Koichi Sugiyama, the pioneering Dragon Quest composer known for his controversial views, has died

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Koichi Sugiyama, the composer who defined a generation of role-playing games with his music, but was also known for his controversial views on LGBTQ + people and Japan’s action in WWII, has passed away. He was 90 years old.

Like Nobuo Uematsu and a handful of other pioneering composers, Koichi Sugiyama helped define music on the Famicom in the mid-1980s. Known primarily for his work on Dragon Quest, he started out as a director at Fuji TV and later worked on projects. as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: The Movie.

Sugiyama joined Enix after sending the studio a postcard expressing appreciation for a PC shogi game they had created. His work on the first Dragon Quest was considered revolutionary for the time. In a retrospective look at the series, 1UP wrote that “was inspired by classical composers and Wagnerian opera, resulting in a deeper, heavier and more emotional soundtrack than any other Famicom game, despite the strict limits of hardware. It is no coincidence that Sugiyama continues to perform. Dragon’s annual orchestral performances The Music of Warrior in Japan: There are soundtracks that impress the player the most, but only a few are better works of art than his work in this series. “

Sugiyama continued to compose music for the series until Dragon Quest 11, which was released in 2017. While many criticized its somewhat repetitive melodies, a consequence, perhaps, of Sugiyama’s age, it was still hard not to be moved by the symphonic overture. . leading to your title screen. It remains one of the most easily identifiable themes in games, particularly in Japan.

Sugiyama, however, became a controversial figure in his later years. In 2015, Sugiyama appeared alongside Japanese politician Mio Sugita, where he endorsed claims that the lack of children from LGBTQ + couples was a problem for Japan.

Sugiyama also subscribed to Japan’s nationalist rhetoric around WWII, opposing a resolution to ask Japan to apologize for the use of “comfort women,” a colloquial term for women who were forced into servitude. by soldiers during the conflict. Square Enix responded by distancing himself from the composer on those comments, saying that it does not “tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind” and that it “respects the diversity of sexuality and gender equality of all people around the world.”

Sugiyama’s mixed legacy is reflected in the comments on Twitter after her death.

Square Enix, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that the publisher “mourns his passing”.

Square Enix President and CEO Yosuke Matsuda added: “I would like to take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the friends and loved ones of Koichi Sugiyama. Words cannot express the magnitude of the contribution made by Koichi Sugiyama. since the birth of the DRAGON QUEST series. until now. I remember watching him conduct the orchestra at a DRAGON QUEST concert like it was yesterday. I thank and honor him for his long years of service and the wonderful pieces of music he has written for our games. , and I offer my heartfelt prayers for the repose of your soul. “

Sugiyama was set to serve as the composer for Dragon Quest 12, which was announced earlier this year. Square Enix has yet to announce who will step in as his successor.

Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor at IGN



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