Away for a long time because of this song’s melody in our mind.

Indeed, this is one of the most beautiful songs in Miyazaki movies.