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Yoshitaka Hirota
| Overview | Biography | Discography | Game Projects | Interviews |
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Date of Birth: | September 1, 1971 (Kyoto) |
| Education: | Graduated from a Junior Music College | |
| Musical Influences: | Erik Satie, David Bowie, The Clash | |
| General Interests: | Playing with Pets, Walking, The Internet | |
| Instruments: | Bass Guitar (Also a Vocalist) | |
| Game Works: | Shadow Hearts Series |
Yoshitaka Hirota is an eclectic musician best known for the Shadow Hearts series. He entered the gaming industry as a sound effects designer for Square on the recommendation of college friend Yasunori Mitsuda and worked on a number of hit games, including Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Trigger, and Parasite Eve. Not exclusively a game musician, he also worked on techno albums and scored a movie during these projects.
After leaving Square to compose three drama albums and Bomberman 64: The Second Attack, he became the lead composer of Sacnoth after Hiroki Kikuta's Koudelka failed. After scoring Faselei!, Dive Alert, and Sonic Shuffle, his big break came when he produced the diverse and experimental score to Shadow Hearts with Mitsuda, which was distinct for its industrial rock compositions and use of chanting.
Having also scored Shadow Hearts Covenant and Shadow Hearts From the New World, establishing a unique and fitting character to both with the help of several collaborators, he is now regarded as a major name in the game music field. Having recently worked on three arranged albums and two vocal projects, he is anticipated to work on a movie, an anime, a solo album, and several more game projects in the future.
