As though the death of Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito weren’t enough, another figure in the annals of anime and video game history has passed on. Noted composer Koichi Sugiyama has died, at the age of 90, as revealed in an obituary posted by Square Enix’s Dragon Quest team earlier today. According to the statement, he passed away last September 30th, from septic shock. A quiet funeral and farewell ceremony were attended by close relatives, though it’s also mentioned that a public event is being scheduled for a later date.
Born in Tokyo in 1931, Sugiyama had been active in pursuing music for so long that he garnered the Guinness World Record for the oldest active video game composer in 2017. While he’s known for composing the score of every Dragon Quest title since the very first one in 1986, which itself was also revolutionary for its use of Wagnerian opera and classical flair, his portfolio goes much further than that. In his long career, he’s had a hand in crafting the soundtracks behind works as varied as Return of Ultraman (1971), Cyborg 009 (1979-80), Space Runaway Ideon (1980-81), and E.V.O.: Search for Eden (1992). As a songwriter, he’s responsible for hits like Koi no Fuga (“Fugue of love”) by The Peanuts and Gakuseigai no Kissaten (“Cafe on student street”) by folk-rock band Garo. He’s also made a name for himself as a conductor, bringing his melodies to life with orchestral flair through several concerts both in Japan and abroad.
I was shocked to see the breaking news. I never thought that would happen. I've listened to Cosmos with You that he composed so many times lately… which is the most beautiful song out of my favorites. I can't believe it… May he rest in peace, Koichi Sugiyama先生.
— Yuzo Koshiro (@yuzokoshiro) October 7, 2021
初めて購入したゲームミュージックCDが「ドラゴンクエストII」(1987)でした。何度も何度も聴きました。
偉大なる音楽家すぎやまこういち先生のご冥福をお祈りすると共に、先生が果たされたゲーム業界への多大なる貢献にあらためて感謝申し上げます。
Kouichi Sugiyama, Giant of game music, R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/1AFrq7z6ro
— 松野泰己 (@YasumiMatsuno) October 7, 2021
According to Kyodo News, Dragon Ball creator and Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama expressed his condolences, remarking how he was truly honored to have worked with Sugiyama, and that he thought of the 90-year old “as a wizard with eternal life.” He’s certainly left an indelible impact on fans, developers, and artists alike. Indeed, his work was notably featured in the opening ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Moreover, it’s known that he was able to finish work on the score for Dragon Quest XII (2021) shortly before his death, with over 500 tracks now under his belt.
This isn’t to ignore the controversies surrounding Sugiyama which involve his personal views regarding World War II and the LGBQ+ community. Though he came to change some of those sentiments in his final years, it may have come too late. Such blemishes, however, don’t discredit the immense work that he’s done. For better or worse, he’s left behind a lasting legacy that’s bound to inspire future generations in Japan and beyond.
