Takahito Eguchi :: Biography

Note: This biography was written exclusively for Square Enix Music Online by Chris. The act of using it without advance written permission is regarded as a copyright infringement. It was last updated on June 19, 2007.

Takahito Eguchi, born in August 28, 1974, is most famous for being Noriko Matsueda's composing partner on The Bouncer and Final Fantasy X-2. Having a deep-rooted musical background, he became interested in music the age of six when he heard the sound of a neighbour's piano. While his parents did not come from a musical environment and his dad tried to push him into athletics, they eventually agreed to let him take piano lessons throughout his adolescence, much to his delight. He prospered in his learning and developed an interest in composition after being inspired by a variety of jazz, electronic, modernist, and pop musicians. He went on to study professionally at the Tokyo Conservatoire Shobi, where he developed his versatility and his own trademark style. Here, he met long-term composing partner Noriko Matsueda, whom he was friendly rivals with and especially respect. After graduating from the conservatoire, Eguchi produced numerous musical compositions, joined a band as a keyboardist, and even worked as a software designer. He nevertheless remained inseparable from Matsueda, providing advice on music manipulation during her first game project, 1995's Front Mission, related to music manipulation. At her request, he also arranged and orchestrated "Theme of Bahamut Lagoon ~ Opening" for the bonus disc of 1996's Bahamut Lagoon Original Soundtrack.

Eguchi's first compositions for Square appeared in 1999's racing RPG Racing Lagoon. Though his role was minor relative to Matsueda's, he was responsible for opening and ending themes, the sheer majority of the battle themes, and the bonus "Taiman Battle Remix". His well-developed contributions reflected his hard-hitting rock- and electronically-oriented style and were notable for their employment of pre-recorded saxophone and guitar performances from Eguchi's friends in spite of Square's severe budget. Eguchi and Matsueda collaborated once again in 2000 for the PlayStation 2 beat 'em up The Bouncer. The overall project was a massive one for Eguchi, especially given a large amount of the music produced was not used in the game and there were many post-production demands. Its score featured dramatic acoustic compositions and a series of rock, electronica, and jazz fusions. Given many themes were the result of collaborations, no individual credits were ever released regarding who composed what, resulting in a curious industry secret. Here, he also composed the pop ballad "Forevermore," which was interpreted by arranger Narada Michael Walden and vocalist Shanice Wilson in "Love is the Gift," the accompaniment to the English ending of the game that was also sold as a single and featured in a charity album. In 2002, Eguchi had a small role arranging Yoko Shimomura's "Hand in Hand -Reprise-" for 2002's Kingdom Hearts.

Eguchi reunited with Matsueda to create his final game score for Final Fantasy X-2. Rather than reuse themes from the predecessor, the duo offered a wild and girly sound to reflect how Spira has rejuvenated. Despite being received with hostility by many gamers, the score was financially successfully, especially given its low budget, and Eguchi won fame as the game's orchestrator and the composer of the love ballad "1000 Words". During 2003, Eguchi parted ways with Square Enix to become a freelance composer while Matsueda retired from the music industry. Since his departure, he has focused on J-Pop arrangement and other contract work. He has also been involved in several prominent anime projects, as a co-composer of 2003's D-N-Angel, theme song arranger for 2004's Fantastic Children, and the main composer of 2005's Trinity Blood. He continues to be occasionally involved in the gaming industry. He returned to Square Enix in 2004 to produce the well-received Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission and Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection. He has also mixed Shimomura's arrangements for the Dark Chronicle Premium Arrange and performed piano in her vocal album murmur after she was clearly impressed with his efforts in Kingdom Hearts. His last game work was contributing two arrangements and three compositions to 2007's Sonic the Hedgehog for the Xbox 360, where he demonstated his competence as an cinematic composer, vocal arranger, and orchestrator.